Outsider Art – The World of Pure and Original Creations
French artist, Jean Dubuffet coined the term Art Brut, which means “Raw Art” or “Rough Art.” This was used as a synonym to the term “Outsider Art,” coined or rather translated by an art critic, Roger Cardinal in 1972. Outsider art portrays creations beyond the limits of official culture. The art form is raw and pure. It has no influences of training or cultural complexities that are found in the mainstream art forms such as paintings, drawings, sculptures, and any other outdoor creations. People with little or no formal training in art create outsider art and therefore, their creations are not limited to the elemental boundaries of mainstream art.Outsider art is not restricted only to paintings, but also goes on to include the likes of folk art, primitive art, and tramp art to name just some. This form of art, which is beyond the hierarchical and the historical horizons of mainstream art, is definitely appealing, owing to its simple and intriguing reflection. Outsider art creations are fresh, unexpected, and innovative, as they are unaltered, unmodified, and unmediated, original creative expressions.Being limitless, a number of questions about outsider art bedevil art connoisseurs and art collectors. They are often intrigued by what makes any kind of work outsider or worthwhile. How much a person must be creatively outside to qualify? So on and so forth. Despite all this debate, outsider art remains beyond the realms of core art world, and is widely practiced. Outside art seems to persevere for commercial reasons, forming a niche of its own in the art market.There are a number of terms used to describe art, generally implicated as “outside” of the official core art. The other terms used are:o Art Brut. This stands for the raw art forms that have not been refined, unlike the artworks in galleries and museums. As mentioned earlier, Art Brut and Outsider art are synonymous to each other.
o Neuve Invention. This term describes those artists, who interact with mainstream culture to a certain degree.
o Marginal Art. This refers to the artists on the boundary of art world. Their art works overlap the essence of mainstream art and outsider art.There are several notable outsider artists, who have made their presence felt and known in the art scene. Some of them include, Adolf Wölfli, a Swiss artist. Adolf was the first well-known outsider artist. Nek Chand, an Indian, attained fame for his sculpture garden, called Rock Garden, Chandigarh. Ferdinand Cheval, a postal worker in Hauterives, was inspired by a dream, and spent 33 years in constructing Palais Ideal.
Telemedicine in the Affordable Health Care Act Explained
Telemedicine is an important component of the robust and technology driven Affordable Care Act system (Obama care) and provides avenues for reducing costs in the new healthcare structure, because it offers options in how to access healthcare services.The Affordable Care Act is the most comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s health care system in decades and it’s implementation and sign-ups will all be processed through marketplace exchanges.What is the Meaning of Telemedicine?Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technology to provide clinical health care without a traditional face-to face consultation. It helps eliminate distance barriers and can improve access to supplementary medical services for people with:
Basic or No Insurance
High Deductible (HDHP) Insurance
Traditional Insurance
Tele-health Vs Telemedicine’Tele-health’ is an older, broader term for services such as health education and is not limited to clinical services, while ‘Telemedicine’ narrowly focuses on the actual curative aspect between the patient and healthcare professional. Examples of Tele-health are health professionals discussing a case over the telephone or conducting robotic surgery between facilities at different ends of the world.Tele-Health has a broader scope than telemedicine and is sometimes called e-health, e-medicine, or telemedicine. Health care professional use tools like e-mails, e-visits, e-prescribing, after-hours care, e-reminders, health assessments, self-management tools, health coaching etc.The State of the MarketThe Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) opens on Oct 1st, 2013. and goes into operation on Jan 1st, 2014. The Obama Care exchanges, are State, Federal or joint-run online marketplaces for health insurance. Americans can use their State’s “Affordable” Insurance Exchange marketplace to get coverage from competing private health care providers.Steps to Sign up for Health Care Plans
Participants enter personal information into a web portal
Learn their eligibility for subsidies based on income, state-determined criteria or employer-based options.
Use a price calculator to shop, compare and choose a best benefit health plan.
