It's tough navigating through the challenging world of health insurance especially if you do not have the basic terminology down. Below are some common terms and definitions to help you understand health insurance. Feel free to save this blog for future reference!  

Premium

The premium is the amount you (or your employer) pay for your health insurance plan whether you use medical services or not. In most cases, it’s paid monthly, but can be paid every 3 months or yearly.

Deductible

A deductible is the amount you must pay before the health plan starts paying for your covered services. For example, if your deductible is $1,000, your plan won’t pay for some services until you’ve paid $1,000. In most cases, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. The lower the deductible, the higher premium.

Coinsurance

Coinsurance is the percentage of the cost that you must pay for a covered service. It applies after you meet your deductible.

For example,...

Knowing the differences between medical insurance plans will help you choose the one that’s right for your health care needs.

PPO stands for preferred provider organization

EPO stands for exclusive provider organization.

Both plans use a network of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals. The difference between them is the way you interact with those networks.

PPO plans give you more flexibility. You don’t need a primary care physician and you can go to any health care professional you want without a referral—inside or outside of your network.

Staying inside your network means smaller copays and full coverage. If you choose to go outside your network, you’ll have higher out-of-pocket costs, and all services may not be covered.

EPO plans combine the flexibility of PPO plans with the cost-savings of HMO plans. While you do not need to choose a primary care physician with your EPO plan and you don’t...

Have you ever wondered who are those people standing on the sidelines of a football or basketball game with the fanny pack and and always running out on the field or court for an injured athlete?  Well those people are Licensed Athletic Trainers and they do more work than most people realize. Athletic Trainers (ATs) are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians. The services provided by ATs comprise prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as a healthcare profession.

Athletic trainers can work in a variety of settings such as; professional and collegiate sports, secondary and intermediate schools, sports medicine clinics, hospital ER and rehab clinics, occupational settings, fitness centers, physician and chiropractic offices.

Students become eligible for BOC (Board of Certification)...

By: Taunya Farr

Let’s be honest, having kids in school is a breeding ground for all kinds of germs.  It might seem as if you or someone you know always has a sick kid home with a cold, an ear infection, strep throat, etc.  I started bringing my kids in for Chiropractic care about a year ago.  Initially they were skeptical to have an adjustment but Dr. Jordan and Dr. Jade quickly made them feel comfortable and I’m certain they giggled through most of their adjustment and it was over before they even finished talking about their Christmas Wish List.

Since then, I’ve noticed that my kids (ages 6 and 8) seem much happier, healthier and more calm from getting adjusted regularly.  If they happen to be coming on with something, I’ll bring them in and it seems that the adjustments help “kick” the ailment much more quickly.  Ear infections seem to be a thing of the past and my two children will actually ASK for an adjustment if...

October has arrived, and now you can go to Jewel and buy candy by the truck load without getting weird looks! “It’s fine! The candy is for the neighborhood kids!” The question is, what happens with the candy that is left over?? I always buy the candy I like so I can pack it in my lunch once Halloween is over… Whoops! When it comes to Halloween candy, I do not know where to draw the line!! When I have multiple mini Twix, Kit-Kat or Snickers in front of me, it’s hard not to go for it. This year, I will have some willpower and use the following tricks to avoid the sugary temptations that Halloween brings.

1. Buy Candy You Don’t Like

This was so hard for me to do. I walked past the bags filled with M&M’s, Twix, Three Musketeers and Snickers and went towards the Sweet Tarts, Whoppers, and Chewing Gum that I knew I wouldn’t eat. I’m pretty sure I could hear them calling my name! I thought to myself, why am I buying candy that I...

Differences Between Muscles Cramps, Spasms, and Soreness

Who has ever woken up in the middle of the night with the dreaded charlie horse cramp in their calf?? We have all heard about it but have you ever wondered why it happens? Listed below are the differences between a muscle cramp, muscle spasm and muscle soreness and how to help deal with and prevent them.

A muscle cramp is an involuntary muscle contraction. Meaning that the muscles fires without your control, and usually lasts for a short period of time.  There are many possible causes for muscles cramps such as: dehydration, electrolyte loss/imbalance, loss of sodium, low levels of magnesium, muscle fatigue, and lack of oxygen.

A muscle spasm is a reflex to something else that is going on in the body or trauma. There are two types of spasms that can take place: clonic and tonic. Clonic is an involuntary contraction that alternates between contraction and relaxation. Tonic is a hard, constant muscle contraction that lasts...

Have you heard of TRIGGER POINTS?

Trigger points are what people commonly refer to as muscle “knots”.  Trigger points are contracted muscle fibers within a muscle.  When muscle fibers are contracted, they are shortened. When the muscle is shortened, it affects the muscles strength and also the range of motion of that muscle.  These shortened fibers can also cause the muscle bundle to pull on its attachments which can cause pain in the joints they are attached to. Trigger points can be treated and eliminated with massage therapy as well as other soft tissue techniques like graston.

Trigger points can also cause referral pain in other areas of the body. It is possible to have trigger points in your back causing pain in your shoulder or vice versa. It is important to get your condition reviewed and examined by your chiropractor to determine what course of treatment would be best for you.

School is just getting back into session in the Chicago suburbs and routines are changing.  It usually takes families weeks to nail down the new schedules.  Here are a few easy steps to start to implement so everyone is off to a healthy school year!

1. Eat a nutritious breakfast.

While there has been a debate recently about the merits of eating breakfast for weight loss, it is agreed that kids should not skip breakfast. Breakfast is a perfect opportunity to help your kids get a healthy dose of nutrients such as fiber, calcium, and protein. Limiting sugar intake in the morning will help keep their brains firing at full force during their early classes. Great quick and healthy options include: Make ahead breakfast sandwiches or burritos, overnight oatmeal, protein shakes, low-fat Greek yogurt and fruit, or scrambled eggs and a slice whole wheat toast.

2. Limit liquid calories.

The easiest place to start is to limit sugary beverages such as soda. Sugary drinks are simply empty...

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that more than 5 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s. This disease is currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and it is the only one that can not be prevented or cured. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia among older adults.

Changes in the Brain

It seems likely that damage to the brain starts a decade or more before memory and other cognitive problems appear. During this preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease, people seem to be symptom-free, but toxic changes are taking place in the brain. Abnormal deposits of proteins form amyloid plaques (abnormal clumps) and tau tangles (tangled bundles of fibers) throughout the brain, and once-healthy neurons stop functioning, lose connections with...

Cupping is a unique treatment that uses suction to lift tissue as a cup is moved by the therapist to decompress the underlying tissue. It combines various massage and stretching techniques with the application of a slightly pressurized cup. This helps to lift and separate the soft tissue, allowing for greater fluid movement and nutrient supply throughout the soft tissues. This nourishes, detoxifies, stimulates and increases range of motion. The cups come in various sizes depending on the treatment area needed.

Though it was recently made famous during the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics when the cupping marks (circular bruises) were visible all over swimmer Michael Phelps, cupping has actually been around for a very long time. Cupping is an ancient medical treatment; its Chinese roots date back to 300 or 400 A.D. Egyptian and Middle Eastern cultures also have ancient records of the practice. Cupping is still regularly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Chinese hospitals and...