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Show v' "Wp i Disability insurance Gap Hurts ) -- ' f 4 ' - W I J $ Lossi i Wipe Out Bank Accounts (Editor's Noti: This l tht c.n4 ond final serin on family health iniurance problems in the United States by Robert S. Rosefsky, nationally known colum (iit and lawyer-banker.- ) . By ROBERT S. ROSEFSKY Major Medical Insurance and Disaoili-t- y Income Insurance are the long shot bets of the great health protection race. And theyre the scarcest of the five types of coverage. In the Major Med category, roughly 67 million are covered, but of these, only 23 million are breadwinners. The rest are dependents. . B ' i r X' ' Using the above limits as an example, an actual case would work like this: Mr. Jones has a y hospital siege resulting from a severe heart condition. His total expenses are $16,000, counting hospital room and board, private nurse, cardiclogist fees, physicians fees, lab tests, etc. s, This is the Big Money Game. After the crippling expenses of a major illness or injury comes the potenno job, no income, no tial long wait spirit, no future. Unless youre protected. . If he had been covered only by the basic policies (Medical, Surgical, Hospital), he may have only recovered, say, $3,000 from them depending on the What are the risks involved? Public plans. Health Service statistics indicate that If he. had no basic coverage, but inthere are ever 22 million Americans suf-- , took his chances by securing a stead fering under some form of limitation on Med with the $500 deductible, he their activity. Thats better than one in Major would have paid the first $500. The insur10. ance would have then paid 80 per cent of While it is logical to assume that a the difference between the $500 and the major disability to the family breadwin$15,000 limit, or $11,600. Mr. Jones would ner would be the most damaging (largely be liable for the extra $1,000 over the due to loss of income), a similar fate maximum limit. befalling any member of the family can In the first instance, therefor, with be nearly as severe. It can take considerable energy and expense to fill in for a basic coverage and no Major Med, Mr. Jones would have been out of pocket by disabled wife, and nursing care, drugs, $13,000. In the latter instance, he would doctor bills, rehab treatments, tests, etc., for any member of the family can keep be out of pocket by only $4,400 tne first $500, plus 20 per cent of $14,500, or $2,900, the costs mounting. the $1,000 excess). If he had both plus How do you figure the cost of such forms of coverage, his exposure would be disabilities? With a very fast adding mastill less. chine. Talking with doctors, the feeling is dolof thousands unanimous that Depending on the type of policy, the quite lars can disappear in a flash with todays costs and the familys financial circumstances, it might well be advisable to sophisticated (and costly) medical techcost forego the basic coverage and use those niques and generally spirals. premium dollars towards building a Major Medical and Disability Income sound Major Med program. A good Major Med is not an easy poliInsurance are the long shot bets that protect the astute family from such disaster cy to buy. From company to company, and even within the same company, the situations. ' g 4 Iv -- ' s 'i , n i fi ' IV if, 4' h You moy write to Do It ' ' ' s ; K coverage cah vary widely. Here are some things to look for and compare when shopping for a Major Med plan: How much is the deductible? What expenses can be applied towards the deductible, and which cannot? Does the deductible per person run for the full year, regardless of claims? Or does a new deductible start after each claim is paid? What is the maximum amount the company will pay? Is it per person? Per claim? Per year? These items must be well understood, and compared in detail. It would be a mistake to purchase a plan without comparing it with one or two or three others. Disability income protection keeps some money rolling in long after your sick pay and short term benefits run out if youve bought the right plan. In planning a disability income program, youll generally find the premium considerably cheaper if there is a aiting period before benefits begin. If you have basic coverage that will provide you with some income for, say, two months, or if you have no such plan and feel you can survive the first two months of disability without hurting financially, you might as well consider a Disability program that starts paying after two months have elapsed. This is called an elimination