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The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, or COBRA, allows unemployed workers to keep their health insurance from their previous employer for up to 18 months.

Up until the 15-month subsidy was approved last year as part of the federal economic stimulus bill, . . . → Read More: Cobra Health Insurance]]> [removed][removed]

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The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, or COBRA, allows unemployed workers to keep their health insurance from their previous employer for up to 18 months.

Up until the 15-month subsidy was approved last year as part of the federal economic stimulus bill, laid-off workers were required to pick up the full premium. With the subsidy, the unemployed paid 35 percent of the cost.

That subsidy is now at risk while the U.S. Senate considers whether to extend it. It was eliminated from one jobs bill but is included in a second jobs bill. The Senate, however, has not decided which bill it plans to hear, said Cheryl Fish-Parcham, director of health-care policy for Families USA.

If the subsidy is allowed to expire, no one laid off after Feb. 28 will be eligible for the reduced premiums.

That could mean many won’t be able to afford the premiums and would join the growing rolls of the uninsured, according to Families USA, a national organization for health care consumers.

Throwing a lifeline

The federal subsidy “gives people a small margin of hope,” said Terra Eyl, a career transition specialist with the Larimer County Workforce Center in Fort Collins.

Without the subsidy, COBRA premiums can cost upwards of $1,000 a month making it unaffordable for most families trying to live on unemployment benefits.
Even with the subsidy, COBRA payments can be unaffordable for people, particularly those with lower incomes, Eyl said. “But a small margin of hope is better than no margin, in my opinion.”

Families USA estimates an additional 57,500 Coloradans became uninsured last year when they lost their jobs. And, although economic recovery appears to be under way, economists agree job growth is still a long way off, meaning the unemployment rate is likely to rise this year.

One quarter of Larimer County residents between 18 and 65 were uninsured at some point from 2005 through the end of 2007, according to Health District of Northern Larimer County, the latest statistics available.

The medical field has since broadened. There are now fields of specialization so if you haven’t . . . → Read More: Career Opportunities In The Health and Medical Services]]> If you want to help people, go for a health and medical career. This can only happen of course once you have gone through training which many last from a couple of years or even longer.

The medical field has since broadened. There are now fields of specialization so if you haven’t yet chosen what you want to pursue, perhaps you should browse through the medical a list of medical careers. To give you some idea, here are a few of them :

1.Dentists

Brushing and flossing your teeth isn’t enough to keep them clean. This is why people are told to visit the dentist once a year or every six months. Dentistry is usually completed after 8 years of education. It takes just as long as a medical doctor and analysts believe this demand will grow as the large number of are expected to retire soon.

The job of the dentist is to diagnose, prevent and treat problems in the teeth and also the mouth tissue. They may perform x-rays, put in protective plastic sealants, extract or repair fractured teeth. If patients need to straighten their teeth, then they have to visit an orthodontist.

Dentists use a variety of equipment to get the job done. These include mouth mirrors, probes, forceps, brushes, scalpels, drills and x-ray machines. To protect themselves and their patients, they must always sterilize their equipment; wear masks, gloves that must be disposed afterwards and protective glasses.

2.Emergency Medical Technicians

When someone is injured, we are taught to dial 911 and wait until help arrives. The one that comes through the door is a EMT or emergency medical technician whose job is to stabilize the patient until they reach the hospital.

The EMT uses special equipment like a backboard to immobilize the patient if they are seriously injured to the regular stretcher. They always work in teams. One EMT drives the ambulance while the other stays in the back to monitor the patient. Some EMT’s are even part of the flight crew of a medical evacuation team.Once they reach the hospital, they have to inform the doctor the current situation and then let them take it from there.

3.Nurses

If you like to work in a hospital or clinic side by side with a doctor, then perhaps you can choose to become a practical nurse. Their job is to care the convalescent, disabled, injured and sick. This is done by making the rounds and checking on the vital signs of the patient including the blood pressure, pulse and respiration.

They will also administer injection, enemas, monitor catheters, treat bedsores, give massages, apply dressings and a host of other things as instructed by the doctor. If another test is needed, they will collect samples. Depending on what state they are in, they may be allowed to prescribe medicines or start intravenous fluids.

4.Optometrists

If you want to help someone with their eyesight, you can become an optometrist. Their job is to examine the vision of the patient and then prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses. They may also prescribe medication as part of vision therapy and low vision rehabilitation.

People should not be confused between the optometrist and the ophthalmologist because this person does not more than just hand out corrective lenses. They perform eye surgery so the person may see again like those who are suffering from glaucoma and other eye diseases.

5.Respiratory Therapists

You may also become a respiratory therapist. This person is tasked to evaluate, treat and care for patients who have difficulty breathing or are suffering from other cardiopulmonary disorders.

They usually work under the direct supervision of the physician. To evaluate a patient, an interview is first conducted before a physical examination is done. Tests are then done to analyze the oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH levels and then comparing them with the age, height, sex and height of the patient if they are below or above normal. The results are then used to make the proper treatment decisions.

Respiratory therapists do not only treat old people but also premature infants that have not yet produced fully develop lungs. They may also be called in to help those suffering from asthma, drowning, heart attack, shock and a stroke.

6.Social Workers

One job that is not often see in line with health and medical careers but do play a role is that of a social worker. They help people who have serious illnesses, disabilities and substance abuse. They also assist families who have inadequate housing and those who are in serious domestic conflicts especially those with child or spousal abuse.

7.Speech Therapist

People who have a hard time speaking or pronouncing words will feel better after they are treated by a speech language pathologists better known as a speech therapists. These individuals assess, diagnose and treat those who have speech and communication disorders.

These speech problems may be caused by a brain injury, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, hearing impairment, language difficulties or a stroke. Given that each patient is different, the specialist will have to develop an individualized plan of care in order for it to work. The end result is for the person to be able to make sounds, improve their voice and most importantly increase their language skills so they are able to communicate more effectively.

8.Surgeons

For those that want to get into the heat of the action, they may work as surgeons. This is very challenging as most doctors work more than 60 hours a week inside the operating room. Aside from general surgery, there are many who specialize in a specific area.

Some examples of these include orthodontic surgery that is the treatment of the skeletal system, neurological that is involved with the treatment of the brain, orthopedic that is with the eyes, otolaryngology that is the treatment of the ear, nose and throat as well as plastic or reconstructive surgery for those are recovering from burn injuries or simply want to change their physical appearance.

There are many opportunities in the medical fields. You just have to find something you like and then take the proper courses in order to be certified.

While some of the jobs mentioned you can do for the rest of your life, there are others that you can’t.But if you still want to help people, go through the above list again and make that career shift.

The growth ageing population worldwide has resulted in the huge demand for health and medical care personnels, providing an excellent future and growth.