Totally Terrific TomTom Tricks

Over the years, we've owned a number of GPS devices, the most recent one a TomTom unit we purchased about 4 years ago. It came with "Lifetime Maps and Traffic," which means we get new maps to install a few times a year (and the traffic feature is great for alerting us to potential bottlenecks up ahead, and usually at least one alternate route to avoid them).

The other day, I was alerted that a new map was available, and proceeded to install it. Before doing so, however, I continued my practice of separately copying the "Favorites" file so that I wouldn't have to re-enter a bunch of addresses.

This proved prescient.

In the event, something went very wrong with the install (this is the first time that's happened, by the way, in 4 years of use): the map became corrupted, rendering the device unusable. Over the next few days, I called tech support a number of times, and they could not have been more helpful, professional or courteous. They walked (and emailed) me through a number of trouble-shooting steps before determining that we had to format the device (Yikes!) and start with a clean slate. This took some time, of course, but in the end, I had a virtually new, clean unit, and because I had saved my Favorites, we were able to copy those in seamlessly.

Oh, did I mention that all these phone calls and emails didn't cost me a dime? And no, I had purchased no extended warranty or service plan, and this was for a unit that was 4 years old and cost less than $200.

Pretty good deal, I'd say.

As an aside, I learned something new about these units: mine has a built-in 2MB "hard drive" that currently holds a map of the US, Canada and Mexico. At some point, however, this map will become too large for my unit's on-board memory. What then?

Well, the folks at TomTom have that figured out, as well: they'll break the map into "zones;" one just loads whatever piece is needed and heads on out. And newer models come with a micro-sd slot to provide virtually unlimited memory, obviating the need for zones at all.

Pretty nifty.

And a special Thank You! to Amol P. and Raj R. for their help, patience and sense of humor.

Tuesday Afternoon Linkage

■ The good news (such as it is) is that just shy of 2 million suckers Americans have signed up for ObamaPlans so far during this year's Open Enrollment season.

The bad news is that this represents less than 15% of the expected number of sign-ups, and even then, most of these are simply re-enrollments, not "new blood."

Also on tap for a less-than-happy New Year:

"Most renewals are on autopilot, creating the risk of 'rate shock' when re-upped Americans get their bills in January"

Ouch.

■ Here's some actual good news for at least one family:

"A Seattle baby is home in time for Christmas after local doctors bet on a last-chance, once-discarded treatment that uses liquid, not air, to inflate the collapsed lungs of fragile newborns."

Seems that little Tatiana Saiaana had inhaled some of the meconium, resulting in an unusual but not unheard-of condition called Meconium Aspiration. This can lead to severe breathing problems. In Tatiana's case, doc's were able to come up with an out-of-the-box solution, and she seems to be on the mend.

■ FoIB Holly R alerts us to some disquieting news that's affecting not-for-profit hospitals that - get this - want to be paid for services rendered.

How gauche.

In the event, the rocket surgeons at the IRS plan to impose strict new rules that seek to prevent these providers from actively collecting payments from these they serve.

I'm sure this will have no affect on the ability of those most vulnerable among us to access vital health care services.

WC Kudos

One area of insurance that we really don't blog about is Workers Compensation. It's a highly specialized field, and there are already a number of very good, readable, expert WC bloggers. Among them are a few that I consider friends, and I am pleased as punch to inform IB readers that these fine folks have been honored by Lexis Nexis as the Top Workers' Comp blogs for 2014:

First up, the witty (and sometimes whacky) Bob Wilson, who hosts the eponymous From Bob’s Cluttered Desk. Always fun, always insightful, never dull.

Next comes my very good friend Julie Ferguson, co-blogger at Workers Comp Insider. Julie blogs constantly, and (along with Joe Paduda) founded the bi-weekly Health Wonk Review (which she still coordinates). She's a gracious, knowledgeable expert with a ready word of encouragement.

And speaking of Joe Paduda, his Managed Care Matters blog pre-dates IB by about 3 months, and I'm pretty sure we've included him on our blogroll from the git-go. Joe's got the inside track on health care policy, and writes from the heart.

Mazel tov to three hardworking bloggers that are making a difference.

SHOP Chop

As Bob reported last week, "CoOportunity Health, a fledgling Iowa health-insurance company ... has been taken over by by state regulators and could soon go under."