period, and it can be well worth it in terms of premium cost. As with Major Med, you should compare a number of. disability programs before you buy. Check these items: The length of the elimination period, and whether or not its different for sickness and injury. What does the policy mean by total disability, partial disability, and how do benefit payments vary accordingly? Do you have to be confined at home, or confined to bed to recover? To what extent must you be under doctor's care? You cant mold an insurance team without hard work, precision planning, and a continuing sense of understanding of each small component. Your work horses are your basic covMedical, Surgical and Hospital erages insurance, plus whatever portion of your own regular budget you allocate to pay for minor or middling expenses. In addition, there are some sturdy reserves that can fill in some gaps: Insurance on personal loans, known commonly as credit insurance. Life insurance is quite common the loan is paid in full in the event of the borrowers death. Workmens Compensation. This is generally designed to cover certain costs arising when you are injured in the performance of your work. Your auto insurance, your home-owminsurance, and possibly your life insurance policies may offer benefits for certain accidents, injuries and disabilities. a Social Security Medicare, program for those over 65. Your local So-rs presidential pension increased from $60,000 $25,000 to a year. Normally, Whi-t- e House requests for legislation are sent to Capitol Hill in writing. But for the discreet mission, the President sent his chief lobbyist, Bryce Harlow, to pass the word in person. Harlow contacted House Speaker John McCormack, who fathered presidential pensions. Harlow told McCormack the present pension doesnt provide adequately for Harry Truman, who is not a wealthy man. McCormack agreed the pension should be revised. He suggested the increase could be slipped into the postal reform legislation then under consideration by the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee. McCormack summoned the committee to chairman, Thaddeus Dulskl, the Speakers byzantine office in the Capconference. Harlow itol for a closed-doo- r was also present. Dulski, nervous about the postal 1 reform bill in the aftermath of the nation's first postal strike, balked at the Speakers proposal. Potentially, Dulski Jargued, it was a controversial amend-newhich might send the vital postal preform bill down to defeat. He refused to go along. ; Bui later, when the Senate passed and ysent to the House a bill to increase Jits for the second spouses of federal employes, the White House saw another opening. Again McCormacks help was enlisted, and he obtained Dulskis agree-- ; tnent to consider the pension increase as V rider on the second-spous- e bill. ; In addition to raising presidential pensions, the measure also would increase the pensions of the widows of past Presi- Some of the members of Dulskis flents. , i committee were at first worried that the ,4 Simcndmciit might enrich Jacquemie Kennedy Onassis and thus prove an em-- f barrassment in an election year. I Biwever, it was so Written that Mrs. nt , f M 4 $ - Onassis would not be eligible. The chief beneficiary would be Mamie Eisenhower. The bill sailed through the committee. Now it must pass the full House and survive a Senate-Hous- e conference. Nixon took a personal interest in upping presidential pensions after meeting last summer with former President Lyndon Johnson. Both men agreed what a shame it was for the former President Harry Truman was only receiving $25,000 a year. Since Truman is 86 years old, however, it will be Johnson and Nixon who will 'benefit the most from an increase. Nixon also was concerned that Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower should receive a more generous pension, If the enactment passes, her yearly pension would rise from $10,000 to $33,000. New Cuba Crisis The real reason for President Nixons concern over the construction of Soviet naval facilities at Cienfuegos, Cuba, is that they might be used to bring missiles back into the Caribbean. Eight years ago, President Kennedy forced the Soviets to withdraw their missiles from Cuba in a nuclear showdown that had the world holding its breath. Now Polaris-styl- e Soviet subs, armed with 16 missiles each, have been spotted in the Caribbean. , The naval facilities at Cienfuegos would permit these deadly submarines to operate in the Caribbean without returning home for service and supplies. taken by the Indeed, aerial photos same U-- 2 spy