Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/category/health/page/8/)
I couldn’t believe the bill — $447 for a single office visit. Even worse, the bill said my share was $168. I thought my deductible was $75, so that seemed like too much. As I always do when faced with puzzling bills, I called the insurance company. Continue Reading
The recent Ebola case of Mr. Thomas Eric Duncan in Dallas, Texas raises concern and fear in the West African Community, particularly in the Liberian Community, because of the stigma that Liberians are transporting Ebola to the United States. Today it is Mr. Duncan; tomorrow could be another West African, particularly a Liberian, since the Ebola epidemic is still high in Liberia.
Community organizations and elected leaders met on Monday to discuss the growing epidemic of HIV in the African American community in Minnesota, and lack of equity in resources. Participants said they hope the meeting is a starting point for more robust action by community organization and politicians to secure resources and fight disparities.Rep. Keith Ellison and state Sen. Jeff Hayden met with representatives of HIV outreach organizations, people living with HIV, and African American community leaders at Neighborhoods Organizing for Change on Monday afternoon. The event was called, “Fighting HIV and STI Disparities in the African American Community.”Pastor DeWayne Davis of All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church served as moderator.“We want to highlight the growing disparities among African Americans in Minnesota with respect to HIV and [sexually transmitted infections] and bring awareness to the lack of services for hiv prevention in this community and we want to begin that dialogue,” he said.DeWayne noted that the HIV epidemic is tied to the larger inequities that African Americans face in Minnesota.“You cannot begin to address the issues that affect any community without having open and honest dialogue and the reality is, in the context of Minnesota, that dialogue is much more than HIV. We are having it in the context of larger issues around sex and sexuality, race and privilege issues, competition for limited government and public resources, the larger context of health, socioeconomic and education disparities this conservation happens in that larger context, and it is incumbent upon all of us who not only care about this issues, but other issues also, that these issues don’t get left out of the discussion.”Jessica Brehmer, an epidemiologist from the Minnesota Department of Health, gave an overview of how HIV has impacted the African American community. Brehmer noted that 22 percent of people living with HIV in the state are African American despite making up only 4 percent of the population. Continue Reading
Kellita Whisnant, owner and operator of Mama Ti’s African Kitchen in Brooklyn Park, has been calling her father in the Ebola-battered Liberia several times a week for the past two months — all to no avail.
Cathy’s son was born with a heart defect that required immediate surgery and then continuing expensive care as he grew up. She told her story on #getcovered:
“My husband and I … both had good jobs and insurance and figured that meant that we would be all set should we ever need it. We soon learned, however, that like so many Americans, we were underinsured: we had coverage–it just didn’t really cover anything when it came to the care our son needed to save his life.” Continue Reading
In 2013, Chris had inexpensive health insurance. His premiums were only $200 each month. That sounds pretty good, especially since average premiums for a single person are more than $400 per month. Continue Reading
Local trans youth can now officially turn to their peers for help in navigating a system they say doesn’t accommodate their needs.On July 1, Trans Youth Support Network transitioned into a completely youth-led organization. Jahleel Princeton Arcani, TayvonCaples, La’Niya Dixon and Jakob Rumble took over the organization, replacing TYSN’s previous adult leaders Katie Burgess and Roxanne Anderson. Officials say the transition will allow TYSN to better support trans youth in the Twin Cities.“We don’t just want to be serving youth,”Jakob Rumble said. “We want to be leading by example.”Rumble took over as financial director, and said it’s important for young trans people to support other young trans people when it comes to navigating societal and governmental systems.Trans youth face higher rates of poverty, higher drop-out rates, and more homelessness, he said, and they’re often forced into it.Some of TYSN’s support services include learning how to acquire jobs properly, and offering advice on how to pass as cis-gender in order to apply for a name change.Jahleel Princeton Arcani took over as the development and sustainability director, and said the group is excited about the change. The organization has always been youth-led since their board members must be under 30, he said, but this transition is the final push to a fully youth-led nonprofit.“It’s been a dream of the people who started TYSN for it to be youth led,”Arcani said, noting the two top leaders weren’t youth. Continue Reading
According to the 2010 U.S. Census the eight largest Asian American populations in Minnesota are the Hmong, Asian Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Filipino, Laotian, and Cambodian communities. Specifically, 27 percent of the total population identify themselves as Hmong, 15.5 percent are Asian Indian, 11.7 percent are Chinese, 11.1 percent are Vietnamese, 4.9 percent are Laotians, and 3.9 percent are Cambodians (See Figure 2). Continue Reading
The recent news that a patient at a Dallas hospital has the Ebola virus has caused a stir in the United States. But for many Americans, Ebola has already hit very close to home.
Every year that annoying notice comes. It’s open enrollment time. During this time, you can make choices about health insurance. You can compare deductibles, calculate premiums, check coverage, and read policies. Or you can do nothing, and your insurance will automatically renew. If you have employer-sponsored insurance, individual insurance, MNSure insurance, or Medicare, you need to decide. Continue Reading