Canadian Snowbirds and Travel Insurance

For some Canadians, spending the winter months in a warmer climate like Florida or Arizona is a much more pleasant idea than facing yet another cold Canadian winter. This living arrangement is especially attractive to retirees, who do not have to remain in Canada for the winter months due to employment obligations.

Due to recent American policies, all Canadians must have a valid passport in order to enter the United States effective January 2007 when arriving by air or sea. A second rule is also currently being proposed that will require a passport in order to enter the United States via land border crossings by January 2008. It is recommended that Canadians planning to spend the upcoming winter months in an American state this winter obtain a valid passport, and carry it with them at all times.

It is important to remember that your provincial health coverage will not cover your medical expenses in the United States. We strongly recommend that every Canadian who is planning to spend the winter outside of Canada purchase travel medical benefits in order to safeguard them from incurring costly medical bills. Even one trip to the emergency room for accident or illness can cost Canadians without coverage thousands of dollars in unexpected medical bills.

Check your employee benefits (if applicable) to see if you currently have travel medical coverage. It is important to remember to closely examine this policy to determine if your coverage through your benefits will be adequate for your needs. If you require additional coverage you can purchase top up insurance.

For those with no employee benefit coverage, determine what kind of coverage you will need. Travel medical plans can be purchased to accommodate single trip and multi trip coverage, depending on how much traveling you expect to do. There are a variety of plans offering coverage for:

• Emergency Medical.
• Trip Cancellation And Interruption.
• Baggage Loss, Delay And Damage.
• Flight And Travel Accidents.

Consult with an insurance broker to properly determine your travel insurance needs. When planning your trip, remember to talk with a broker to ensure that you have the proper coverage, and leave the worrying behind along with the snow.

You can visit the World Health Organization website, useful for checking international travel advisories before leaving Canada.

Canadian Men And Prostate Cancer

It is estimated that close to 21,000 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and over 4,000 men will die as a result of the disease. With early detection however, prostate cancer is treatable, and sometimes, even preventable. Prostate cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer among Canadian men. With these new statistics coming out, it is vitally important that men become knowledgeable about prostate cancer and what resources are available to them.

While there is no evidence of one single cause of prostate cancer, there are certain factors that seem to increase the risk of developing this disease. These factors include:

Age:
Men 65 and over seem to be more at risk of developing this disease
Family history of prostate cancer:
If other men in your family have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you are at higher risk.
Diet:
Men who consume a diet high in fat increase their risk level
Lifestyle:
Obesity and inactivity contribute to risk level of prostate cancer.
Ethnic Background:
Men of African ancestry tend to be more high risk of developing prostate cancer than those of Caucasian descent.

Men who fit one or more of these categories need to be aware that they are more likely than others to have or be at risk of having prostate cancer, and consult with their family physician about testing. It is generally recommended that men start getting tested at the age of 45.

If prostate cancer is detected early enough, there will be no symptoms. However, men suffering one or more of the following symptoms are strongly urged to talk to their family physician about testing:

• A need to urinate frequently, especially at nighttime.
• Difficulty starting to urinate.
• Difficulty holding back urine.
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
• Painful or burning sensations when urinating.
• Difficulty in having an erection.
• Experiencing pain when ejaculating.
• Detecting the presence of blood in urine or semen.
• Frequent pain and/or stiffness in the lower back, hips or upper thighs.

These symptoms can also be indicators of other health issues, so it is important to have a thorough work-up from your doctor to determine the origin of your symptoms.

For men who are unsure of what questions to ask their doctor, or how to interpret their test results, the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation offers this information. Some other websites offering valuable information on prostate cancer and testing are:

• Canadian Prostate Health Council
• Canadian Prostate Cancer Network
• Procure Alliance
• Canadian Cancer Society

These websites offer information on testing procedures, prevention, alternative treatments and support groups for those who are currently battling this disease. Ask your physician as well for information and informational sources regarding your health.
 

Flu Shots For Canadians

Once again, it is that time of year that Canadians are vulnerable to influenza. "Flu" season typically starts in November and ends in April. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which causes a respiratory infection. Although the majority of Canadians recover from the flu, for some it can be potentially fatal. Pneumonia and other serious complications can set in, caused by influenza, causing serious medical problems.

