Long Term Care and LTC insurance is an important issue for baby boomers, their parents and me. The reality of long term care is at the forefront of our minds because of the news and TV. We must ask ourselves what impact an unexpected illness or accident would have on our finances. What is long-term care who needs it and how much will it cost. Before we look at these questions let me share some fun facts about getting "older".

1. Over 40% of all Americans over the age of 65 will spend some time in a nursing home due to a prolonged illness or disability.

2. One year in a nursing home can cost $36,000 to $60,000. Currently, the average cost in a long term care facility in America is $41,000 per year. The average cost of a visit by a home health aide is $52. Daily visits would cost you almost $19,000 per year. Skilled nursing at home, to administer medication or oxygen, for example, five days per week for a year would cost you an average of $94 per visit, or $24,440 per year.

3. Health care plans and Medicare combined pay only about 3% of the costs of long term care. State Medicaid programs rescue only those families who descend to the poverty level. The rest comes out of pocket - nest eggs, funds earmarked for retirement, life savings - or from a long term care insurance policy.

4. In 1983, Medicare began a new program called the Prospective Payment System. Instead of reimbursing hospitals for the actual cost of treating patients, this program now pays a set fee according to 467 Diagnostic Related Groups, or DRGs. Once a patient reaches the arbitrary number of days in the hospital, Medicare payments stop regardless of the individual patient's actual condition or the need for continuing care.

5. 70% of people who are older than 65 will need long term care services.

6. 77 million Americans will turn 50 over the next 18 years. That's 1 person every 7.5 seconds.

7. 43% of individuals age 65 will enter a nursing home sometime in their lifetime, with 50% staying an average of 2.5 years.

8. The national average cost for 1 year in a nursing home is approximately $41,000; in larger cities from $50 to $60,000 annually.

9. 50 percent of all couples and 70 percent of single persons are impoverished within one year of entering a nursing home.

10. For every person receiving care in a nursing home, there are 4 people receiving care outside a facility.

11. The annual cost to companies for lost productivity from elder care responsibilities is $17 billion a year or $3,142 per employee.

12. By 2020, 1 in 3 workers will provide some type of elder care.

Most of us would never dream of not having home owners insurance, health insurance (that's another issue) or auto insurance. After looking at some of the facts and family medical history, the conclusion seems clear that as baby boomers, we must give this a serious look. The challenge for us is too learn as much as we can about long term care so that we can have options and not be caught off guard by an unexpected illness that could wipe out our retirement or add an undue burden on our families.

Benefits

In some geographical regions and in highly competitive industries, labor is a commodity that is not easily renewed or replaced. You want to find and keep good employees to decrease the expense of turnover and training, and employers must be increasingly creative in efforts to "sweeten the deal." Traditional benefits alone simply don't cut it anymore in many locations--every employer in your sector may be offering group medical and dental insurance and a 401k. So how do stand out from the crowd? The use of alternative benefits is one important way to attract and retain high quality employees. What's "alternative" about benefits?

Alternative benefits are so named because they are incentives offered to employees that are not part what is considered a traditional benefits package. They are limited only by the employer's creativity and ability to broker deals with other organizations, and may include such benefits as the following:

*Flex time *Shift sharing *Schedule flexibility *Public transportation discounts *Onsite massages *Company-provided snacks *Health club memberships *Telecommuting *Child care co-ops *Tuition reimbursement *After work activities *Nap time

What are the best alternative benefits?

The answer depends on many factors, of course, since all employees and their needs are different. And you need to consider your resources as well--some alternative benefits are more expensive to administer than others. But keep this important guideline in mind: work is not life. With a few (perhaps unstable) exceptions, employees do not live for their jobs--they go to their jobs so they can more fully live. Alternative benefits that help employees do that are sure to be big hits. For instance, onsite massages are terrific stress reducers, but what John, who works on the shop floor, really wants is to be able to go to his son's baseball game at 3:00, well before his shift is over. Free popcorn and sodas are great, but it's being able to set her own schedule that keeps Megan from going to work for a competitor.

Life-enhancing benefits

When you remember that not everyone needs tuition reimbursement, but everyone wants better quality of life, it's easy to make good decisions about alternative benefits. Here are some from the list above with a short description of how these benefits help to keep employees happy in their non-work lives:

Flex time allows employees to work additional hours so they can take those hours as paid time off later. Mary might have a family event coming up, but she does not have enough personal leave to take the day off. Planning in advance, she works 88 hours the preceding pay period so she can take 8 paid hours off when she needs to.

