Category: Creating Healthy Communities

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Julia Storm

Julia Storm serves as Agromedicine Information Specialist at North Carolina State University and North Carolina Cooperative Extension. She is actively involved in the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute, a partnership of East Carolina University, NC State University and NC A&T State University, whose mission is to promote the health and safety of farmers, foresters, fishers, workers, and their families and communities through research, education, and outreach.

Julia grew up in a small town in East Tennessee. She went to school …

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What Can I Do to Promote Energy Conservation with Trees in My Community?

The best ways to promote energy conservation with trees in your community are educating others about the benefits of urban trees, advocating for tree planting and protection, and taking action to increase local tree canopy cover.

Although most people can appreciate the comforting shade of a tree on a hot summer’s day, many do not realize how large an impact that trees can have on energy consumption for both cooling and heating buildings. Therefore, most people under-estimate the energy conservation …

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Andrew B. Crocker

Andrew B. Crocker

As Extension Program Specialist III – Gerontology and Health, Andy Crocker’s focus is to support education and outreach regarding the health and well-being of the aging population in the State of Texas. His main role is to support the County Extension Agents for Family and Consumer Sciences in their outreach efforts to older adults, caregivers and the professionals who serve them.

Since joining AgriLife Extension in 2003, Mr. Crocker has worked to develop resources to help older adults improve their …

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What happens if even the bronze plan under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) costs too much?

The Affordable Care Act mandates that most people are insured either through their place of employment or purchasing a policy on their own. Remember, beginning in October 2013 there will be options in every state for purchasing insurance through a state-wide Marketplace.

There are exemptions from that mandate for several reasons including financial hardship, which is an official definition based on income and family size. The good news is that, depending upon your income level, you may qualify for …

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Bonnie Braun

Bonnie Braun was born, raised and educated in Missouri. The Midwest vantage point framed her understanding of the diversity of people and perspectives. She was introduced to ideas and ways of living “back East, out West, up North and down south.” Over the years, her positions with Extension in multiple states and at the USDA took her to those areas where she experienced life in all four geographic regions. She moved from living on a farm, to small towns, to …

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How do I take on a new cost for health insurance when I can barely pay my bills now?

A spending plan is just exactly that, a plan for how you will spend all the dollars your earn and those given to you (including, hopefully, directing some to savings). To make a change in your spending plan such as adding in health insurance costs or taking on a new car payment, it helps to be as inclusive as possible when calculating all of your monthly expenses. In other words, don’t write in only the premium cost, but include some …

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Health Insurance FAQs

The Health Insurance Literacy ASK group provides answers to your questions about the Affordable Care Act to help you make smart health insurance choices and to plan your personal finances.

Here is a collection of the most common questions. If you can’t find the answer to your question among the list, you can search for additional information using the search box at the top of the page or submit your own personal question to our Ask an Expert Feature. …

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Can grandchildren being taken care of by grandparents be on our insurance until age 26 and what if we go on Medicare?

Grandparent

Grandparent

If you are the legal guardian or foster parent, your grandchildren can be added to a healthcare plan you purchase on your own through your employer until they reach the age of 26. If you are not the legal guardian, they will not be covered in your individual or employer plans and you will have to look at other options.

Medicare is and will remain as individual health insurance only for those 65 and over. If you are on …

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What is the difference between a premium, a co-pay and and out-of-pocket expense?

Health Insurance Plan costs can be broken into two categories: cost of having the plan and costs of using the plan. In order to purchase and continue to have health insurance coverage, you have to pay a premium. The premium is paid on a regular basis such as a certain amount monthly, quarterly or yearly. It is typical that when purchased through your employer, the plan premium is deducted from each paycheck. Basically, the premium buys you the health …

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