Sunday, September 30, 2007

Medical Centre Note-Health Insurance

I report to the Community Director and one of her objectives is to research health insurance options. Thus this assignment falls to me. I've looked at other hoods to see how thier health insurance works and if health insurance is a neccessary part of Apple Valley life.



The fundamental concept of insurance is that it balances costs across a large, random sample of sims. Apple Valley is a small sample of sims and in addition, medical costs are low in the hood and sims do not utilize the medical centre as often except for prescriptions. Also, there has not been a need for expensive procedures such as surgeries and intensive testing.


Current Medical Fees
Broken Limb $1,500 (0)
IVF Treatment $5,000 (1)
Induced Labor $2,500 (1)
Consulation with Doctor $100 (0)
Plastic Surgery/per part $3,000 (0)
Prescription Medicine $450 (4)
to be added
Rehabilitation Services/per simday $500 (0)
Midwifery Services (including pre-natal care, delivery, 1st check-up) $1000 (0)

There are numerous health care options, I would recommend a non-profit hood funded/managed healthcare system. This can be accomplished by having an additional tax for each household (say about $50-$100/simweek). This would currently provide about $900-$1800 a simweek for the healthcare bank. This money can be used to reduce the cost of services for residents that use it during the simweek. However, this would require more thought and planning.


Due to the lack of need for a health insurance and amount of difficulty in creating such a program, I recommend that the topic be shelved until next simweek to see if any changes have been noted in the hood and the health of the residents. Until then, residents can use the options currently available to them (installment plans, welfare assistance application, healthy living).

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Discussions

Johan stopped by for dinner (actually dessert), he stayed out the way while Jan and I talked to Janet about her plans for the future. She said that she didn't have any...doesn't she know that we won't live forever!!! Johan then suggested that she leave the hood and help out another fledging hood that needs adults, it would be good for her to become involved in the beginning. Why is he trying to send Janet away? Maybe because his fiance isn't native to Apple Valley...still, I'm not sure how comfortable I am with that idea.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Wedding Planning

I've been spending a little time planning our wedding. I've decided on a color scheme:
lilac, white and taupe.
I have chosen a dress from A.Pentragnani, it was a discarded design from a prior collection that never took off, so I'm getting that dress and they're creating a collection for me. Jorge will need a tuxedo and by the time we marry, his nephew (Verde) will be a toddler. I wish I had a flower girl *sigh* I know the wedding will be in my parent's backyard-in the house that will eventually be mine ^_^. Mum said that they would start planting some nice plants and tulips so the yard would be blooming and pretty in time for the wedding. Naturally I'm creating the menu, but the wedding will be simple. A simple afternoon ceremony and reception with tea and roses and little snacks and a yummy cake.