(NewsUSA) – During these tough economic times, as America continues to look at cost cutting options, many people will be shopping for a health insurance plan. It’s important to know that there are health plans that are affordable and are a fit for you and your family while still offering the coverage you need to protect your family.

Know your needs. What types of coverage are most important to you? Do you or a family member take a prescription regularly? Knowing how much coverage you need is important when deciding which health care plan is best.

Learn the lingo. Some insurers are working to use more consumer-friendly language. Learning how a high-deductible plan tied to a health savings account (HSA) that offers choice among physicians and hospitals and how it works best with your needs, is important.

Availability when you need it most. Many insurers are working hard to ensure customers have health-related information when they need it, such as:

* Use of understandable consumer-friendly language

* Access to customer call centers and nurse hotlines 24/7, 365 days a year, giving constant access to a nurse or person to help solve a claims issue

* Online tools to search for claims information and check for benefit qualifications, co-pays, and deductibles

* Tools to compare prices on the drugs you need, helping find the best prices available

Schedule that yearly appointment. Regular checkups can help prevent potential problems or catch conditions early, saving money.

Note to editors: The following states may find this story useful: CA, CO, AZ, TX, TN, FL, GA, NC, CT, SC

Look for “extras.” Many insurers offer discounts for programs such as smoking cessation, weight loss, fitness club memberships and other services already being used by an individual.

Quality matters. Feel confident about choosing the right individual plan for you. Check out report cards for different plans on the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Web site, available at http://reportcard.ncqa.org/plan/external/plansearch.aspx.

For information about individual health products from CIGNA, visit www.cignaforyou.com/hctips.
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Father’s Day gift ideas for any dad

(ARA) – Don’t let Father’s Day shopping get you worked up. The dad in your life will be excited about any gift you give him. But to really blow him away, forget flipping through Sunday’s ads, scouring online and spending sleepless nights debating your purchase – here are some great Father’s Day gift ideas that are sure to please.

For the snacking dad
Keeping dad’s stomach happy long before the dinner bell rings has never been easier. Naturally high in protein, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky is the perfect way to leave dad feeling satisfied between meals. Whether he’s watching a game, hitting the gym, in the car or anywhere in between, nothing cures snack cravings like a bag of  beef jerky.

Using only the finest cuts of 100 percent meat and seasonings that dads – men, for that matter – can’t seem to get enough of, there are more than 100 great meat snacks to choose from. Here are a few snack favorites that will fill your dad up … not out:
* The Original: Jack Link’s Original Beef Jerky
* The Classic: Jack Link’s Steakhouse Recipe Beef Jerky
* The Spicy: Jack Link’s Flamin’ Buffalo Chicken Nuggets

Jack Link’s is available in grocery stores, mass retailers, convenience and drug stores nationwide. With this gift, satisfaction is in the bag. (Suggested retail price: $5.99)

For the dad hooked on angling
Does dad come home with fish stories and a smile on his face? If so, let him enjoy the new Flat Rap lure from Rapala. The Flat Rap is ideal for nearly all styles of fishing. It resembles the tried-and-true Rapala Original Floater, but features flat sides and a scooping triangular lip that generates a hard flashing side-to-side action that fish go crazy over. Put this fishing lure in dad’s tackle box and he’ll be smiling long after Father’s Day. (Suggested retail price $8.99)

For the beer connoisseur
Make your dad the envy of his friends with a beer brewing kit. Easy to set up and loads of fun, a home brewing kit allows your dad to create his own flavor of beer that will be all the rage. Brewing kits are sold with all the components that dad needs to get started. For even more fun, your dad can pair his best homemade brew with his favorite jerky flavor. (Home brewing kits are available online or at a local brewing supplies store.)

For the original chef
What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than with a mouthwatering grilled meal outdoors? If the dad in your life considers himself a grill-master, a charcoal or gas grill is the perfect gift. With a new grill, dad can bring the flavor back to the patio by preparing your favorite grillable foods.  (Check your local hardware store or other retail locations.)

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Field test explores ability of pointing dogs in hunting situations

STURGEON LAKE, Minn. — Riley and Ruger eat up the grassy countryside, loping elegantly across the landscape at a farm near Sturgeon Lake. A pair of pointing dogs, they winnow the air for molecules of quail scent as they move.

They’re a study in contrasts. Riley is a 7-year-old Irish red and white setter. The dog’s coat is long, mostly white, with large dollops of Irish-setter red. He seems to flow over the land.

“We’ll see if our week and a half of training pays off,” owner Craig Wilson says, joking.

Ruger, a 4-year-old Gordon setter is petite and lean, mostly black with splotches of tan.

Both setters are taking part in the Lake Superior Pointing Dog Club’s annual spring hunt test in mid-May at the Sunflower Farm near Sturgeon Lake. They’re among 49 dogs in this American Kennel Club-sanctioned event. They are not competing against each other. They’re being measured against AKC standards for pointing breeds to determine if they merit the titles of Junior, Senior or Master hunters.

