There have been recent reports in media that the Swine Flu situation has risen to a state of emergency. Some wonder if this is truly the case, while there are others who argue that the Swine flu has had a powerful effect on children. Black doctors have had a great deal to say about the impact of the vaccine on the African American community. Last week, Dr. Elaina George had a lively debate with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on The Michael Baisden Show about the merits of the Swine Flu Vaccine.

I caught up with Dr. George, a Princeton-educated physician, about the alleged state of emergency and she had this to say:

Most of us are worried about the Swine flu and what it could do to the health of our nation. While most physicians are not speaking to the public, Dr. Elaina George is full of good information. A Princeton-trained physician who has a great deal to say about African American health, Dr. George recently shared some information on how to manage the Swine flu.

Health Insurance Companies causing pain for patients: Are insurance companies limiting the options available to your doctor? That may be the case. While our nation is quick to blame physicians for the state of healthcare, the insurance companies may be a more sensible target for our collective frustration.


What is umbrella insurance? - This type of policy protects you from all the things that your standard insurance plan doesn't cover. Everyone should consider getting umbrella insurance.

Swine flu season is coming and the world is ducking for cover. Media coverage of this phenomenon (also known as the H1N1 Virus) has me shaking at the sight of a pig or a pork chop. People are dying and there is now talk of a potential pandemic of epic proportions. In response to my own panic, as well as that of the rest of America, drug manufacturers are pushing hard to get the latest vaccines on the market. People are going to be afraid regardless, so why not make a profit in the process, right?

But is all the hype necessary or is the media playing with our heads? If you decide to get the swine flu vaccine, are there questions you should ask your doctor first?

Most of us think that drugs which come out of a legal manufacturer are going to be safer than those being sold by a dealer on the corner. That was once the case. But with the deaths of Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger and Anna Nicole Smith, it has become clearer by the day that prescription drugs are fast becoming America's new obsession.

Rush Limbaugh, a man who once called for drug addicts to be sent to prison, found himself hooked on Oxycontin, which is considered a form of legalized heroin. College students are also getting in on the act by abusing a drug called Adderall, typically used to treat ADHD symptoms. The drug intensifies the students' ability to study, allowing the student to focus for long periods of time.

Liberal Democrats chose not to inject the widely debated Public Option into the healthcare legislation being put together in the Senate Finance Committee. This is going to change up the healthcare reform debate dramatically.

Obama's Ex-Doctor Says Insurers are Screwing up: Many are blaming doctors for the problems in healthcare. However, some argue, like Dr. Elaina George, that the biggest culprits are hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and health insurers.

Nippets of insurance news you can use:

Things your property insurance doesn't cover: In our last conversation about property insurance, we were surprised by the fact that your property insurance doesn't cover everything you might have thought it did. Many victims of Hurricane Katrina received a painful crash course in the subtleties of property insurance. Don't let that happen to you.
People are starting to go abroad to find affordable healthcare: This might surprise you, but there ACTUALLY ARE real doctors who exist outside the borders of the United States. I am being sarcastic here, but the truth is that the high cost of healthcare has led to many Americans going overseas to get the treatment they need.