Shift sharing means two or more part-time workers share a full-time shift's hours between them. The shift is covered, and the employees gain desired flexibility.

Telecommuting is when an employee works from home or another suitable location rather than commuting to the job site. It is obviously not applicable to all jobs or industries, but Internet technology is steadily increasing the number of workers who do part or all of their work from a remote site. This is a particularly attractive option in large urban areas where rush hour commutes to the office can be long and nightmarish.

Health club or gym memberships pay big dividends, both for the worker and the employer. A healthier employee is happier and more productive, and you save money on insurance premiums and absenteeism.

Take stock of your employees, their needs, and your community resources. With some careful planning and research, you can craft an alternative benefits package that meets employees' needs while also bringing measurable benefits to your bottom line. Employees are not only your most valuable resource; they are also the most desired commodity of your competitors. It's in your best business interest to treat them well.

If the idea sounds good to you, but you lack the time or resources to design an alternative benefits package, consider outsourcing your Human Resources functions. A Professional Employer Organization, or PEO, specializes in all aspects of the employee-employer relationship and can take over your HR-related tasks efficiently and professionally.

What is Insurance

Health insurance is a type of policy that will pay certain amount of money promised by the insurance company to the insurance holder for medical expenses or treatments as specified in the policy. It can also be defined as a protection cover that includes benefits for covered injury or sickness. It is one of the most common insurance policies across the globe. Millions of people worldwide have already purchased this policy and benefited from it.

There are several benefits of purchasing a health insurance policy. As a policy holder, you need to understand all the health insurance benefits that you are entitled to prior to purchasing health insurance. A typical health insurance policy covers you for any ancillary requirements associated to a medical condition. These include visiting to the doctor, vision care, dental care, preventative health care and pharmaceutical requirements.

It is equally important to make sure that your health insurance policy provides you the lowest premium. Finding a low cost health insurance is not as difficult as it seems to be. You need to do a research and find a health insurance policy that meets your requirements at a specific cost that you can afford.

For this, you can easily visit some of the most reputed and famous health insurance companies. Mark around four to five best companies and collect quotes. These quotes are free. Compare the cover, services and prices quoted for health insurance policy by each company. This will help you outline the policy that provides you the best and most affordable health insurance policy.

You can also look for an employer sponsored group health insurance plan. Group health insurance plans are considered to be the most affordable and low cost health insurance plans as compared to state sponsored health insurance plans.

If you can get a group health insurance plan for your employer, you would be paying less for your health insurance plan. This is more affordable option than a group health insurance plan that you purchase on your own.

There are certain requirements you need to fulfill for an employer sponsored group health insurance plan. These requirements range from employer to employer. It depends on the number of hours you work. Your status will also play an important role here. Most employers also have time requirements. This means that the employee should be with the company for a stipulated period of time before he or she is considered eligible for the employer sponsored group health insurance plan.

There are several reasons that you can avail lower premiums on employer sponsored group health insurance plans. To learn about this in detail let us assume that you have an employer sponsored group health insurance plan and the premiums are either divided between you and your employer or paid completely by your employer. This means that you are supposed to pay only half of the health insurance premiums and a low cost co-payment. You just require to pay an affordable co-payment.

If you consider covering your spouse and children under employer sponsored group health insurance plan, it will become more affordable. Here you can group the policy for all your family members rather than purchasing individual health policies for each of your family members.

Going for a low cost health insurance plan will save you a good amount of money.

Family Insurance

If you have a spouse or children, you need life insurance. You have heard it before, but it bears repeating. How would they be able to handle things if some drunk driver ran into you tomorrow and you died?

Life insurance is a fairly simple concept, but it can appear complex to the average person. The complexity comes from the terms used. If you can understand the language, you can make a better determination of what you need. So, let's talk terms!

An Adjustable Life Insurance Policy is a popular product. As the name suggests, one can adjust the premiums, term, death benefit and time when premiums are paid. Such flexibility lets you coordinate the policy to your current needs as they change.