Many Canadians are confused about what influenza actually is, and when they have it. Many times people misconstrue their symptoms of mild food poisoning as the stomach flu, which actually does not exist. The common cold can also be construed as the flu. Influenza typically has symptoms beginning with a headache, cough and chills, followed by a fever, runny nose and sneezing, and watery eyes. Loss of appetite is also common. Children may experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

There are certain populations that have been designated "high risk" and as such, are encouraged to receive yearly flu shots. This includes people who fall into one or  more of the following categories:

• Infants 6-23 months.
• Anyone with chronic heart and/or lung disease.
• Anyone residing in nursing homes or chronic care facilities.
• Anyone working in a health care related field with chronic exposure to the flu virus.
• Anyone traveling to areas with a flu outbreak.
• Anyone with diabetes, anemia, cancer, immune suppression, kidney disease or HIV
  Children on ASA therapy.

Those who should not get the flu shot:

• Under 6 months of age.
• Anyone who has a severe allergic reaction to eggs.
• Anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous flu shot.

The flu shot can have some minimal side effects, the most common being soreness at the injection site. Fever, fatigue, and muscle aches are also common. These side effects are temporary, usually only lasting 1-2 days.

Consult your family physician about whether the flu shot is an option for you. For those who do not have a family physician, and wish to receive the flu shot, consult http://www.gov.on.ca for resources in your area.

It is important to remember that those showing symptoms of the flu need to avoid infecting others, especially those who are very young or very old who may become seriously ill if infected. If you suspect that you may be becoming ill, avoid anyone who falls into the high risk category. During flu season wash your hands frequently as a means of reducing your chances of catching the virus.
 

Paramedicals and Health Plans

Today, people have a wide array of health care choices. With new technological and research advances, there are a wider variety of prescription drugs and treatments available for most health problems. Unlike some previous healthcare choices , new drug therapy can be very effective with fewer side effects. This, combined with other forms of therapy, can be highly effective for people suffering from pain caused by back and foot problems. 

For many health problems relating to back and foot pain, your doctor may recommend that you seek treatment from a chiropractor, chiropodist, massage therapist, podiatrist, acupuncturist, or naturopath (depending on the nature of your injury). These treatments, combined with drug therapy, can help promote healing and drastically reduce healing time. There are many effective prescription drugs that can help reduce the swelling and the pain, while treatment from a relevant health care practitioner can help resolve the underlying health issue. 

Check to see if your current health insurance plan covers these forms of treatments. For those who want to create their own unique health care coverage, we offer a "Stand-Alone" option, which is available via the Flexcare Core Plan. The Flexcare Basic Plan allows the consumer to choose coverage for such treatment options such as:

• Chiropractor
• Chiropodist
• Osteopath
• Naturopath
• Podiatrist
• Registered Massage Therapist
• Acupuncturist

A medical questionnaire is required, and there is a 20 visit maximum per discipline per year limit. For those consumers who wish to purchase more comprehensive add-on coverage, Flexcare Enhanced Plan is also available.

Talk to your family physician about the new courses of treatment available, and whether they would be beneficial to you. Your doctor can usually recommend a specialist. For those who are seeking a physician see the College Of Physicians And Surgeons web site.

Canadian Dispensing Fees

In Ontario the dispensing fees you pay the pharmacist are posted for you to see, and you may have noticed that those fees are not the same everywhere.

Here are some of the costs that pharmacies use to determine the dispensing fee:

• Supplier costs.
• Providing drug counseling.
• Providing information to physicians and suppliers.
• Record keeping.
• Stocking of prescription drugs.

Some expenses are not directly prescription drug related but are business expenses, which are also taken into account when calculating and setting the dispensing fees. For example, the rent paid for the office spaces, the salaries of employees, etc.

So what options are open to the consumer? Shop around! Even within such major chains as Shoppers Drug Mart or Rexall Drugs, dispensing fees still vary. In Ontario the dispensing fees can range from $2.00 to $15.00 or more.

For persons with high and frequent use of prescription drugs there is also the option of using mail order pharmacies, who generally have lower fees.

There are also health plans out there that will pay reasonable and customary dispensing fees in full. An example of this is Manulife's Flexcare ComboPlus (Enhanced) plan.