Initialisms – Be Careful What You Search For

Search Engines and the internet in general has become our chief means of knowledge acquisition. It is a one-stop-shop for any answer to any question, and is more often than not our first port of call for information. Despite, or perhaps as a result of, our heavy reliance on such online data, the internet is also one of the most dangerous places from which to find the solution to your question.

It is often said that you can’t believe what you read. Never before has such a sentiment been of greater significance than in the modern age of digital dominance.

From weary university tutors to healthcare professionals, there is a substantial body of disgruntled sceptics, whose view of the internet as a knowledge resource has been skewed by its provision of highly controversial, problematic and downright false information on a wide variety of subjects.

For those who have studied at university or college, the sound of your teachers imploring that you do not use Wikipedia as the basis of you essay and the arguments contained within them will be a familiar one. Though the resource is arguably far more reliable now, only a few years ago the open platform of the site was regarded with huge levels of scepticism.

Whilst plagiarised guff from Wikipedia may lead to low marks on an essay, slightly more worrisome and consequential effects may come from the discovery of false information on health websites. Though there are plenty of helpful and correct pages offering health advice, we have all heard many a story of users consulting a website rather than their own GP. This is a potential recipe for disaster given the volumes of ill-informed information which dogs the internet.

Due to the sheer volumes of information stored by the internet, there is also huge potential for confusion, especially where acronyms and initialisms are involved. Take for instance the international banking firm BNP Paribas. If someone was looking for their nearest branch for instance, they may end up finding their local British National Party meeting.

Perhaps you need to contact the Cardiomyopathy Association (CMA) to get some support for a family member, make sure you do not end up attending a Christian Motorcyclists’ Association rally. Alternatively, for those of us looking to find out about the latest ATM trends in the banking sector, we may end up learning how to become an Amateur Telescope Maker!

So, beware the confusion of the internet. Do not believe everything you read, and remember that the thing you seek may not be the top search engine result. Don’t end up joining the BNP when all you wanted was a discussion with your bank manager.

Health Insurance for Every Need: Understanding the Kinds Available

In the United States, there are about five different types of health insurance available: traditional health insurance; preferred provider organizations or PPOs; point-of-service plans or POS; health management organizations or HMOs; and most recently, health savings accounts or HSAs. With so many types of health insurance, it may be confusing trying to figure out which one best fits your needs, so thoroughly research each and speak with a professional if you need clarification.

Traditional health insurance is the one that most people think of when they think of health insurance. You pay the insurance company a premium every month, and if you have an accident or need for health coverage, you have a deductible amount you must pay and then the insurance company picks up the rest of the bill. You often have an inexpensive office and/or prescription co-pay with traditional health insurance.

With people living longer, health insurance companies began to look for more ways to reduce their costs, developing different health plans such as PPOs. PPOs are plans which will cover nearly all of your medical expenses as long as you stay within a preferred network of physicians or hospitals. This network creates a preferred provider list that you can choose from. Treatment outside this network of providers is covered but only at a reduced rate, meaning you end up paying more to see a physician outside the network. By limiting the physicians and hospitals covered in their network, the insurance company can control, to an extent, their costs and lower your premiums. POS plans work like PPOs, but require you to have a primary care physician through whom you can receive referrals for specialists. If you need to see a neurologist or a dermatologist, you must first visit your primary care physician for an initial diagnosis in order to receive a referral to a specialist for a more thorough diagnosis. POS plans also have a preferred provider network, and if you choose to visit a specialist or physician outside that network, your coverage will be limited.

HMOs combine a stricter version of PPOs and POS plans. HMOs have a defined list of physicians, often much smaller than PPO networks, which you may see. You will not be covered at all if you see a physician outside your HMO network. Furthermore, you must also get a referral from your primary care HMO physician to see any specialist. However, these restrictions mean that you pay an extra low or no monthly premium.

HSAs were recently signed into law by President Bush. You can deposit money into a special non-taxed, interest-gaining savings account that must be used for medical expenses. The ideal situation for an HSA is to combine the account with a low-cost, high-deductible insurance plan. The savings account is designed to allow you to cover the high deductible if you find the need to cover expensive medical costs while the insurance company will pick up the rest of the bill.

Again, it is important to carefully consider each option before choosing a single health insurance plan. Your health is important so make sure it is protected in the best way possible.