An Annual Payment Annuity provides you with simplicity. As the name suggests, you can pay the entire premium for the year at one time. Of course, you need to make sure yo have cash on hand to do so.

The Cash Surrender Value of a policy is often misunderstood. It refers to the amount due a person who terminates a policy holding a vested cash reserve in it. There is often an arbitrary charge deducted by the insurer as well.

The Commutation Rights associated with an insurance policy apply to the beneficiary of the policy. Depending on the policy, the beneficiary may elect to convert installment payments to a lump sum payment.

Much like a secondary beneficiary, a Contingent Beneficiary is a person other than the primary beneficiary who will receive the death benefit. Some policies limit the beneficiaries at two people, but there can be more depending on your needs.

The Right of Conversion refers to an individual's right to convert a policy held as part of a group into an individual policy if the person ceases to be part of the group.

The insurance phrase Double Benefit or Double Indemnity refers to a policy that pays out double the stated benefit if the person whose life it is based on passes away in a particular way, such as a car crash.

Dependent Coverage refers to the people covered by a policy. More often found in health insurance policies, the general rule is the married spouse and unmarried children are covered.

A Universal Life Insurance Policy is another pillar of the insurance industry. It is an adjustable policy with a flexible premium. You can choose what you can afford to pay at a given time and a corresponding death benefit is generated. This can be adjusted from time to time.

A Variable Life Insurance Policy is used both as a financial safety net and investment vehicle. The policy builds up cash value that can be invested. Depending on the policy, the premiums and death benefit will change as the cash value grows.

The important thing to understand about life insurance is that polices differ greatly. This means you must understand exactly how a policy being pitched to you works. If terms are used that you don't understand, ask for clarification!

Small Business

If you are a small business owner, you want to offer your employees the best small business health insurance plan available. However, because health insurance can be among the most expensive items in your budget, you also want to get a cheap rate.

Decide What Kind of Small Business Health Insurance You Want to Offer

Three types of small business health insurance plans are available:

* Fee for Service plans are the most costly small business health insurance plans. Your employees can choose any doctor or hospital. They receive a fixed reimbursement for medical costs, usually around 80%.

* PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations) provide comprehensive health services but employees must choose a doctor and hospital that is part of the PPO's network.

* HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) are similar to PPOs in that employees must choose a doctor and hospital that is in the network. However, HMOs usually offer fewer choices than PPOs and may require approval before an employee can visit a specialist. HMOs offer the cheapest rate for small business health insurance plans.

Gather Information the Insurance Company Will Need to Develop A Quote

The rates for small business health insurance plans are based on such factors as * The general age and health of your employees, including tobacco use. * The hazards of the job. * The location of the business.

You need to collect this information before you shop for small business health insurance.

Get Quotes from Multiple Companies

Now you are ready to compare the rates and benefits of small business health insurance plans. The Internet makes this task easy. You can fill out a form online and receive quotes from multiple small business health insurance companies.

At some insurance sites, you can even chat online with insurance professionals, getting complete and accurate answers to all your insurance questions (see link below). Then you can choose which small business health insurance plan offers the cheapest rate for you and your employees, while offering the best benefits for your money.

Florida Insurance

Are you a Florida resident who is looking to get health insurance coverage for yourself or your family? If you are, you may be wondering exactly how you can go about getting health insurance in Florida. The good news is that there are multiple ways for you to get health insurance in Florida. A few of the most common ways are outlined below.

A good percentage of the Florida population, who has health insurance, has it through their employers. Most employers allow their employees to join their health insurance programs if they want to do so. This is often one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get health insurance in Florida. If you are currently employed, you are advised to speak with your employer's personnel department about health insurance, like it if is available. If you have the opportunity to get health insurance in Florida through your employer, you are advised to at least give it a close look.

If you are considered low income, you may be able to get health insurance in Florida through the Florida government. As you likely already know, these polices tend to not cover as much as purchased health insurance policies, but for some it is enough. To qualify for government backed health insurance in Florida, you need to make an appointment with your local social services department. From there, it should be determined whether or not you qualify for government backed coverage.

If your employer doesn't offer health insurance, if you make too much money for government assistance, or if you are self-employed, you may need to look into buying your own health insurance in Florida. When it comes to doing so, you will find that many well-known health insurance companies have coverage plans that you can buy for yourself. In fact, when buying health insurance in Florida, you can not only get health insurance coverage for yourself, but also for your whole family or even your employees, if you are a small business owner.

