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Health care is high on voters' priorities

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WHEN potential voters are asked about their priorities in the forthcoming election the Health Service is usually near the top of the list.

This means that health care in general and the NHS in particular is one of the key battlegrounds in the May General Election.

The Conservatives have worked hard to reassure the electorate that the NHS is safe in their hand in spite of long waits increasing at A&E departments - and a looming financial crisis.

With the cost of the NHS always an issue the Tories have emphasised that the financial outlook for the Health Service is dependent on the economy.

While the Government has been accused of wasting billions on an unnecessary reorganisation the Tories argue that the changes put more control into the hands of doctors and reduced red tape. However, creeping privatisation of NHS services has alarmed some voters.

Critics have accused the Coalition of under-funding the NHS but the Tories point out that the Health Service has been protected from the wider public sector cuts.

Prime Minister David Camerons use of the NHS, in relation to the care provided to his severely disabled son, Ivan, before he died in 2009, has undoubtedly been as asset.

As the party which created the NHS Labour always has an advantage when it comes to the Health Service.

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnhams big idea is to create a new National Health and Care Service which would bring physical, mental and social care together in a single service (although the Tories are moving in that direction).

Mr Burnham also plans to repeal the Health and Social Care Act introduced by the Tories to open up NHS services to market forces.

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Health care is high on voters' priorities

Market Snapshot: Health care, financial stocks looking best going into tough earnings season

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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) Health care and financial earnings are looking to be some of the relatively few bright spots in what promises to be a dreary reporting season.

Stocks are getting hit hard as the first quarter draws to a close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.19% the S&P 500 Index SPX, +0.24% and the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, +0.57% all finished down more than 2% last week. On Friday, government data showed the rise in fourth-quarter GDP unchanged at 2.2% and the first decline in quarterly profits since 2008.

Whats more, U.S. stocks are starting the year with $44 billion less in investment capital, the biggest outflow since 2009.

Over the first quarter, projected earnings for the S&P 500 went from forecast growth of 4.2% to a decline of 4.6%, in large part because earnings declines in the energy sector widened considerably, according to John Butters, senior earnings analyst at FactSet.

In fact, forecasts over the quarter did not improve for any one sector, with the tech, consumer staples, and materials sectors all swinging from projected gains to declines over the quarter.

That leaves health care, financials, consumer discretionary, and industrials as the only sectors left expected to post earnings gains this season.

With guidance fairly negative this earnings season, the least negative guidance is coming out of the health care and financials sector, according to FactSet. Of financial companies providing guidance, 33% expect to top the Wall Street consensus, and 20% of health care companies expect to do the same. In contrast, only 16% of companies in the S&P 500 have provided a forecast that tops estimates.

Plus, stocks may be getting headwinds from a pre-earnings pause in stock buybacks, which hit a record high quarter in February, following a near record year in 2014. Sectors that have accounted for more than 50% of all buybacks on the S&P 500 are tech, consumer discretionary, and financials.

Plus, the U.S. heath care and financials sectors are fairly well insulated from the effect the stronger dollar is having on international sales as the bulk of revenue from most companies in those sectors comes from domestic sources.

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Market Snapshot: Health care, financial stocks looking best going into tough earnings season

Where health care meets technology

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Sunday, March 29, 2015 | 2 a.m.

With all the talk about the health benefits of wearable computer technology, too often the concrete effects on everyday health care are left to vague promises. Technology, though, is starting to shape health care today and likely will revolutionize the industry in the future.

Some of the wearables, such as the Fitbit and the forthcoming Apple Watch, enable around-the-clock monitoring of key health and fitness functions in the body. But todays health technology goes well beyond simple fitness.

It allows health care to be delivered more efficiently, more personally and more conveniently. And along the way, people can gain a better idea of where they fit on the health care spectrum.

Here is an overview of some digital health care tools that will give people deeper insight into their well-being:

Symptom trackers

Though online symptom checkers are not reliable diagnostic devices, when they first hit the market, many patients treated them as such.

But lets face it: Allowing oneself to be sucked into the online black hole of medical information will make paranoid hypochondriacs out of the best of us.

Symptom checkers have value in that they give you a ballpark range of potential problems, but be sure to use your own judgment and see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Fitness trackers

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Where health care meets technology

Over 300 attend Art of Healing to raise money for South Central Health Care Foundation

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HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -

This is a news release from Art of Healing

It was a beautiful evening for the South Central Health Care Foundation Art of Healing. More than 300 attended the annual art auction which included paintings, pottery, jewelry, iron work, mixed media, a hand carved knife, woodwork, and other types of art. Those attending enjoyed food, beverages, live music by area musician Charles Carter, a silent art auction and a live art auction. The proceeds from the event each year funds South Central Regional Medical Center's community health initiatives which include free health screenings, and other community health programs.

