Category: Healthcare

August sun carries skin cancer risk

August 3, 2011 The August sun can be dangerous, and protecting your skin should be a high priority. Although this is a year-round issue, overexposure to sun and its dangers occurs most during the summer. When skin is exposed to ultra-violet (UV) rays, it responds by producing melanin, a pig [...]

Tags skin cancer

New year for rail unemployment, sickness claims

June 21, 2011 A new year under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act for unemployment and sickness benefits begins July 1. The maximum daily benefit rate payable remains at $66 in the new benefit year. Benefits are normally paid for the number of days of unemployment or sickness over fou [...]

Tags railroad retirement, RRB, sickenss, unemployment

Preserving Medicare: We have a role to play

June 9, 2011 Would you accept a job paying $1 million to count out $2 billion in $1 bills? Think again, because working a 40-hour week and counting out $1 per second, you would require 266 years to count out the $2 billion total. Now that you have an idea how much $2 billion is, consider [...]

Tags fraud, Medicare, Medicare Summary Notices, Palmetto, railroad medicare

Melanoma: Early detection a life saver

May 26, 2011 It’s almost summer. The sun is higher in the sky. We spend more time outdoors. Thus, we invite skin cancer — the most common form of cancer in America. And dark skin does not mean you are immune. More skin cancer cases are diagnosed each year than breast, prostate [...]

Tags cancer, detection, lesions, melanoma, skin cancer

Medicare changes could affect your wallet

May 4, 2011 Federal legislation affecting how Medicare reimburses physicians requires Medicare providers to reprocess claims dating back more than a year. This reprocessing, required by federal law, may result in your receiving a refund for Medicare services you received in 2010, or your [...]

Tags Medicare, physicians

Help available for alcohol, drug abuse

April 22, 2011 We know all too well that alcohol consumption and drug use can imperil our jobs. But how about off the job; and how about family members? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports more than 600,000 emergency room visits annually due to alcohol or drug problems; [...]

Tags abuse, alcohol, drugs, jobs, substance abuse, United Behavioral Health

If your physician withdraws from Medicare…

April 6, 2011 Many physicians and medical practitioners are choosing to withdraw from participation in Medicare. This has a direct financial impact on all UTU members who are retired or intend to retire in the near future. If you are eligible for Medicare, and your physician or medical pra [...]

Tags Medicare, physician, railroad medicare, withdraw

Diseases run in families; learn from your parents

March 10, 2011 By Dr. Norman K. Brown UTU medical consultant UTU members and their families have access to excellent wellness programs through health- insurance providers that help control and eliminate many bad habits such as poor nutrition, smoking and lack of exercise. But there are cert [...]

Getting heart healthy

February 18, 2011 Heart AttackWarning Signs Cardiac ArrestWarning Signs StrokeWarning Signs Chest discomfort/chest pain Sudden Loss of Responsiveness Trouble seeing in one or both eyes Discomfort in other areas of upper body No normal breathing Disoriented, trouble speaking o [...]

Keep your heart healthy

February 2, 2011 February is American Heart Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says heart disease is the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States, claiming more lives than cancer. Heart disease can strike at any time. Symptoms of a heart-related [...]