planes that photographed the missiles in Cuba in October, 1962 show that a Soviet submarine tender has already docked at Cienfuegos. Privately, President Nixon has expressed frank admiration for Kennedys Itauulhig of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. Therefore, say insiders, the President feels he must be equally tough about keeping Soviet missiles from retuning to if." Caribbean. He has also suggested to aides that the Soviet naval construction in Cuba is a violation of. the Monroe Doctrine, which has kept European powers out of the Western Hemisphere since 1823. It - looks, unhappily, as if another Cuban missile crisis is building up. FOOTNOTE: The Soviet Union has more tnar. a dozen Polaris-styl- e submarmissiles ines, whose hydrogen-heade- d could reach any point in the U.S. from the Carib)qan. Ilaving read of so many of your accomplishments, heres a real test. Iq 1925 I had some money in a bank at Gypsum, Colo., that was closed by the state bank examiner. A few years ago I saw an item in a Denver paper that said,, a bank there was holding the money to pay off depositors and was searching for them. I guess the paper was destroyed-Anywa- y I got all my money back except , about $70. Can you find out the facts for me. The bank was elosed in either Octo-- .. her or November of 1925. J. R. I , ciaV Security office can give you a detailed brochure on the coverage provided. You cant depend on these reserves to win the ball game. They only fill specific gaps, and then only in limited ways. The challenge, to an individual family, of establishing an orderly program to meet health care costs is indeed a demanding one. But its paltry, when compared to the challenge that our country faces in meeting the health care needs of the population in the years to come. Rising costs, coupled with shrinking manpower, has put us on the doorstep of crisis. Our personal insurance pays for our personal bills doctors, hospitals, drugs, nurses, etc. there is the harder-to-gaudrain on the economy that results from poor health. One absent worker disrupts the efficiency of his coworkers. Multiply him by millions each week, month and year. A worker on the job, but not functioning properly because of poor health can be equally disAdditionally, ge ruptive. Social legislation can take forever to become reality, and when it does, there is no assurance that it will be effective. It would be sheer folly for any family to wait on governmental action to provide, or supplement, basic health insurance. The wide world of health insurance offers us many options to protert ourselves and provide peace of mind. We can take advantage of it. Or it can take advantage of us. Its every man for himself. Battle Of Billboards Still Raging For Utah's Doug Snarr IN WASHINGTON By GORDON ELIOT WHITE The administra- tions a Man, Box J 257 Salt Lake City, Utah 84110 - Health insurance policy holders should make sure what.benefits are available to cover major surgical proceedures, and any long term disability. WASHINGTON - ' Evokes inquiry MERRY-GO-ROUN- D WASHINGTON While he was preaching economy to the nation. President Nixon used his prestige behind the scenes to have the r Failure Of Bank Presidential Pension By JACK ANDERSON r 7c Nixon Helps Boost' WASHINGTON ,1 4' 3- y v ? Major Med is essentially a program that picks up all, or a substantial portion, of extraordinary medical bills, over a stated deductible, and up to a stated maximum. A typical policy might provide that you pay (or your basic insurance pays) the first $500 of qualifying medical expenses per person per year. The company will then pay 80 per cent of all qualifying expenses over and above the $300 deductible, up to a total of $15,000. While existing Disability Income protection (which includes sick pay plans) covers about 90 per cent of short term income losses, it covers only about 18 per cent of long term losses. Mfe1 hu r f A 19 'Tuesday, October 6, 1970 &') Major Medical And Disability t. i DESERET NCWS, - '&$ t. p-- 5' -- 1 y- -- s"" v 1970 highway bill, now suspended void on Capitol Hill, in the has become a personal battle for Utahn Doug Snarr. . D e s pite Congressional and Administrative grumbling and stumbling, Snarr just may prove the difference in turning the highway trust fund from an unheeding panies in the hope that the act will be repealed. Both groups have found strong allies on the House Public Works Committee. Their stoutest friend was Rep. George the chairman. Fallon has Fallon, long supported more and better roads at any cost, and he clocked the Snarr-Volp- e initiative