The above mentioned ways are just a few of the many ways that you can go about getting health insurance in Florida. As a reminder, if you are married, you are advised to see if your spouse has a health insurance program that you can join. If you are a dependant child who is attending college full time, you may still be able to get health insurance coverage through your parents, if they have it. When looking to get health insurance in Florida, it is advised that you first explore all of your avenues, particularly the ones outlined above.

If you are currently without health insurance in Florida, you are advised to seriously consider getting coverage. Yes, you may have been lucky so far and not needed any medical care, but a time may come in the future when you do. Also, those who have health insurance coverage are more likely to schedule annual physical examinations or checkups. Many times, these appointments are where serious health problems are found; problems that otherwise would have never been found, at least not right away.

Insurance Quotes

Are you in need of Florida health insurance for you or your family? You are, you may be required to buy your own health insurance, especially if you are self-employed or if your employer doesn't have their own health insurance plan. When it comes to buying your own Florida health insurance, your goal should be quality coverage, but at an affordable price. To achieve your goal, you will need to need to rely heavily on Florida health insurance quotes.

Even if you have never bought Florida health insurance before, you likely already know what a Florida health insurance quote is, as insurance quotes are used for a number of insurance policies, including homeowners insurance or automobile insurance. Requesting a Florida heath insurance quote enables you to get an idea as to how much you would have to pay for insurance coverage. You are given an estimated cost of insurance by answering a few simple questions about yourself and your current health, as well as any previous health conditions.

One of the many reasons why you and all other Florida health insurance seekers are urged to request Florida health insurance quotes is because they are easy to get, not to mention free. With the internet, you could request multiple health insurance quotes in no time at all. In fact, you are urged to request more than one Florida health insurance quote. Multiple Florida health insurance quotes makes it easier for you to find adequate insurance coverage, but at the cheapest price.

As it was previously mentioned, the internet allows you to request multiple health insurance quotes in what may seem like no time at all. There are two ways that you can do this. One way involves finding the online websites of Florida health insurance companies. You can easily find these websites by performing a standard internet search. Once at the online website of a Florida health insurance company, you should be able to request a free Florida health insurance quote. You may receive a response in as little as a few minutes. As a reminder, the more quotes you request, the more insurance plans you will have to compare.

Although visiting the online websites of multiple Florida health insurance companies and requesting a free Florida health insurance quote from each is a great way to get quotes, there is an easier way. That way involves using online websites that aim to connect insurance seekers, like you, with quality and affordable health insurance. What is nice about these Florida health insurance quote websites, as they are often referred to, is that you don't have to fill out multiple Florida health insurance quote forms. Most of these websites only require you to fill out one form and then they distribute them to reputable Florida health insurance companies. Not only will this eliminate most of the work that you have to do, but it is also quick and easy.

As outlined above, there are a couple of different ways that you can go about getting a Florida health insurance quote or even a number of them. Thanks to the internet and Florida health insurance quote websites, you can be on your way to having affordable health insurance in no time at all.

What to Look For

Are you a Florida resident who needs to buy your own health insurance? If you are, you will soon see that you have a number of different options. There are a relatively large number of health insurance companies that offer insurance to Florida residents, just like you. Many of those companies also offer multiple Florida health insurance plans, so many that you may be wondering exactly what you should look for in one.

When it comes to getting yourself adequate Florida health insurance coverage, it is advised that you take a step back and closely examine yourself, as well as your needs. For instance, have you had any serious health complications in the past? If so, what were they? Are you planning on having a child in the near future? Does your family have a history of medical illnesses? These are important questions that you will need to ask yourself, as the answers are what will be used to determine what you need in Florida health insurance.

What many individual do, when it comes to getting Florida health insurance, is spend the time searching for the plan that is right for them. This can get pretty time consuming, but it is important work that needs to be done. What you may want to think about doing is researching numerous health insurance companies and their Florida health insurance plans. You may even want to print off the information that you find, particularly about each individual Florida health insurance plan you come across. Reviewing health insurance plans in print is sometimes easier than doing so from a computer screen, as you are less likely to misread or misinterpret the information you are given.

