Featured Condtion/Disease: RWI

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday.  Today's topic is Recreational Water Illness (RWI).

Definition

Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are illnesses that are spread by swallowing, breathing, or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers, or oceans. Recreational water illnesses can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea.

Most Common Areas

RWIs can be spread through use of swimming pools, hot tubs, decorative water fountains, oceans, lakes, and rivers.

More Information

To get more information about RWI, click here.  


*Most of the information provided here is from the CDC site, click here to visit their site.
 

Oil Spill Off the Coast of Florida

Most of us are familiar with the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana.  There's now a web site to track the spill's dimensions.   Developed by NOAA with the EPA, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Interior, the site, http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/,  offers you a “one-stop shop” for spill response information.  The site integrates the latest data the federal responders have about the oil spill’s trajectory with fishery area closures, wildlife data and place-based Gulf Coast resources — such as pinpointed locations of oiled shoreline and current positions of deployed research ships — into one customizable interactive map.

The Center for Disease Control also has a page dedicated to the potential effects of the oil spill should it appear on your local coast line, here. The CDC mentions four possible categories that you may be exposed to hazardous substances related to the spill:

• Air
• Water
• Food
• Dispersants

Should you buy insurance from a corporate agent?

Should you buy insurance from a corporate agent?

Yes, you can buy but you must check that it is not one of the 4261 corporate agents whose licence has been cancelled by IRDA, the regulator.

The following news item is an eye opener for those who have to buy the insurance.
“The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has said that as many as 4,261 corporate agents, out of the total 7,000 in the country, are not authorized to sell policies from March 31, this year.

The IRDA, which displayed the names of corporate agents that were banned, cautioned the insurance companies and general public not to transact any insurance business through them.

The list of banned agents includes HDFC Bank (General Insurance), Oswal Consultancy, India Bulls Insurance Advisors Pvt Ltd in Mumbai; Prosoft Technologies and Tangent in Bangalore; Rishab Investments and Cosmos Financial Services in Chennai; Pact Brokerage and Atluri Travels in Hyderabad.

"These corporate agencies were due for renewal on or before March 31, 2010 but have not been renewed till date. All these agency licences have been withdrawn," IRDA said in a circular on Tuesday.

According to a senior IRDA official, the policies purchased after March 31 and till date could be valid and the full implications are being worked out.

The business is likely to hit as almost all life and general insurers including Life Insurance Corporation of India engaged these agencies.“

Is it that many of the MLM companies are also affected?

Comments are invited.

Lodge your health insurance claim within 7 days Timeframe to Submit documents for filing Health Insurance claims reduced to 7 days from 30 days

You must lodge your health insurance claim within 7 days Timeframe to Submit documents for filing Health Insurance claims reduced to 7 days from 30 days.

You are familiar with the clause which permitted you or expected from you that your health insurance claim should be lodged within 30 days. No one noticed that this clause has been amended to 7 days because claims submitted up to 30 days were continuing to be paid.

Now, in an abrupt move, we understand that insurance companies have suddenly decided to strictly implement the 7 day condition. They have informed the TPAs to treat claims where documents are received after 7 days from the date of discharge as untenable.

You are required to follow this 7 days clause with a view to protect your interest.

We feel that there should be a joint campaign by all insurance companies offering health insurance for the information of policy holders and a separate letter should go to each and every policy holder to make them aware of this clause being implemented.It will keep the number of cases going to Consumer Forum Courts under control.We are sure Consumer Forum Courts will support the policy holders on this issue.

Featured Condtion/Disease: Down Syndrome

We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday.  Today's topic is Down Syndrome.

Definition:

Down Syndrome is caused by having an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are part of the nucleus of the cell, containing the information that makes up a person. Individuals with Down Syndrome have 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. A typical child has two copies of chromosome 21. Children with Down Syndrome have three copies of this chromosome, causing changes in the development of the body and the brain. 

Signs

• Slanted eyes with folds of skin at the inner corners.
• Short, broad hands with a single crease along the palm.
• Flat bridge of the nose.
• Short, low-set ears.
• Short neck.
• Small head.
• Tongue sticks out.
• Broad feet with short toes.
• Low muscle tone, causing muscles to feel floppy.
• Levels of mental retardation vary by child.

More Information

To get more information about Down Syndrome, click here. 

*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.