Shannon Penland, M.D., a medical oncologist at South Central Cancer Center helped develop the concept for the event more than seven years ago. The money raised goes to a great cause, and the event is first class, she said. Those who contribute art have a unique opportunity to touch the lives of others, because lives are saved as a result of the funds secured from the auction. She continued by saying, South Central has done an excellent job of educating the community about signs and symptoms of disease since they began their community health programs in 1989. Individuals recognize the symptoms in themselves, their spouse or family members and friends and seek help. Dr. Penland said that early intervention is key. The earlier we can find a condition and treat it, the better the outcome. She said that some conditions do not have symptoms, so it is important to get annual check-ups.

Becky Collins, Director of Communication and the South Central Health Care Foundation at South Central, said, I appreciate the support the hospital foundation has received throughout the years by area artists. Every year we have a outstanding collection of art which is donated for the event. Allison Evans, Community Relations Specialist who works in the Marketing and Business Development division at South Central has talked with artists all over the country, Collins said. She has done an excellent job of securing art pieces from new artists throughout our community, Mississippi and other states which has expanded our art collection this year.

She said she also appreciates the sponsors who host the Art of Healing. The sponsors of the 2015 Art of Healing are BancorpSouth, City of Laurel, Community Bank, ENT Surgical Services, First State-A National Banking Association, Floral Designs by Jill Windham, Gholson, Burson, Entrikin & Orr, P.A., Chancellor, Inc., Jefferson Medical Associates, John David Jefcoat -State Farm Insurance, Mississippi Power, Radiology Associates, P.A., The Chronicle, The Impact, The Laurel Leader-Call, Sanderson Farms, Trustmark, Wayne Farms, WDAM, and William F. Horne & Company. As a result of their support, the cost of the event is covered and all proceeds from the auction and ticket sales go directly to the foundation, she said. Collins provided special thanks to Sanderson Farms for providing their facility for the Art of Healing.They have a beautiful facility, and we appreciate them allowing us to use it each year.

An hour after the event began, Doug Higginbotham, President and CEO at South Central, welcomed those attending. He thanked members of the South Central Board of Trustees for their support, and also thanked the many who donated items and supported the event. He encouraged those in attendance to bid generously throughout the evening, because the proceeds were going to a worthwhile cause.

Each year at the Art of Healing, planners of the event invite someone to speak who has experienced a life changing event as a result of a health related illness. Linda Gavin, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at South Central Regional Medical Center, introduced the speakers for the 2015 event, Jim and Leslie Provost. Jim Provost has donated a hand carved knife to our auction each year, she said. Gavin said that the couple had touched numerous lives over the years as a result of their love for people and their love for life. Jim is an engineer and professional knife maker and Leslie has taught for years in the Jones County School System, and currently teaches at William Carey University where she is currently seeing her doctorate degree in education, she said.

Mrs. Provost made her way to the podium to address the crowd. Wow! What a great way to spend a Saturday night in Laurel MS, at the Art of Healing.Thank you for allowing us to be a special part of this event, she said. My husband, Jim Provost, was thrilled when he was asked to be the keynote speaker tonight. He is going to briefly share with you his experience about his stroke in 2000 due to a disease known as Fibro-Muscular Displacia and the results regarding his recovery due to South Central Regional Medical Center saving his life! It is a miracle and blessing that he is able to share with you and so many others that have endured diseases and incidents that have changed their lives and their family's lives dramatically. Before Jim speaks, we both would like to recognize a few people that supported and stood by our side during and after our difficult journey. If you are here, please raise your handSteve Hall, Janet and Dennis Farrell, Jay Fenton, Tony Stewart, John Crosby, Brad Pinkstaff, Neil Schrimpshire, RW Wilson, Mike Cowart, Anita Thames, Rex and Lynn Jones, Casey Provost, Sarah Wells and Catherine and Steven Nowicki. We also want to remember and cherish Dr. Ramesh Singh who was in the ER the night that Jim had the stroke and how he saved his life. Also, in loving memory of my grandmother, Margie Breazeale, our rock ,that kept us ALL strong and made sure we had plenty of good food to eat when we got home from the hospital. These people will always have a special place in our hearts. We love you all. Most of all, we give the credit to the Lord Jesus for giving Jim a second chance. Jim's favorite Bible verse is: I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. And He did!" She then invited her husband to the podium.