Since cost plays an important part in choosing a Florida health insurance plan for yourself, you may also want to request free Florida health insurance quotes. This can be done by visiting a Florida health insurance quote website or health insurance company websites individually. Having an estimated price tag to go along with the information acquired, as per the outlines above, can make choosing the perfect health insurance plan easier, as you need one that you can afford.

As outlined above, it is also important that you take your needs into consideration. For instance, if you have had previous health complications in the past, you may want to keep those complications in mind, as well as a family history of any medical illnesses. If you are more likely to experience health problems, it may be a good idea to purchase Florida health insurance plans with the most coverage. Yes, this may be a little bit more expensive, but so would be seeking medical treatment without having adequate medical insurance coverage. Also, keep your need for prescriptions in mind, as well as wanting to have a child. Maternity coverage and prescription coverage doesn't always come standard; therefore, you may need to find Florida health insurance plans that have them.

Buying Florida health insurance is a process that needs to be thoroughly thought out and examined; it is one that shouldn't be made on a whim. Choosing the wrong Florida health insurance plan, like one that doesn't have enough coverage, may end up costing you a considerable amount of money in the long run.

One of the most commonly purchased types of health insurance Jacksonville plans is that of individual plans. An individual health insurance Jacksonville plan is what you need if you are only purchasing insurance for yourself. If you are unmarred, self-employed, or if your employer doesn't have a health insurance program, you will likely need to get a health insurance Jacksonville plan. If you are married, you are first advised to examine your spouse's heath insurance plan, if they have one, as you may be able to be added on to their plan.

If you are looking to get insurance for your home family, like your spouse or any dependant children that you may have, you will need to get a health insurance Jacksonville plan that is referred to as a family plan. A family health insurance Jacksonville plan is one that covers you and all of your dependants. As previously mentioned, this may include your spouse or any children that you have, who are typically under the age of eighteen. The cost of a family health insurance Jacksonville plan will cost more than an individual plan, but do not let the cost turn you off, as you need to remember that you are buying insurance for your whole family.

Also, if you are a small business owner, you may not only be able to get insurance for yourself, but for your small business employees as well. If you are a Jacksonville business owner who is looking to do this, you will want to look for a plan that is sometimes referred to as a small business health insurance Jacksonville plan. Many times, you do not have to pay for the costs of insurance by yourself, as you can opt to have your employees pay a small portion of the costs too.

As outlined above, you have the option to choose between a family health insurance Jacksonville plan, an individual plan, as well as a small business plan. Mistakenly purchasing the wrong health insurance Jacksonville plan can get quite costly, as well as get you much more coverage than you need. That is why it is first advised that you look at your needs for insurance before you start buying health insurance for yourself, your family, or your small business employees.

Once you have decided which health insurance Jacksonville plan you need, you may want to start requesting free health insurance quotes. You can easily do this by using a website that is sometimes referred to as a health insurance quote website. These websites are designed to make finding, learning about, and choosing a health insurance Jacksonville plan easy.

Before examining whether or not you should turn to health insurance quote websites for assistance, it is best if you know exactly what they are. Although these websites are often referred to as health insurance quote websites, many actually do more than just give you heath insurance quotes. These websites often also tend to give you information on numerous health insurance plans, including Florida health individual insurance plans, and Florida health insurance companies.

One of the many reasons why these health insurance quote websites are so popular is because of the quote process. Many websites only require that you fill out one Florida health individual insurance quote form, but that one quote form is often used to get you numerous health insurance quotes, from different Florida health insurance companies. Perhaps, this, alone, makes using a health insurance quote website worth it, as you can save yourself a considerable amount of time.

It is also important to mention ease of use. Many of the websites that you come across are extremely easy to use. In fact, you should even be able to request Florida health individual insurance quotes even if you don't consider yourself to be experienced with computers. Yes, it is that easy! To make using a health insurance quote website even easier, you are urged to search for a website that has a customer service department, particularly one where you can get live support from agents. This live support may assist you with correctly filling out your quote forms, learning more about a particular health insurance company, or even choosing the right Florida health individual insurance plan for yourself.

The decision as to whether or not you want to use websites that are often referred to as health insurance quote websites is yours to make, but they are at least worth looking into. To find these websites, you are advised to perform a standard internet search. As a reminder, be the on lookout for websites that have a customer service department, as well as those that work with well-known and reputable Florida health insurance companies, as they are the type of websites that you want.

