When the final health care bill will be passed, there will be changes to Medicare that affect seniors and beneficiaries in 2010.
What Is Planned? Currently, House and Senate bills plan the following changes in regards to Medicare Advantage plans 2010:
Eliminate The Open Enrollment Period from January 1st to March 31st from 2011 on.
If this is approved, Medicare beneficiaries will have only get one opportunity to change their Medicare coverage during the Annual Election Period from November 1 to December 15 of each year.
Payment cuts to Advantage plan carriers in 2011
Around 5% in cuts compared to 2010 are expected and will most likely be passed on to those enrolled in the plans. So it is to be expected that there will be no or very few ‘zero premium’ Advantage plans found in 2011.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released information about the plans that will be available in 2010. On average, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to choose from more than 30 Medicare Advantage plans in 2010, some will have as many as 73 different plans to choose from in their area. The mix of the plans offered will change as carriers respond to current and anticipated program changes.
Firms withdrawing from the PFFS market are continuing to offer coordinated care plans (mainly HMOs) and new plans of various types. Some firms, like Kaiser Permanente, are making no changes in their offerings in 2010. Kaiser Permanente will continue to offer only HMO and cost plans.
Fewer MA-PD enrollees will be in plans with no premium in 2010 than in 2009, if they stay in their plans. However, a plan with no premium does not necessarily represent the best value for enrollees because out-of-pocket costs are affected by a combination of premiums, covered benefits and cost-sharing requirements.
Beneficiaries who decide to remain in their same Medicare Advantage plan in 2010 can expect premium increases of, on average 32, percent, although the magnitude of the increase will obviously vary from plan to plan.
Therefore, beneficiaries may find it in their interests to review and compare coverage their health care plan options, taking into account premiums, benefits, cost-sharing, and provider networks, to choose the option most likely to meet their individual needs and circumstances.
For more information about the planned changes, what you can do to add additional coverage to your health care, and to compare Medicare Advantage Plans available to you, please visit my Medicare Advantage Plans 2010.
Visit our Medicare Advantage Supplement website for more information about Supplemental Insurance and Advantage Plans.
ECONOMY. Malaysia is a middle-income economy and has the third highest GDP per capita (US$4,625) among the Southeast Asian countries after Singapore and Brunei. The country was primarily a producer of raw materials but transformed its economy from the 1970s to the 1990s into a multi-sector economy. Malaysia’s economic growth is export driven mainly from exports of electrical and electronic products.
Malaysia’s economy is relatively stable with healthy foreign exchange reserves and a GDP of US$118.3 billion in 2004. From 2000 to 2004, Malaysia’s real GDP grew by an annual average of 5.7% while inflation remained below 2.0% and unemployment below 4.0%. The Asian economic crisis of 1997 adversely affected Malaysia’s economy during the period. It is unlikely that the country will experience an economic crisis similar to 1997 with current healthy foreign exchange reserves, low inflation and small foreign debt.
The manufacturing sector accounted for 48.5% of Malaysia’s GDP in 2004, services accounted for 42.4% and the agriculture sector accounted for 9.1%. Major industries include electronic & electrical products, textiles, clothing & footwear, chemicals, petroleum, wood and metal products. Major agriculture industries include palm oil, rubber, cocoa, rice, poultry and timber.
DEMOGRAPHY. Malaysia comprises of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (located on the northern half of the island of Borneo) with a population of 26 million. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic society comprising of the predominant indigenous Malays (50%) followed by the Chinese (24%) and Indians (7%). Other indigenous groups (11%) include the Ibans, Kadazans, Melanaus and Kelabits. Major religion practiced is Islam followed by Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism and Christianity. Major languages used are Malay (national language), English (commonly used in business), Chinese (mainly Mandarin, Hokkien and Cantonese) and Tamil.
Malaysia’s population is becoming increasingly urban. The country’s urban population increased from 54.7% to 62.8% of Malaysia’s total population from 1995 to 2004. Main reason is increasing employment opportunities in the major urban areas. Major urban areas include the nation’s capital Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding areas (known as the Klang Valley), Penang, Johor Bahru, Ipoh, Kuantan, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
Households in the urban areas have an average income that is twice than those in the rural areas. An estimated 5% of Malaysian households live below the poverty level while 50% are low-income households. The proportion of medium income households is 33% while high-income households are 10%.
INFRASTRUCTURE. Malaysia has a well-served international and domestic telecommunication system. Cities and towns are well connected by roads including highways and public transport. Internet broadband services are available in the cities and major towns. Malaysia has an international airport situated near Kuala Lumpur and airports across the country serving mainly domestic travel.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE. Malaysia’s major trading partners include the United States, Japan, China, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and South Korea. Major exports from the country include electrical and electronic products, machineries, petroleum and liquefied natural gas (LNG), textiles, clothing & footwear, palm oil, furniture and sawn timber. High technology exports (mainly electrical and electronic products) account for more than 50% of Malaysia’s exports. Major imports include electrical and electronics, machineries and equipments, petroleum products, plastics, iron and steel products, chemicals and foods.