Our good friend (and fellow blogger) Joe Kristan, who lives and works in The Hawkeye State, has some on-the-ground news about the fate of the co-op, and of the state's Small Business Health Insurance Market (SHOP) in general. It ain't pretty, but it may be a bellwether:

"In our coverage area, CoOportunity was the only SHOP provider ... This makes life complicated for small businesses that don’t currently have “grandfathered” coverage"

Since most probably don't, there's bound to be some broken hearts (and bank accounts). Joe's included a helpful round-up of related posts from around the 'sphere.

Recommended.

Deck chairs. Unsinkable ship. Some assembly required.

So here's an interesting case of deja vu. Years ago, we reported on the efforts of Minnesota Blue Cross to standardize the way benefits are described, making it easier to compare plans and understand one's coverage. At the time, this was considered cutting edge.

Fast forward eight(!) years, and the Feds are busy touting - and tweaking - their own take on this idea:

"Federal agencies want to change the standard "nutrition label for health plans" in a way that could make it more appealing for young, healthy insurance buyers."

Aside from the obvious similarities, I find it amusing that anyone thinks that young people really find anything about health insurance "appealing." It may be "necessary," or even "helpful," but appealing? Please.

Do Ms Burntwell and her minions really believe that lack of "scenarios" is what's behind the abysmal sign-up numbers we're seeing? In fact, almost all of the enrollments are simply mindless, zero effort re-enrollments. One wonders why.

Christmas Wreath

Why do people use an Advent wreath at Christmas? A wreath is used to

symbolize death, yet Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus the Christ. And why celebrate on the 25th of December? How does all this tie together?

The story of the Christmas wreath is a winding path of traditions including many pagan practices such as a wreath and yule log. Christmas also has roots in Judaism although in a much more subtle way.

Hannukah is sometimes referred to (incorrectly) as Jewish Christmas. The proximity of Hannukah and Christmas celebrations can be confusing to people of both faiths. Some Jewish families will include in their Hannukah celebration the swapping gifts in the Christmas "tradition".

Christians celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th. We swap gifts in recognition of the wise men that sought out the Christ child and came bearing gifts.

But why the 25th?

In 167BC Antiochus Epiphanes entered Jerusalem and ransacked the Temple. Over a three day period some 40,000 women and children were killed and another 40,000 sold into slavery.

In order to further break the spirit of the Jews, Antiochus descrated the Temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar on the 25th of the Jewish month Kislev.

A corresponding date on the Julian calendar would be the 25th of December.

Years later in a revolt led by Judas Maccabaeus the Jewish people retook the city and the Temple was reconsecrated for holy worship. The re-dedication of the Temple took place on the 25th of Kislev.

Centuries later Christians adopted December 25th as the day to celebrate the birth of Christ. Just as the rebirth of the Temple is celebrated during Hannukah, so is the birth of Yahshua (Jesus) the Christ during December.

A wreath is a continuous circle with no beginning and no end. Wreaths were used as a way to celebrate the end of winter and the coming of spring which brings new life.

Christians will often place an Advent wreath on a table consisting of 3 red candles, one pink candle and a white candle in the center. Beginning on the 4th Sunday before Christmas a candle is lit and accompanied by a prayer and scripture reading. For the next 3 Sundays successive candles are lit in anticipation of the coming of the Christ child. The pink candle, known as the Mary candle, is the last one lit before Christmas.

On Christmas morning the remaining white candle, Christ candle, is lit celebrating the birth of Christ.

The use of holly in forming the wreaths also has meaning. Green holly leaves represent the continuation of life during the cold winter months as well as the belief in eternal life through Christ.

Red holly berries are symbolic of the blood that Christ shed for our sins. The sacrifice of Christ also has ties to Judaism whereby a lamb was often used as a sacrifice to God.

Death and rebirth. Beginning and end. Judaism and Christianity. All brought together in the Advent wreath.

Another One Bites the Dust

CoOportunity Health, a fledgling Iowa health-insurance company set up under the Affordable Care Act, has been taken over by by state regulators and could soon go under, officials said Wednesday.

CoOportunity Health is an insurance cooperative set up to give consumers and small businesses an alternative in a market with few choices. The company relied on tens of millions of dollars in federal loan guarantees provided under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. It began selling policies in 2013.

Des Moines Register