this summer., Unfortunately for the road-sig- n lobby, Rep. Fallon neglected his fences at home in Baltimore. He had won in 1368 by only a thousand votes, and this year a peace candidate went up against him in the Sept. 15 Democratic primary and won. With Rep. Fallon a lame duck, Rep. John Blatnik, is the likely new chairman. Blatnik is far more sympathetic, Snarr thinks, than Fallon. Long an antibillboard man, Blatnik may head off most of the Democrats who are fighting the new highway bill. What remains is a coalition of Republicans and adamant Democrats who remain strong for keep d con- crete machine into the means to humanize upgrade public mass transportaion, and beautify the land, as Secretary John Volpe and the Nixon Administration have proposed. Snarr, head of Snarr Advertising of Salt Lake City, came here in 1965 to fight law that virtually wiped an out a large part of his investment in Utah, Colorado, and Idaho. Along the way, Snarr decided that sign owners should comply with the 1965 act as a matter of both conscience and pocket-booIn the aftermath of the Highway Beauty Bill, the signs that had been outlawed by Congress were never paid for because Congress neglected to appropriate funds to do so. It promised to pay, but never produced the cash. Snarr and other small advertisers were left with worthless signs they could no longer finance. In trying to get some money for his outlawed investment in signs, Snarr had to prod Congress into action it would rather have permanently shelved. He got a Senate bill passed rather easily, but the House has so far balked. Snarr enlisted Secretary Volpe as a and one who had some strong ally ideas of his own as to how the Highway Trust Jflind might be used for a better transportation system. If it succeeds, the highway bill deserves to ts labelled the Volpe-SnaAct, for the two men have put together a bill that would tap the overflowing highway tax fund to help pay for public mass transportation, for billboard removal, and for relocation of families displaced by road building, among other benefits. road-buildin- k. rr The highway lobby, fearing loss of billions from road tax revenues, along with the big National Advertising Company, a subsidiary of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, have fought back T'nree-M- , with 38.000 highway signs, is presently buyin out distressed small sign com- - ing the Highway Trust Fund sacrosanct. Neither Utah Rep. Laurence J. Burton nor Rep. Sherman Lloyd is on the public works committee, but several of Rep. Burtons close friends are in senior positions there. It remains to be seen whether Burton will throw enough weight behind the administrations bill to help it over the present impasse. What gives the administration, and Snarr, hope is the imminent expiration of the entire interstate highway program. If nothing at all is done, all those billions in gasoline, oil, and tire taxes will stop coming in and the road builders will see all the billions glimmering away. So they will have to cooperate with the administration at some point, to some extent. Right now the House committee is trying to fudge the issue by providing a new two year study of the billboard blight. Is this game, delay equals death. Snarr at the capitol, and seem to have the Volpe downtown, weight at the balance point, where the Fallen defeat may mean they can tip the scales toward liberalized use of the trust fund. Hypothyroid Patients May Develop Neck Fat Pad YOUR HEALTH By GEORGE C. THOSTESON, M.D. Dear Dr. Thosteson: I read an article that hypothyroid sufferers develop fat pads at nape of the neck, which I have. Would you explain what hypothyroid is? Can it be treated by special diet and Mrs. J.T. vitamins? Dont jump to the conclusion that such fat pads (also sometimes called a buffalo hump) are a diagnostic sign indicating thyroid trouble. Such patients might have some fat pads; again, they might not, means deficiency of Hypothyroid the thyroid gland thyroid hormone isnt producing as much of the hormone as it should. The hypothyroid person quite often is obese. There are several places where excess fat tends to accumulate. The back of the base of the neck is cue such place, cerhaps pot as usual as ethers, like the abdomen, hips, etc. Its just a place where, regardless of the thyroid, fat can pile up. It could also be a lipoma, or fatty tknor. The truly hypothyroid patient will have a variety of symptoms which are far more accurate from a diagnostic standpoint : they tend to be sluggish both physically and mentally; the skin is dry, the face puffy, and the hair and eye-bro- thin. Of cojrse, la'll!. - On Monday, Dec. 7, 1925, The Denver -Post published a short news item, a copy of which we have sent to you, saying that : depositors would get back every dollar.