How to Manage a Medical Emergency Without Going Bankrupt

How to Manage a Medical Emergency Without Going Bankrupt How to Manage a Medical Emergency Without Going BankruptMedical bankruptcy is a major problem in this country. One study found that medical bills are the largest cause of bankruptcy in America.1  And it’s not just your average Joe or Jane who struggles with medical bills; it’s an issue for some pretty major Joes too.Take former Vice President Joe Biden, who said that he and his wife would have had to sell their house to cover the cost of their late son’s medical bills had then-President Obama not offered to help.If even the vice president can struggle with medical bills, what can you do, right now, within the current system, to protect yourself from medical bankruptcy? Well, we’ve got some tips to help you make the best of a potentially difficult situation.Prepare an emergency fund. Really.If you’re not dealing with a medical emergency right at this moment, consider starting an emergency fund.Unfortunately, you never know what can happen, andâ€"if you have anything you can spareâ€"putting aside even a smaller amount of money each month can be a literal lifesaver.As Kimberly Palmer (@KimberlyPalmer), author of Smart Mom, Rich Mom: How to Build Wealth While Raising a Family, told us, “The best advice is to always build up an emergency fund so you don’t have to go into debt when you have an unexpected expense like a medical bill. Saving at least three to six months’ worth of expenses is a good goal, and even if you don’t need it, it gives you peace of mind.” You can check out Palmer’s website for more info and insight.Michael Banks, founder of FortunateInvestor.com (@FortunateInvest), offered similar advice: “Create an emergency fund to address any unforeseen expensesâ€"including medical emergencies. You should have enough savings to cover six month’s worth of basic living expenses. (If you’re a freelancer, or contractor, save the equivalent of nine months.) This will provide you with quick access to cash, reduce your stress levels, and buy you additional time to discuss payment options with your medical provider.But hindsight is 20/20 (we’ll deal with vision-related expenses in a different post). What should you do if you’re dealing with a medical emergency right now and don’t have the funds saved up to pay for it?Carefully look over those bills!Reading over your bills seems like an obvious suggestion, but it’s still an important step, as certified financial educator Maggie Germano (@MaggieGermano) told us. “I think the first thing to do when you have a medical emergency, is to pay close attention to any bills you get. Sometimes, insurance companies or doctors’ offices make mistakes they don’t realize. They may have simply miscoded something.“It’s up to you to follow up and make sure they aren’t charging you when they shouldn’t be,” Germano advised.Medical bills can be pretty complex, especially if you or your loved one had to go through multiple procedures. Ask the staff at the doctor’s office to go over the bill with you so you can raise your concerns if you notice any discrepancies.Set up a reasonable repayment plan.Most doctors would rather see you pay your bill than watch you go through bankruptcy. That’s why Germano says that they may be willing to work out a payment plan:“If you can’t afford the bill, try to set up a payment plan with the provider. Most medical centers just want to get paid eventually, so they should work with you to make it easier to pay. Figure out a monthly payment amount that would be comfortable with you and commit to paying that until the bill is paid off. Get the agreement in writing and make sure they send you a confirmation e-mail or letter whenever you make a payment. This will prevent them from accusing you of not paying what you owe. You also want to have this agreement so that they don’t send the bill to collections, which will hurt your credit score.”Your medical provider may or may not be willing to work out a plan l ike this, but there’s no reason not to ask!Never, never, never turn to a payday lender.If you’re having trouble dealing with medical bills and don’t have great credit, you might be tempted to turn to payday lenders.They offer short payment terms with very high interest rates, and if you don’t pay back the full amount with interest and fees in time, you’ll have to pay an additional fee to extend the loan.This is how a lot of people get trapped in a cycle of debt.If you do need help and don’t have any family or friends you can borrow from, you might consider an installment loan. These loans have longer payment terms, and the best lenders will work with you to determine a payment plan you can handle, even if your medical provider won’t.Make sure the loan is amortizing, which means you’ll be paying off both interest and part of the original amount of the loan, or principal, with every payment so you don’t end up stuck in debt.If the lender reports your payments to the credit bureaus so you can build up your credit score, that’s even better.Stay safe!Medical emergencies are, sadly, a fact of life. With some preparation and a good game plan, you can hopefully keep that medical emergency from also becoming a financial one.Be healthy, and stay safe out there!Visit OppLoans on YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedINContributorsMichael Banks  is a seasoned finance professional and founder of FortunateInvestor.com. With 20 years of professional experience in the financial services industry, he uses his expertise to turn simple lessons on money into lifelong habits that form the basis for a successful financial future.Maggie Germano  is a Certified Financial Education Instructor and financial coach for women. Her mission is to give women the support and tools that they need to take control of their money, break the taboo of discussing debt and income, and achieve their goals and dreams. She does this through one-on-one financial coaching, monthly Money Circle gatherings, her weekly Money Monday newsletter, and speaking engagements. To learn more, or to schedule a free discovery call, visit  MaggieGermano.com.Kimberly Palmer  writes about making smart money and life choices. Her new personal finance guide for moms, Smart Mom, Rich Mom is now available! The New York Times calls it solid and witty and Foreword Reviews says it brings out the fun in funds. Publishers Weekly calls it an excellent book and invaluable resource that does much more than fill a niche; it bridges a huge gap.She is now a features editor on the money team at AARP (@AARP), where her focus is on work jobs content.References:1 Mangan, Dan. “Medical Bills Are The Biggest Cause of US Bankruptcies: Study” CNBC accessed on April 5, 2017 from: http://www.cnbc.com/id/100840148

