World Cup 2010

 There is no better time to talk about the World Cup than now.  We are halfway through with the quarter finals right around the corner, and the countries are starting to show their true colors.  Here are the standings so far.

2010 FIFA World Cup™: Round of 16  - Add to iGoogle

Spain 1 : 0 Portugal - Highlights Paraguay 0 (5) : 0 (3) Japan - Highlights Brazil 3 : 0 Chile - Highlights Netherlands 2 : 1 Slovakia - Highlights Upcoming matches - Quarter-finals: Netherlands vs. Brazil - 2 Jul 10:00am (ET) on ESPN Uruguay vs. Ghana - 2 Jul 2:30pm (ET) on ESPN Argentina vs. Germany - 3 Jul 10:00am (ET) on ABC Paraguay vs. Spain - 3 Jul 2:30pm (ET) on ABC FIFA.com  -  Schedule  -  Standings  -  United States Overview

 I am personally rooting for Paraguay and Germany.  It is not that these teams are really good, but my wife spent half her life in Germany (that's a given) and I have some friends from Paraguay.  Surprisingly both are still in the game.  I am sorta surprised that Paraguay has made it this far, but you never know.  They had a tough game with Japan, but they beat them in the shoot-outs!

 Here are my predictions for the quarter finals:
Brazil and Netherlands may has a close match, but I think Brazil is going to coming out the winner.
Uruguay is a good team.  I think they will make it to the semi-finals.
I know I am rooting for Germany, but I think Argentina will beat them this time.
This one is probably the toughest to predict, but I think Spain will win and Paraguay will give them a good fight.

Happy watching all you soccer fans.  I will see if I can post another related post during the finals.

Helping you get the upper hand,
Peter Bunn
Rising Leader
Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience:
www.PeterBunnHasFun.com

Health Care Part 2

As part of the second edition about Health Care and programs available to help you, I would like to include an excerpt about Social Security disability.  This is not a health insurance of any type, but it does provide an income for those who are unable to work.

 There are two different disability programs available through the Social Security Administration.  One is SSDI (Social Security Disability Income) and one is SSI (Supplemental Security Income).  Both programs provide an income, but they are a little different when it comes to qualifications and eligibility.  I will briefly explain each one.

SSDI is full disability income.  In order to receive this type of program benefits you have to have worked enough in your life and earned enough income credits.  Income credits are earned each year with a maximum of one per quarter.  Your income check is based on your work history.  There are no income or resource limits required to be eligible to receive benefits.

SSI is a supplemental income program for those who don't have enough work history or have none at all (such as newborn babies).  There is a maximum payout for this program.  Each year that amount changes.  This year it is around $672.  There are also income and resource limits that have to be met (like Medicaid) in order to receive benefits.  These limits are almost identical with Medicaid and if you have SSI will most likely be eligible for Medicaid benefits too.

The eligibility process takes several steps and I will lay out the basics.  One thing you need to keep in mind is in order to receive disability you have to have a condition that is going to prevent you from doing any type of work for at least 12 months.  Here are the steps.  These include ones you have to do and ones Social Security does.
1.  The first thing you need to do is call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to set up an interview for disability benefits.  When prompted ask for agent service.
2.  Once you have set up your interview, you can fill out some forms online at ssa.gov.  You will also receive a packet of forms to fill out and sign.  Make sure you do everything and return anything that is requested to be returned.  This is a lot of paperwork, so don't be discouraged.
3.  You may have been told of some verifications you need to have together.  Make sure you get those together.  Also get as many medical records related to your condition as possible.
4.  The paperwork is just one part of the process.  You will be assigned a claims representative.  Make sure you get the name and number.  Your case will be sent to DDS (Disability Determination Services) for a medical decision.
5.  Once the medical decision has been made, it will get sent back to your claims rep, where he will finish up the case.

Now this is just the basic steps.  A lot more goes on and the process can take over a year to finish.  Most cases are denied the first time.  Don't be afraid to re-apply or appeal the decision.  You have the right to do so. 

 So that is Social Security benefits in a nutshell.  I would like to provide a few resources to help in this process and with Medicaid:

• Social Security website - www.ssa.gov  (very resourceful)
• There is no one website with social service sites for all states, but it is quite easy to find them.  Just type in your state or county name and "department of social services."

Feel free to post any questions you may have, and I will help.

Helping you get the upper hand,
Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience:
www.PeterBunnHasFun.com

Health Care in This Day and Age

I decided to take the opportunity to use my expertise and offer some pointers and suggestions about getting healthcare when it may seem impossible to get.  I am going to break this up into a few different posts.  Otherwise this would be too long.  As some of you may know from reading my first post, I work for a company that helps patients apply for local and state programs that are available to help with their bills.  In this day and age, health insurance is expensive and practically unaffordable.  What do you do when you lose your job and health coverage as well?  What happens when you don't have the money to purchase your own policy?  Now with the new health care bill it may be a different story, but let's forget about that right now.  It won't come into effect until 2012 anyway.