Thank you so much for allowing me to speak and be a part of such a wonderful event in Laurel, The Art of Healing. I would like to say special thank you to our dear, special friend Linda Gavin, and Becky Collins, and Allison Evans for having me here, he began. Provost said he graduated from West Virginia University in l979 with a , and then went to work with Weirton Steel where he met R.W. Wilson who taught him the skill of knife making. He then moved to Fort Worth, Texas to work for General Dynamics and later accepted a position with Schlumberger Well Services. Schlumberger moved him to Jones County which is where he met his wife, Leslie Jones Provost, and began establishing roots in the area.

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Over 300 attend Art of Healing to raise money for South Central Health Care Foundation

Health Systems Compete with Medical Insurers for Clients and Revenue – The Minute – Video

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Health Systems Compete with Medical Insurers for Clients and Revenue - The Minute
Traditional business models in the health care industry continue to be disrupted by the Affordable Care Act. In a potentially major shift in practice, health systems and medical groups are...

By: 3BL Media

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Health Systems Compete with Medical Insurers for Clients and Revenue - The Minute - Video

Hippocrates Health Institute – Autism Concern Announcement – Video

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Hippocrates Health Institute - Autism Concern Announcement
Located on a lush 50 acre campus in West Palm Beach, Florida, Hippocrates Health Institute is the leader in the field of natural and alternative health care. For over 60 years, we have dedicated...

By: Hippocrates Health Institute

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Hippocrates Health Institute - Autism Concern Announcement - Video

$400K+ for retiree health costs?

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Even with Medicare coverage, health-care costs are a major expense in retirement that can derail any financial plan if they're not factored in.

These costs are also hard to estimate because they depend on a person's health and longevity. Who wants to calculate when they are going to die?

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your retirement savings and fear of mortality, HealthView Services has crunched the numbers for a fit 65-year-old couple retiring this year and come up with an estimate of projected health-care expenses. The company, which helps financial advisors forecast health-care costs for their clients, used data from more than 50 million actual health cases to formulate its estimates. And the figure it came up with is more than most people have saved for retirement.

The average lifetime retirement health-care premium costs for the hypothetical couple is $266,589, which included Medicare parts B and D coverage as well as supplemental insurance, according to HealthView's latest report. (The estimate assumes a life expectancy of 87 years for men, and 89 for women.)

The costs are 6.5 percent more than HealthView's estimate last year and over $40,000 more than the retiree health-care cost estimate of $220,000 produced by Fidelity, which is widely used by financial advisors as a benchmark for such expenses.

Read MoreDo you REALLY need $2.5M for retirement?

What's more daunting is a quarter of a million dollars only pays for basic coverage for this hypothetical, healthy 65-year-old couple. If you include dental, vision, co-pays and other out-of-pocket costs, the average cost estimate rises to $394,954. And for a healthy couple of 55-year-olds who plan to retire a decade from the now, retiree health-care costs beyond basic coverage are projected to be a whopping $463,849.

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$400K+ for retiree health costs?

Roxane Vezina Canadian Hippocrates Health Institute Guest (French) – Video

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Roxane Vezina Canadian Hippocrates Health Institute Guest (French)
Located on a lush 50 acre campus in West Palm Beach, Florida, Hippocrates Health Institute is the leader in the field of natural and alternative health care. For over 60 years, we have dedicated...

By: Hippocrates Health Institute

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Roxane Vezina Canadian Hippocrates Health Institute Guest (French) - Video

Health Care REIT Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Ex-Dividend Reminder

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On 3/31/15, Health Care REIT Inc.'s 6.50% Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (Symbol: HCN.PRJ) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.4062, payable on 4/15/15. As a percentage of HCN.PRJ's recent share price of $27.02, this dividend works out to approximately 1.50%, so look for shares of HCN.PRJ to trade 1.50% lower - all else being equal - when HCN.PRJ shares open for trading on 3/31/15. On an annualized basis, the current yield is approximately 6.06%, which compares to an average yield of 6.96% in the "Real Estate" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel . The chart below shows the one year performance of HCN.PRJ shares, versus HCN:

Click here to learn which S.A.F.E. dividend stocks also have preferred shares that should be on your radar screen

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.

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Health Care REIT Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Ex-Dividend Reminder


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