Gods existence Language Essay - 275 Words

It is better to believe in Gods existence than to deny it (Essay Sample) Content: IT IS BETTER TO BELIEVE IN GODà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬S EXISTENCE THAN TO DENY ITBy Jasper MakworoSample essayAwriters.netHuman Resource Department18th Feb 2014IntroductionGodà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s existence can be equated to any measure towards proving the existence of anything; which entails that it is indeed an intricate matter to verify that anything exists without the evidence of seeing. In this short essay, I personally intend to argue in favor of Pascalà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s assertion that "It Is Better to Believe in Godà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s Existence than to Deny It." I equally believe that to those bold souls who take on such speculations entail nothing to lose for having faith in the above argument. Just like what happens in our courts of law, what believers and nonbelievers should realize and understand is that rendered justice does much of proving one as a criminal through existence of evidence, than just existence of that criminal. So, the evidence that surrounds the human race is more than enoug h evidence to claim that indeed God really exists and in a magnificent way (Jamie, 2004, p.31).According to Pascalà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s thoughts, it is worthy asserting that existence of God cannot be instituted by reason, however people have the mandate to either believe in His existence or not (Pascal, 1800s). Equally, Pascal comments that to those who embrace the fact that God exits, then they have nothing to lose but presumably everything to gain at the end of it all. Some researchers have ultimately considered Pascalà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s point of view to suffer several weaknesses than merits, by basing their argument on coherency of the matter (David, 1936). David (1936) further provides that Pascalà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s theory on Gods existence should never be opted since his argument is dangerous and with no basis.One comment I would give to the above scholar is that assuming God is infinite, and then the human finite minds have no capacity of understanding Him. It is therefore upon an individualà ¢Ã¢â €š ¬s own will to consider either believing or not believing in Godà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s existence, but like I stated earlier, we as human beings hav...

Culture And Identity Of The Sun By Lorraine Hasberry,...

Deeply driven by our sense of self, humans place a fundamental importance on creating and preserving individual identity. Comprised of many aspects, such as age, cultural beliefs, equality, gender, race, social class, etc., identity can be defined as â€Å"the qualities or beliefs that make one person or group different from others (www.websters.com).† In exploring Culture and Identity in the literary works, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hasberry, Everyday Use by Alice Walker and Etheridge Knight’s A Poem for Myself, several outside forces can be found shaping the identity of the respective characters. The most recurrent theme found among the aforementioned works was the impact racial divide made on their identity and how they have either evolved or failed to evolve as a result. Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun, explores the impact ones’ race has on the plausibility of realizing their dreams. Hansberry gives us the Younger family living in an overcrowded, run-down apartment in South Side Chicago; a notoriously poor, black area. The matriarch of the Younger family has purchased a new home in pursuit of her dream for a better life for her family. They were on the verge of moving into an all-white working class neighborhood during a time when racism was still very prevalent and many African-Americans were rejecting the assimilation ideals of Booker T. Washington and exploring their racial identity Throughout A Raisin In the Sun, the attitude of key characters towards

Of Masculinity In The Film Conan The Barbarian And Mad Max...