Several major health companies have programs like TelaDoc in Aetna, KP-OnCall in Kaiser etc, trying to set up footholds in a market that is widely expected to grow rapidly. All participants have to do is research for telemedicine benefits through their health insurance plans or sign up for independent programs.How Health Care Professionals Administer TelemedicineDoctors can treat most everyday health needs by phone or a scheduled video consultation. A study by the American Medical Association shows that 4 out of 5 visits to a primary care doctor could have been treated over the phone instead. After each consultation, patients will receive a clinical report which can be emailed to a primary care physician.Registered Nurses manage triage calls and act as health coaches. For some specific symptoms, they give guidance for the most appropriate care, and over 32% of the time will offer self-care options so patients avoid a visit to the doctor, ER or Urgent Care facility entirely.Common symptoms often treated through TelemedicineRespiratory Infections, Cold/Flu Symptoms, Urinary Tract Infections, Sore Throats, Headaches/Migraines, Sinusitis, Allergies, Insect bites, Certain Rashes, Sprains/Strains, Arthritic Pain, Stomach Aches/Diarrhea, Gastroenteritis, Minor Burns and many non-emergency medical conditionsBy 2014, the law mandates that all non-exempt Americans have health insurance or face a tax penalty. The Affordable Care Act has far-reaching advantages such as prohibiting insurance companies from dropping a clients’ coverage if they get sick or discrimination against anyone with a pre-existing condition and extending children’s eligibility on parent’s plans.For entrepreneurs, who will most likely be responsible for their own health insurance, knowing how telemedicine can supplement their health insurance plans, means they can take full advantage of the options, savings and benefits.
Is Travel Insurance Necessary When Travelling Abroad?
Travel insurance provides an easy way to insure against trip cancellations, trip interruptions, emergency evacuation, accidental death and loss or damage to baggage or personal effects. Millions of dollars are wasted each year by travelers who purchase unnecessary travel insurance or travel assistance policies. Taking care in purchasing any travel insurance or travel assistance policies is a prerequisite although these products may be valuable to some travelers only in limited circumstances.Buy only the insurance you need. Frequently, several types of insurance are bundled together and sold as comprehensive travel insurance. Make sure you purchase what you need only after reviewing this chapter and doing comparison shopping among several travel insurance policiesDecide on the type of travel insurance after analyzing the type of coverage you already possess. Specific consideration of following facts is required. While you are traveling, provision of liability and personal property protection can be provided by home owner’s or rental’s insurance policy.Do check the specific limitations and exclusions of the policy even if there is a probability of your health insurance providing you with some coverage. Your automobile insurance policy can also provide cover for a car on rent which is being used by you. In some cases your credit card can offer some protection when you rent a car or if you want to cancel or change your flight.You can opt for excess or secondary coverage through many travel insurance policies. If any other coverage can be applied to the loss first, such as homeowner’s insurance in case of theft of your personal property, then it means that the travel insurance will provide coverage only for amounts which are not paid by the primary insurance like deductibles. Few of the travel insurance policies offer primary coverage, which is most useful when your own coverage is insufficient or has a very high deductible. Premium for excess coverage is generally low as compared to premium for primary coverage.A major problem with travel insurance is that most policies contain a number of exclusions and travelers often don’t learn about the exclusions until they try to use the coverage. At the time of reviewing a travel insurance policy you should check the exclusions and definitions carefully to determine how much protection your policy is really offering. Since there are losses which are not covered by any other insurance which you may already have, therefore trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance are probably considered the most important types of travel insurance.In terms of protection, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance are different although you cannot deny the fact that they are closely related. Now you can be insured and be sure of getting your money back in case you plan to cancel your trip, by opting for the trip cancellation insurance before you travel. Trip interruption insurance helps you by providing cover during your trip and reimbursing certain expenses if you cut short or change your trip. Since the exact terms of the policy may vary but the answer to validity of trip cancellation insurance for reimbursing you for nonrefundable and prepaid trip expenses lies in following three things. Your travel companion or you may have to give immediate attention to a situation or if you are in a spot which forces you to abandon your trip though arrangements have been booked. Trip cancellation insurance is applicable before your departure.After you purchase your trip cancellation insurance, you should make sure that you are covered by the insurance policy when you move from your home to your departure point. In the same manner, trip cancellation policies expire when there is possibility of occurrence of last time crisis. If you purchase cancellation insurance, make sure you are covered during the entire period of time before your departure.