-- ' This was attributed to one of the most substantial citizens of Eagle County and ' intimately acquainted with the affairs of the bank. He declared that the cashier .. was charged with using money that did not belong to him . . . that he made too. many loans out of the goodness of his heart. It would appear, however, that this was only close to the facts, since; you, at least; have not received all your, money. We asked the Colorado Stqte . Banking Dept., for info. They advised us,,, that a liquidating dividend of 74.5 per cent was paid to all depositors who filed a claim and to the best of our 'c knowledge, there have been no further.. distributions. They were not aware of any news items such as you refer to,. They think you may have confused the', Gypsum story with stories about the liquidation of the Home Industrial Bank ' which occurred during 1964, 1965 and 1966. A Telephoned Apology . I took out an auto loan with Central National Bank In Chicago three years ago. The account was always current;'! never was delinquent. I've made the final payment yet got no notice on ternii-- .. nation of the contract and have not received the title to the car. I am losing my patience in this matter and hope you can obtain the prompt action and satisfaction due nfe and which I have not' been able to get from them despite re . peated efforts. L. B. C., Sandy. result of our referral you have ' received a telephone apology and expla-- -' nation about some mix ups. As of now the title and the paid note are on their way. Among delay reasons was the inqd vertent mailing to your previous addr$ J in Bensenville, 111. Their written apology to us said: . . . people do make occasional mistakes and remind us that the pursuit of ideal customer service is ' a continuing effort. As tiie t Better Change Gun Early in April 1368 I placed an order with Herters, Inc., Waseca, Minn., for . some .401 caliber powermag ammunition. " I got one notice it was out of stock but would be shipped as soon as niord arrived. Then I got a letter saying this ammo was hard to obtain. Well this has been going on and on since. Maybe., you can speed up their preg,ess.M. L, H., Murray. ' We made no inroads on progress if which you said, except for a reply would contact them in 90 days, maybe they would have the ammo. Seems they , havent been able to locate a manufacr turer. They do authorize you to return your revolver that shoots this ammo and exchange it for other merchandise or a complete refund. Still Working On It f 9 . Last March we bought some fencing from a S.L. store. But when the order was delivered it was 21 feet short. Since then weve called many times about the rest of it but it has never been delivered. Their customer service has failed lo anything. Mrs. B. E. B., Granger. They were out and have not been able' to locate any more of what you bought. Theyre working on it and havent for; d. gotten you. , -- ' J I bought some magazines from a Key- Readers Service door to door salesman, I understood the contract was was for 60 weeks, not 60 months as I found out later. I read on the back of the contract 1 could cancel in 72 business hours, so I did. But no answer. T. L., Salt Lake City. stone other factors can cause such symptoms. So if you have any real question as to whether your thyroid gland is working properly, your doctor can use any of sev-erlaboratory tests whiefi will give definite answers. Treatment is not by diet and vitamins. Rather, one of the thyroid preparaeither extract tions is given by mouth of thyroid gland or one of the synthetics. If you have none of other signs of low thyroid and are concerned only with the buffalo hump, losing some weight probably will help to some extent. Or, on the chance that it is a lipoma, or benign fatty tumor, it can be removed if the situation warrants it. ai Keystone claims your subscription had already been entered. But, perturbed as they were, they have cancelled your-- , , order. ffditor' Nf! We're sorry Hie number et calls maii mane ii impossible to answer and tne volume every question. Please no medical or leeal questions. rvMi' 'wnri r nvomet 's answers can only be qiven in this column. Only nuts-i6i- ii ef fctKril interest wl be answered and tele phone calls can be accepted only on the Give your ntfMe phone at the hours prescribed. not tor publication pctArs and teipltone number to help PeM Man del MwiJ |