“It’s one way to give the public some proof that your dog can do what you say it can,” said Steve Koskovich of Hibbing, Minn., who will run his Irish red and white setter Padraig in the Junior test. “We all think we’re God’s gift to dog training. This is where we stand up and see if that’s true.”

The variety of breeds at such a test is impressive. Owners or trainers brought German shorthairs, English pointers, Irish red and white setters, Gordon setters, English setters, Vizslas, Brittanies and at least one wire-haired pointing Griffon.

Some of those dogs came with Duluth connections. Some of the red and white setters, including Wilson’s Riley, were bred by Bob and Evan Devlin of Duluth, who introduced the breed to this region. At least one Gordon setter came from Dean Fries’ Clearcut Kennels. Fries is a judge for this hunt test.

The tests are set up to represent the kinds of situations hunters and dogs would encounter in the field. A dog is judged for its desire to hunt, its ability to find birds, how it points birds, whether it remains steady when the bird flushes and how the dog retrieves the bird.

Riley and Ruger move into an area planted with small conifers. Along a row of small spruces, Ruger locks up in a handsome point, one foreleg lifted, tail a wand pointed at the sky, head low and focused. Jodi Hines. Ruger’s handler, flushes the quail and a gunner drops it.

Ruger charges back to Hines to deliver the bird. Nicely done.

Read More:News & Observer   http://www.newsobserver.com/802/story/1554552.html

(ARA) – Warmer weather brings more outdoor sports – and with them, the increased risk of eye injury. Every year in the United States more than 40,000 sports-related eye injures require emergency room attention, with almost half happening to people younger than 15. The majority of these injuries could be prevented simply by using appropriate protective eyewear when playing sports.

“Even if they’re just playing a quick pickup game in the park, eye protection should be a major concern for kids,” says Florida optometrist and former University of Miami football player Dr. Pat Del Vecchio. “This is very important when playing certain sports – like baseball, basketball or football – where there is a higher risk of eye injury.”

When choosing eye protection for children, first make sure the eyewear is specifically designed for sports, Del Vecchio advises. Conventional frames and lenses can shatter and turn a small impact into a sight-threatening injury. “The eye protection should also be comfortable and not obscure vision during the game” he adds. “If it doesn’t meet these two criteria, then kids just aren’t going to wear it.”

While on-field collisions remain the most frequent cause of sports-related eye injuries, sometimes the playing field itself can be the culprit. Playing outdoors kicks up dust and dirt that can adhere to the eye and cause scratches or even more severe problems. This is a particular concern for young contact lens wearers. For these situations, Del Vecchio recommends taking along a multi-purpose solution in case you need to remove your lenses. “A good multi-purpose disinfecting solution, like OPTI-FREE RepleniSH MPDS, removes the irritants, and is an effective way to kill the germs that can cause eye infections,” he says.

Ultimately, the most important tip of all is to see your eye doctor at least once each year, Del Vecchio says. “Your eyes need to be taken care of just like any other piece of athletic equipment. As a former athlete, I can tell you they are the most important part of any sport, so a yearly visit to the eye doctor can identify any problems early, help maintain healthy vision and ensure you’re able to keep your eye on the ball.”

Quick Tips for Protecting Your Eyes

* Wear protective eyewear. Do not substitute ordinary glasses for appropriate protection. Sports-protective eyewear is specifically tested to meet rigid impact standards.
* Know your eye safety options. If you are not sure what protection works best, visit your eye doctor to see what is available.
* Add eye protection to other protective gear. If you are playing a sport that requires a helmet, consider wearing a helmet with full face protection.
* Take out contacts before getting in the water. Don’t wear your contact lenses while swimming. Certain organisms present in the water can attach to contact lenses and can cause eye infections. Remember to always care for your contact lenses with a Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution, like OPTI-FREE RepleniSH.
* Protect your eyes from the sun. To prevent eyes from being over exposed to UV rays, give your eyes a break by wearing sunglasses when not playing on the field.

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the inaugural game of golf at the 18-hole championship Nicklaus Design Golf Group golf course at 12 Oaks, Wakefield Development Company’s newest master-planned community in Holly Springs. Builder representatives and city officials joined Wakefield Development Company employees to witness John Myers, president of Wakefield Development Company, and Steve Sandler, president of L.M. Sandler & Sons, Inc., the parent company of Wakefield Development Company, cut the ribbon at this championship golf course. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a dozen foursomes participated in the course’s first round of golf. “The opening of the 12 Oaks golf course is a huge milestone for this community,” said John Myers, president of Wakefield Development Company. “The course complements the lifestyle offered in this Holly Springs community, and we are eager to complete the other amenities offered here.”

About Wakefield Development Company
Signature Communities. Ideal Opportunities.

Read More:CarolinaNewsWire