CONSUMER USAGE OF TECHNOLOGY. Nearly 75% of all homes have fixed line telephones and there are 15 million mobile phone subscribers for a population of nearly 26 million in 2004. Penetration of personal computers in homes was nearly 30% during the period with 3.5 million internet subscribers and 10 million internet users. More than 90% of all Malaysian homes have refrigerators and televisions. Nearly all middle and high-income homes have cars and most have more than one. The estimated penetration of cars in homes is between 75% and 80%. Thus, many low-income homes have cars but tend to be lower-end models or cheaper second hand cars. Furthermore, nearly all lower income homes have motorcycles for their travelling needs.
RETAIL MARKET. Retail sales in Malaysia reached an estimated US$14 billion in 2004 and forecast to grow further to US$20 billion by 2010. The Klang Valley (Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding areas) contributes nearly 30% of the country’s total retail trade. The traditional “mom and pop” establishments dominate Malaysia’s retail industry while shopping at the modern retail establishments such as hypermarkets, supermarkets, departments, mini-markets and convenience stores is gaining popularity. These modern establishments account for nearly 25% of the total retail sales. Shopping at the traditional open-air markets remains popular among Malaysia’s low, medium and even high-income consumers because of their festivity atmosphere.
FOOD CULTURE. Malaysia has three major ethnic food cultures i.e. Malay, Chinese and Indian foods. Rice is the staple food followed by various types of noodles and Indian bread. Malay dishes tend to be hot and spicy, Indian foods are usually curry dishes while Chinese foods are salty. However, the various ethnic communities have adapted foods from other communities. Western baked bread and bakeries and fast foods are popular and affordable even among many in the lower income group.
Khal Mastan is a Senior Consultant with Pegasus Business and Market Advisory ([http://bma.pegasus-asia.com]) based in Malaysia. He involves himself in business and marketing research and provides consulting services on markets in Southeast Asia namely Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Brunei. He has more than 20 years experience in the region and work experience in various industries. He holds a bachelors degree in Biochemistry and an MBA. He can be contacted at khalzuri@pegasus-asia.com or +6 (03) 7726 5373 in Malaysia.
While applying for an English teaching position overseas with a company that services Japan, I was asked to write a cover letter / essay stating “WHY I WANT TO LIVE AND WORK IN JAPAN”
Here below are a few success secrets when you are asked to write such a letter, followed by the letter itself.
1. Express a heartfelt interest - employers want people who are passionate about their work.
2. Communicate a love of the culture - be it foreign or corporate.
3. Highlight your professional qualities, skills, and achievements.
4. Differentiate yourself from the other applicants. What makes you unique?
5. Convey the depth of your commitment. Companies want loyal and committed employees who will be there for the long term.
WHY I WANT TO LIVE AND WORK IN JAPAN
I want to live and work in Japan for the cultural experience and to make a difference. My world travels have taught me that every people, ethnic group, and culture has something special to teach and impart to humanity. Therefore I want to fully experience Japan, an economic powerhouse and masterfully innovative country, with enormous worldwide influence.
I have a TESOL certificate (Trinity College London), over 3 years experience teaching English, 15 years teaching / lecturing experience worldwide in over 50 countries, and am the author of 14 books (two being nominated for a Pulitzer Prize).
I particularly love Asia and have lived in the Orient for over three years. Japan has always been a country I am uniquely fascinated with and would like to see more of. My grandfather, a U.S. Army Lt. Colonel, was stationed in Japan during World War II. “Pop-Pop” as I affectionately call him, always spoke well of the Japanese and his experience there.
I enjoyed teaching Japanese students at a language school here in Orlando, Florida. They were very polite, hard working, and enjoyable to be with.
As a former fitness trainer, I frequent the gym and greatly enjoy receiving a shiatsu deep tissue massage. I also grew up playing baseball often, which I know is a very popular sport in Japan. It would be a thrill to attend a baseball game in Japan, as I’ve seen by way of television how exciting and celebratory the fans are about their national sport.
I am also very interested in watching and experiencing sumo wrestling. Perhaps I will be able to get a photo with one of the national champions in Japan. The martial art Akito is also of great interest to me. While living in Taiwan, I studied some forms of martial arts. The Japanese style Akito combines a unique blend of physical and defensive disciplines that I feel would be highly beneficial to learn.
A trip to Japan would not be complete without visiting Mount Fuji, a natural beautiful and spiritual odyssey. I deeply long for this experience and seeing the sun come up there over the picturesque horizon.