Films are often connected by the shared use of common universal themes. This element of cinema allows for deep analysis of films and lessons one can gain from the entertaining pastime of movies. The well-known 1982 films Conan The Barbarian written by John Milius and Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior directed by George Miller, share many concepts that fall under the themes of masculinity and heroes, but also differ greatly in the theme revolving around power. The theme of masculinity in both Conan The Barbarian and Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior play a significant role in these films. The main actors in these movies, â€Å"one of Hollywoods . . . icons of masculinity† (Alegre 87), Arnold Schwarzenegger, as Conan and Mel Gibson as The Road Warrior,†¦show more content†¦Similar to how girls in their teen years and twenties dream to look like the bikini model in magazines, men look at Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mel Gibson in Conan The Barbarian and Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior in hopes they could be as tough and manly as the two stars of these films. For example, the scene where Conan and his ally invade Tulsa’s palace and defeat his army to rescue the princess (Conan The Barbarian) is directed to the male gaze as the masculine action of this scene is more appealing to the male gender. Similar, the scene where Max fights through his injuries and leads the pure faction to freedom, fighting off the scavengers almost single h andedly (Mad Max), strongly attracts the male gaze as it has very masculine actions that the male gender wishes they could accomplish. The shared theme of masculinity attracts both the female and male gaze in both Conan The Barbarian and Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior by utilizing the masculine appearances for the female gaze and the masculine actions for the male gaze. Relating to the shared theme of masculinity in these films, the theme of heroes plays a large role in both Conan The Barbarian and Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. According to Sara Martà ­n Alegre in her research regarding masculinity in Hollywood she wrote, â€Å"As for his impressive physical appearance, the particularity is that Schwarzenegger has used it to play . . . heroes† (88). The impressive physical appearances of Conan and Max make them theShow MoreRelatedMasculinity In Conan The Barbarian1187 Words   |  5 PagesIn the movie, Conan the Barbarian, the director John Milius provides the audience with the opportunity to enter into a fictional world where a man has the ability to transform into a snake. Throughout the course of the movie, the lead character, Conan, experiences many hardships including the death of his parents, being a prisoner, and even death. Another movie that involves a fictional world is Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, directed by George Miller. The se tting of this movie in a post-apocalyptic

Special Effects Technician Career Overview and Pay...

Special Effects Technician Career Overview and Pay Structure A Special Effects Technician uses Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), pyrotechnics and physical effects to create visual illusions in film, television, stage or video productions. I will attempt to explain the major areas of work covered under the title of Special Effects Technician, the education required and the salary expected in the field The Physical Effects Technician is the technician that works to make props, models, scenery, prosthetics and mechanically animated pieces. The physical effects technician works with a variety of mediums. Body and facial prosthetics utilize sculpting of clay to make molds that are cast to fit the specific actors face and/or body. They are†¦show more content†¦This technique is used to layer foreground and background images based on color hues or the chroma range. The CGI technician layers the computer modelling around the actor. Programs such as PhotoKey 6 Pro make it possible to render the images seemlessly. Being a CGI technician requ ires computer knowledge and takes hours to edit and add in the actors into the computer generated world. An example of a seemless CGI movie is Avatar which cost $425,000,000 to make but grossed $2.7 Billion worldwide (www.the-numbers.com/movie/budgets/). For every 1/24 of a second or one frame of film it took 47 hours of rendering (www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/trivia). There are specialized training school for Special Effects Technicians,such as the Art institute with multiple locations across the country and a few in California.. A College degree is not required it is common especially in the area of CGI. A Pyrotechnician must be certified by the state that they work in and pass a Pyrotechnic safety and handling course. The Physical Effects Technician should have a firm grasp of art styles and art mediums. Now that we know what a Special Effects Technician does, what kind of monetary compensation do they earn. A person can specialize in one or more areas of expertise. Their earnings vary due to geographic location. Since a large majority of the special effects are used in movies, California offers the highest yearly wage of $85,000 per year,New York has a range of $41,000Show MoreRelatedOverview of Hrm93778 Words   |  376 Pageswho are studying this as a supporting subject for their bachelor degree program. This course is designed to provide you the foundations of HRM whether you intend to work in HRM or not, most of these elements will affect you at some point in your career. Either you will be working with some organizations or having people working for you, in both cases you will be dealing with people. To be understandable and lively means that we need to communicate you. 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The Function of Management Accounting in a Law Firm