For this post, I would like to make it a way of introduction of what is available out there as far as Social Service programs that can help with your medical bills.  To lay the groundwork one must understand that these programs are not available to everyone.  There are income and resource requirements that need to be met first.  Also, each state has specific programs that target a certain group of people.  For instance, Virginia (the state I live in) has a program called FAMIS.  This program is for children and pregnant moms that are over the income limits for Medicaid.  Other states have similar programs.

Each county in your state has a department of social services (some call it human services or similar).  This is where you go to get an application to apply for the program.  The most common name for the program is Medicaid.  Now some of you may be thinking, "I don't want to apply for welfare."  First of all, that is not what it is and secondly, if you really needed help wouldn't you seek out every opportunity possible to get health coverage to cover your bills? 

Every state has their different qualifications to be able to receive this assistance.  The most common difference is the income limits.  That is based on the poverty level in that particular state.  There are some requirements, though, that remain constant.  Those are meeting a category of either minor child (18 years old or younger), over 65 years old, pregnant, blind or disabled (declared disabled by the state or Social Security).  Once these criteria have been met, the application can be processed.  Expect to provide verifications of income, citizenship, identity and residence in pretty much every state.

Medicaid is a state funded program, so there is no cost involved.  This program may not provide complete coverage, but at least you won't have as big of a bill you would have without it.  In my next post I will be providing some resources concerning these programs that you can use.  If you have any immediate questions, the best thing to do is call your local department of social services (contact info usually found on your county's website).  Feel free to leave a comment or question about any Virginia state program questions.  That is my area of expertise when it comes to a particular state. 

Helping you get the upper hand,
Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience:
www.PeterBunnHasFun.com

What Drives You?

I was trying to find out what to post next on my blog that would be thought provoking and give people inspiration and encouragement.  This is what I came up with.  I hope it gives you a pick up.

What is it that gets you out of bed in the morning and makes you start your day?  What is it that gives you that little extra push you need to accomplish something or complete a task?  Do you love your job and enjoy going to work every morning?  Is there a family member that you adore and are inspired by.  Is it an expectation you have to accomplish an end game in life.  What is it?  What is it that gives you that drive to get done what you want to get done in life?

Everyone has something in there life that gives them that extra strength they need.  Some people have not found it yet.  Some have not even started looking.  Yet everyone has a dream; something they have always wanted to do or accomplish.  Whether it is becoming successful in some way, making a lot of money, flying to the moon or inventing something, everyone has a dream of some type.  What I am trying to say is, what is keeping you from making those dreams and aspirations come true?  If it is just the fact that you haven't found what drives you, now is the time.  The best way to accomplish something is to have something you can look to, something that, when you are in hard times and need some inspiration and a reminder of why you are doing what you are doing, you will have that one thing to bring you back up and to the next level.  Now is the time to find that.  Do some deep soul searching.  Search within yourself and find that inspiration.  Now it may be more than one thing.  That's great!  Once you find that, grab a hold of it and be clear what it is.  Be as specific as possible.  The more vivid you have it in your mind, the better it will serve you.  Once you have that gold nugget, start doing what you have always wanted to do and use that inspiration to keep you going.  Most importantly, don't give up. 

My Story
I am starting a new online business and I was asked, "Why are you doing this?  What is it that you want to accomplish in this business."  At first my answer was to make more money than I am now, but that quickly changed to this.  And this is my inspiration and drive:

I want to be able to get up in the morning whenever I want and have my own schedule.  I want to wake up to the voice of my son playing in his crib.  I want to be able to get up in the morning and make my family blueberry pancakes with homemade maple syrup and hashbrowns.  I want to be able to spend quality time with my family, and if we want to go to the park, be able to just go to the park.  I want to see my son ride his first bicycle.  I want to teach him how to play soccer, baseball and other sports.  I want to watch him grow up.  I want to be able to go on day trips with my wife or go on a weekend get away without having to put in vacation time at work in order to go.  That is what I want to be able to do.  That is what drives me and gives me inspiration.  And when I am down, when I have lost my way, when I need a little pick up, I recall this dream, and it gives me new life and energy and allows me to keep on keeping on so I can accomplish that dream! 


Helping you get the upper hand,
Peter Bunn
Rising Leader

Want a more stress free life and be able to be home with your family? Learn how to empower yourself with this experience: www.PeterBunnHasFun.com