I feel I will be a tremendous teacher and asset to any language school, University, or company. My global travels, understanding of Asian culture, and genuine love for students make me a wonderful teacher. Moreover the fact that I am a published author, creative writer, and poet enables me to use the English language in a multiplicity of ways and inspire learning in any academic capacity.
Please sincerely consider me for a position with your company to serve your schools across Japan. I believe a long-term working relationship can be forged between us to bring remarkable results and mutual rewards. It is my desire to partner with a reputable company for whom I can proudly work for many years, make a vital contribution, and leave a legacy to others generations who will follow.
In an era in which nations are jockeying for power, positioning against one another militarily, and growing in hostility; it is essential that we in the global community learn to build bridges and work together peaceably. I feel working as an English teacher in Japan is one way we can begin to merge and come together internationally, as we share each other’s language and culture.
Wishing you happiness, success, and fulfillment.
Paul Davis is a highly sought after worldwide professional speaker, purpose coach, and change master transforming organizations and empowering individuals to live their dreams.
Paul is the author of several books including A New Earth; United States of Arrogance; Poems that Propel the Planet; Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; God vs. Religion; and many more!
Paul’s compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul’s organization Dream-Maker Inc. builds dreams, transcends limitations, & reconciles nations.
Contact Paul to speak at your event or for consulting:
Seoul is the capital and largest city of South Korea, east of Inchon in the northwest part of the country. Founded in the 14th century, Seoul has been capital of South Korea since 1946.
The city was the capital of Baekje (18 BCE - 660 CE), the capital of the Choson dynasty or Joseon Dynasty (1394 - 1910) and the centre of Japanese rule of Korea (1910 - 45), Seoul was the capital of the U.S. military government during the Korean War and thus suffered extensive damage. The city has been largely rebuilt since 1953.
Seoul became the capital and designated as South Korea’s only “Special City” in 1948. The modern Seoul, with the area of 605 square kilometers, is one of the most densely populated major cities. The citizens of Seoul are referred to as “Seoulites.” Seoul is one of the top 20 “world-class cities.” The South Korean capital is one of the most prominent cities of the world. It is one of the world’s most digitally-connected cities. It is the commercial, cultural, industrial, political, and transportation center of South Korea. The city is also a centre of higher education, with several universities, including Seoul National University. Seoul was venue of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games.
Often dubbed as the “City of Blinding Lights,” Seoul is one of the most coveted travel destinations of the world. Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant seasons in the city, when azure blue skies are clear and temperature is comfortable. The “Miracle on the Han River” is one of the most wonderful destinations of Asia. Seoul is the city with plenty of tourist attractions. Extremely famous for its beautiful palaces, great food and hopping nightlife, Seoul attracts volumes of tourists to South Korea.
The major attractions of the city include Gyeongbok-gung (Seoul’s grandest palace), Joseon Palace Museum, the Korean Folk Museum, Changdeok-gung (Wonderful Palace, Seoul’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site), Deoksu-gung (Beautiful Palace located in Seoul Downtown), ChangGyeong-gung, (the main palace of the kings of the Koryo Dynasty and the Joseon Dynasty), Mount Inwang (Beautiful Temple), The National Museum of Korea, Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower), COEX (Mall located in Samsung-Dong), Seodaemun Prison, Dongdaemun, and Namdaemun.
Some of the parks of Seoul include 4.19 Memorial Cemetery, Boramae Park, Mt. Namsan Park, Olympic Park, Tapgol (”Pagoda”) Park, Yangjae Citizen’s Forest, Yeouido Park, and Yongsan Park.
For traveling to Seoul, the futuristic Incheon International Airport, west of the city, welcomes the most of the international flights to Seoul land. The older Gimpo Airport operates the shuttle service to Tokyo and domestic flights within South Korea.
Emerging markets refer to countries, which have opened up their doors to international trade in the interest of developing their own economies. To understand this better, one has to understand the difference between a developed and an undeveloped economy. A developed economy is one, which is able to support itself in entirety, with the possibility of continuous growth due to the development of its own technology. An undeveloped one, of course, is its opposite. Thus, an emerging market economy is one, which is in transition from being an undeveloped/developing economy to a developed one.
For this purpose, emerging markets accept the inflow of foreign influence to enhance their business methods and their technology. This influence comes in the form of business relations and agreements between investors and the emerging market. By allowing foreign investors to establish businesses within the country, these markets gain part of its income, adding to its gross capital income, and in effect allow it allocate more resources. A well-established local business, in the same way, may also opt for expansion in other nations. This chain of trade practices improves the overall capacity of a country to do business, with its goal being able to become at par with already developed countries. This is what also determines the value of a country’s currency is in the world market.