1.0 Introduction Management accounting is the application of professional knowledge and skill in the preparation of accounting information in such a way as to control the operations of an undertaking. It is the presentation of accounting information in such a way as to assist management in the creation of policy for the day-to-day operation of an undertaking as it provides information needed by managers to determine how resources should be obtained and used. It includes the methods and concepts necessary for effective planning in order to be able to choose from alternative business decisions. This term paper is concerned with how management accounting discipline has been used in the law firm of Messrs Majanja Luseno Advocates,†¦show more content†¦Management is able to make assessment of quality of personnel, quality of customers e.t.c. and this information will in turn be made use of by the management for the formulating of its policies and programs. vii. Decision making - Tactical and strategic decisions are taken by the management for day-to-day functioning of the organization. Decision such as expand, own or lease or hire, discontinuance of a department, modification and diversification of business, merge or not to merge are crucial ones that can only be implemented with management accounting techniques. The presentation of accounting information in a condensed and lucid form like funds flow statements, help management in drawing suitable inferences for decision making. viii. Performance appraisal - Budgetary control and standard costing help management in evaluating the performance of different departments, centers, persons e.t.c. ix. Organizing - The human and non-human resources in the Firm are analyzed and measured. The ratio of total profits as a percentage of net sales, capital employed and partner’s funds judge efficiency. 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Peter Paul Rubens Free Essays

Peter Paul Rubens was the painter of the first part of the Seventeenth Century in Catholic Europe. How he became so is an interesting story. Rubens was educated to be a humanist but like all great artists choose his profession for himself. We will write a custom essay sample on Peter Paul Rubens or any similar topic only for you Order Now The combination of first rate classical education with innate visual genius made for an unprecedented combination in an artist, which is what made him so great. It has been said that no artist has ever been as well educated as Rubens. After training with three minor artists in Antwerp. Rubens set off for Italy to complete his education; a position at the court of the Duke of Mantua was quickly accepted and he stayed in Italy for eight years. His job was to travel to all the major artistic collections, especially Rome and Venice painting copies of famous works of art, especially paintings of beautiful women, for the Duke’s collection. He was also sent to Spain where he had an opportunity to study the enormous collection of Titian masterworks in the Royal Collection in Madrid. Copying the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance especially and the recently unearthed sculptures of classical antiquity, Rubens sketched and painted and encompassed all that was best in Italian and Classical art. Rubens combined the lessons of Antique Sculpture with the vaunting ambition of the High Renaissance giants in an unprecedented way. He used the lessons of sculpture as a composition model but insisted that flesh should look like flesh in a painting thus developing his breakthrough approach to the naked body. In this he never forgot the earthy luminous realism of the old Netherlandish tradition of the fifteenth and sixteenth century used by Van Eyck, Van Weyden, and Breughel. You won’t appreciate Rubens, the master of the female nude, until you consider that he was the greatest influence on French painting from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. The fact that Watteau, Fragonard, Delacroix, and Renoir were among Rubens’ loyal followers attests to his great influence. Rubens was to develop a phenomenal ability to analyze the different styles of painting and sculpture and then synthesize them into whatever his clients and patrons wanted. His clients included just about every Catholic monarch, as well as Catholic leaning Protestants like King Charles I of England, and every major religious order in Western Europe. Not to mention every wealthy connoisseur of painting in Europe at the time. To satisfy an ever growing demand, Rubens opened the largest art workshop Europe has ever seen. He would paint an small initial oil sketch which, when approved and contracted, would be given over to one or more of his students to paint the full length canvas. Finally, Rubens would add the finishing touches to the works and sign them. Thus he became both a teacher and a hugely successful businessman. Fame was for Rubens something that went beyond material worldly success; he sought above all to bring the blessings of humanistic reason to bear on the Europe riven by religious and dynastic wars. In 1609, because he spoke several languages and was so well educated, Rubens was appointed court painter to the Archduke Albert and his wife the Infanta of Spain named Isabella, the Spanish Viceroys in the Netherlands. Isabella later became his close confidant and sent him on important diplomatic missions to Spain, Holland, and England. Rubens went to England to negotiate a peace treaty with the King of England and Spain and while he was there he became a favorite of the court of King Charles I, as did his most brilliant student, Anthony Van Dyck, in the next decade. When Rubens retired from public life he wrote about ripping off the golden chain that had bound him to the courts of Europe. In his last years he remarried to a young beautiful wife, retired to his estate, and he painted some of the most astonishing paintings he had ever painted. Peace, harmony, abundance, and love these are the great themes of Rubens and his age. His works exhibit and illustrate these qualities so well. I have not begun to express to you the brilliance of Peter Paul Rubens; he is just such a great artist that there is too much to say about him. How to cite Peter Paul Rubens, Essay examples