Getting Florida health individual insurance is a process that should be closely examined, but it doesn't have to be a long, overdrawn, or complicated process. For assistance with finding the perfect health insurance company, as well as the perfect Florida health individual insurance, consider finding a website or a service, like the ones mentioned above. They aim to pair you with the perfect Florida insurance company and the perfect insurance plan.

COBRA

There are many downsides to losing your job to say the least. One that may not immediately come to mind is the loss of your health insurance, but there is a form of fall back health insurance you can rely upon.

COBRA may sound like an odd name for a health insurance subject, but it is the abbreviation of the legislation giving rise to insurance coverage for those who lose their job. The law in question is the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation At of 1985. Now you see why COBRA is used!

COBRA is designed to provide a critical bridge between the health insurance plans provided by employers. Put in simpler terms, it is a safety net for the person that loses their job and has medical needs. The importance of this bridge cannot be understated given the fact that many people have a spouse and children that need care.

The program creates a bridge for health insurance by legally extending the plan of your former employer. If you resign or lose your job for any reason other than gross conduct, you can take advantage of COBRA. The law allows you to stay on the health plan of the former employer for up to 18 months. In many cases, your spouse and children can actually be covered for much longer.

COBRA is not a free ride. You must pay the premiums to maintain the coverage. Although the coverage is from the health insurance plan of your former employer, the employer is no required to foot the bill. The law also applies only to businesses that have more than 20 employees.

So, who is able to take advantage of COBRA coverage? Obviously, you can. So can your spouse and your children. Interestingly, your spouse and children can take advantage of it even if you do not.

The laws relating to COBRA can be fairly complex. There are exceptions to the federal law that can preclude you from health coverage. If you run into this situation, there may still be a solution. Many states also have laws on the book similar to COBRA and they are often more favorable to employees. If you can't get coverage under the federal COBRA law, make sure to check with the Labor Board in your state to ascertain your rights under state law.

At the end of the day, COBRA is a huge relief for people that lose their jobs for one reason or another. This is particularly true if you have a family that has medical needs.

Facts

To fully grasp the field of health insurance, it helps to start with the most basic of things.

Health Insurance is a form of insurance where the insurer pays the medical bills of the person who is insured. At least, the insurer pays the medical bills if the medical treatment is covered by the insurance policy. There are other factors that may have an impact on the responsibility of the insurer to pay. These include deductibles, co-payments, and in-network care providers. There are some countries that consider Health Insurance as a basic right of all citizens and the government provides it at no cost to everyone. The United States has a system of private health insurance where the responsibility for procuring it is up to the individual.

It is estimated that 85% of all Americans are covered by health insurance. Around 60% of this total receives their insurance through their employers and another 29% receive it from some government agency. There are an estimated 41.2 million people in the United States that are not covered by any form of health insurance. The cost of health insurance plans is the most often cited reason for lack of coverage, although some people feel that the current structure of the plans makes them unnecessary for healthy people.

Health insurance traces its origins back to 1694 when Hugh the Elder Chamberlen first proposed a type of disability insurance in England. Up until the mid 20th century this was the basis for most health insurance policies. They were actually disability insurance policies as the coverage only applied to injuries and medical treatments that could lead to permanent disability. In recent years, the thrust of the policies has been more toward health than disability. Coverage was extended to routine medical treatments, preventive care, emergency room visits, and even prescription drugs.

The full answer to the question "what is health insurance?" is a bit complicated as several different formats have evolved. A policy that pays the entire cost of medical treatments, which is what is offered in other countries that provide universal health insurance, is rare in the United States. Most policies have deductibles, which is the amount the insured must pay up front before the insurance kicks in. There are also co-payments where the cost of routine procedures is split between the insurance company and the insured.

There are several issues that have forced the cost of health insurance up and led to increased deductibles and co-payments. One is the ever rising cost of medical care. Another has to do with the selection process. Health insurance works on the general principle that a large number of healthy people pay insurance premiums and when one of them becomes ill, the collected money pays his expenses. The problem is that many healthy people are opting out on health insurance, which means the dynamic has changed. Now, a large number of not so healthy people are paying premiums and most of them need the money to pay their expenses. This is one of the reasons that insurance companies have become more willing to pay for routine care and especially preventive medicine.