An emerging market is characterized by the increase in both local and foreign investment. Increase in the local perspective signifies that business practices have improved. Foreign investments prove that the global community believes that a country has promise. Neither of these, however, is possible without effective economic reforms. These reforms differ from one country to the other, and these depend mostly on culture and resources. When the culture of a nation is highly conservative (like that of Japan in its early years), the inflow of foreign technology is resisted so change is highly improbable. Japan, in itself however, was a pioneer in many technological feats so it never got left behind. The resources of a country also limit its ability to do business. In history, Russia led the global community in trade before 19th century due to its large population and its vast resources. With the tide of the century, however, there came World War I, and Russia was it’s biggest casualty. To this day, however, Russia is still one of biggest emerging markets there is. The same applies to other emerging markets in the world today, including China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Poland, Turkey, and South Korea.
Each of these countries plays an important role as an individual market. Eventually studies have been made to develop these markets by coordinating their efforts, and so evolved terms such as BRIC, BRICS, BRICET and BRIMC. BRIC stands for the countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The other terms were derived form BRIC, with the addition of South Africa (S), Eastern Europe (E), Turkey (T), and Mexico (M). The original BRIC thesis proposed that these four countries would eventually become the most dominant countries by the year 2050. This is because of the business network that exists between these countries even in the present day. China and India specialize in manufactured goods and services, while Brazil and Russia are vital suppliers of raw materials. An example of this working relationship is the production and distribution of IBM products.
Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea is ideally located on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. South Korea is also popularly known as the “Land of the Morning Calm”. It is the capital city of Seoul which is known as one of the largest international financial center in Asia. To cater to all your needs and make your stay a comfortable one, a large number of South Korea hotels are spread all over the city.
Regarded as one of the famous tourist destinations in Asia, South Korea offers a good number of hotels varying from budget hotels to luxury accommodations. Hotels in South Korea have three main categories that include Seoul Hotels, Jeju hotels and Busan Hotels.
Accommodation
If you are looking to spend less on accommodation, then budget hotels in South Korea are the best options. These Hotels provide all sorts of services and facilities at reasonable rate in order to make the guests spend a comfortable vacation. The discount hotels like Jeju Hiking Inn and Dawn Beach Hotel in Busan are among the widely preferred economy hotels.
While staying in the Hotels, you can check out a large number of tourist attractions like Anapji Pond, Andong Icheondong, Heoninneung Royal Tomb, Korean National Park, Ojukeon Residence, Korean Folk Village, Geumgwanchong Tomb and Goryeong Daegaya Historic Sites.
Luxury hotels in South Korea will make your stay extremely comfortable. Some of the significant deluxe hotels in South Korea include W Seoul Walkerhill, Fraser Suites, JW Marriott, Grand Hyatt, Lotte Hotel, Haevichi Resort, Westin Chosun Beach Busan, Paradise Busan and Royal Kingdom. The tastefully decorated and opulent rooms of the luxury hotels in South Korea are simply great. Each of the rooms are done up in neutral colors offering a warm and homely atmosphere.
Log on to Asia Rooms.com Our extensive database will enable you to get a better South Korea Hotels deal without any hassle.
Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is by far the country’s largest city populated by over 10 million people. Moreover, it is considered the nation’s center of culture-a culture that has been cultivated for 600 years.
The plane going to Seoul will land you at the futuristic Incheon International Airport, situated 52 kilometers west of the city. Taking you to the city itself, a taxi or a bus can be your option. The latter is the best option for most travelers as it runs directly to Seoul and will cost less.
Once you are settled in, keeping in mind you have exchanged enough money into Won, it is now time to explore the city. Choose your mode of transportation-subway, bus, or taxi-that will suit your budget and your schedule, as traffic jams are common in this city. As a tourist, getting around will be quite difficult if there is a language barrier. The solution: the Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) taxis where the drivers speak English and accept US dollars if you opt to pay in that currency.
During the day:
* If you are a fan of market shopping, Insadong should be in your checklist. It is the touristiest place that boasts of its art galleries and shops, as well as traditional tea and coffee shops.
* If exploration of history is your interest, go visit Gyeongbok-gung, the grandest palace of Seoul. It had been the seat of power for centuries during the time that the city was made South Korea’s capital. More historical facts and artifacts can be explored in the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum.
* If fun-filled theme park is your kind of treat, Lotte World is the place to be. It is one of the world’s largest indoor amusement parks. Rides, skating rink, and parades await you. For a mellow experience, check out the folk museum to immerse yourself in ancient Korean life.
During the night:
* Hongdae, a bar district, is well known for Catchlight Club for hip hoppers, Jokerred for house music lovers, and Luxury for the karaoke singers.
* Sinchon, on the other hand, offers a calmer feel as it is more known as a shopping district. But it boasts of JJ Mahoney in Grand Hyatt Hotel where the in-crowd and the who’s who can be seen.
Whatever it is you feel like doing-shopping, sight seeing, dining, or clubbing-you will never forget that you are immersed in Seoul’s rich culture.
