JournaL !VAILABLE AT .EWSSTANDS IN
VOL XII ISSUE 8 November 20, 2013 www.garlandjournal.com
Garland,Rowlett Mesquite Richardson & E.Dallas
GARLAND
Volume X- Issue 243 August 1-15, 2012 Published 1st & 15th Each Month Phalconstar.com Garland, Texas Phone (972) 926-8503
Free - Take One
!VAILABLE AT .EWSSTANDS IN
Garland,Rowlett Mesquite Fax (903) 450-1397 Richardson 1 Year Subscription $45.00 & E.Dallas
Volume X- Issue 243 August 1-15, 2012 Published 1st & 15th Each Month Phalconstar.com Garland, Texas Phone (972) 926-8503 Fax (903) 450-1397 1 Year Subscription $45.00
Fine line between rites of passages and initiations, or bullying By Donald Lee I Messenger
In light of the ongoing bullying controversy in the National Football League surrounding two Miami Dolphins players, it is fitting to write an awareness piece that gives young football players with dreams of one day playing in the NFL information that they’ll need in order to know how to discern what may be seen as a fine line between “rites of passage,� or the initiation practices targeting rookie players, and bullying. I’ve turned to three former (Beaumont) West Brook High School standouts who went on to play in the NFL — Mickey Washington, Earl Dotson and Curtis Ceaser
Jr. — to talk about the recent situation in which Miami Dolphins player Richie Incognito was suspended indefinitely from the team for “detrimental conduct� relating to the alleged bullying of teammate Jonathan Martin, a second year player with the Dolphins. Washington, whose eight-year career as a defensive back included playing with the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills, also sits on the board of directors for the NFL Players Association, which has insisted “on a fair investigation� for all involved. “At some point, people have to stop blaming the players, and they have to look at organizations,� says Washington, a 1990 draft pick of the Phoenix Cardinals. “If you take a fool and sign a fool to a multimillion-dollar contract, don’t expect him to (behave) any different.� Washington’s point is that the front offices
of football teams must make the workplace safe for their players. But while bullying should never be excused, initiations of rookies into the National Football League have always existed. “The bottom line is you’re going to do something, and it’s all in good fun,� says Ceaser, who was drafted by the New York Jets in 1995 and remained with the team through 1996. “That case there was a bullying situation — for that to happen to a second-year player,� Ceaser says, noting that initiations are generally aimed at first-year players. “It’s no way in hell that a second-year player deals with that.� Dotson, who made a living blocking for Brett Favre with the Green Bay Packers from 1993 to 2003, says he played for an organization that placed a premium on a stress-free working atmosphere.
“As far as my rookie year goes, I never had to deal with hazing,� Dotson says. “The reason behind that is because Green Bay didn’t tolerate that at all. (Then) Coach Mike Holmgren, his philosophy was: ‘How can you concentrate on making this team if you gotta worry about hazing?’ � Dotson says when he was in Green Bay rookie players would have to pay for “2 grand� worth of dinner, but nothing remotely close to the $54,896 bill Dallas Cowboys rookie receiver Dez Bryant was pressured into paying in 2010. Asked how a rookie should respond to anything that resembles hazing, Dotson says: “Judge what would be asked of him, when it comes to the hazing. First and foremost, he’s his own man. The last decision is always up to him.�
Donald Lee, a Beaumont, Texas, native living in Dallas, is a free-lance journalist. Contact him at (225) 773-2248. Follow him on Twitter at @donaldj_lee.
What you need to know about the Health Insurance Marketplace Have questions about the Health Insurance Marketplace? Here are the answers Hundreds of thousands of Texans are now able to buy health care coverage from private insurance companies through an online marketplace set up by the federal government. Because it’s new, the Health Insurance Marketplace has prompted some questions, so let’s briefly go over the most common ones in hopes of clearing up any confusion about the program.
average, $30,000. Fixing a broken leg can cost up to $7,500. Having health care coverage protects you from those unexpected medical expenses. Can someone with a medical condition buy insurance? Yes. Insurers can’t deny you coverage because you have a medical issue, such as cancer or diabetes. Nor can they charge you more than they would someone who’s in good health. And once you have insurance, the company can’t delay your treatment. Your medical care begins immediately.
Whom does the marketplace help? The uninsured. If you have health insurance through either your employer or a government program like Medicare or Medicaid, you needn’t concern yourself. The marketplace is meant mainly for individuals who want to buy health care coverage on their own for themselves or their families. The marketplace simplifies your shopping for coverage by letting you make side-byside comparisons of health plans. You’ll get a clear picture of what benefits you’d get and what premiums and deductibles you’d pay. Then you can enroll in the plan that best fits your needs and budget. It all can be done online, at http://www. healthcare.gov/. Why would a healthy person need insurance? Though no one plans to become sick or hurt, most people eventually need medical care. Three days in the hospital run, on
What does the marketplace’s health insurance cover? All the health plans provide a package of 10 essential benefits, including emergency services, hospital care, lab services, prescription drugs, doctor visits, preventive care, rehab services and maternity care. Some plans offer additional coverage, such as for dental or vision care. The benefits are similar to what’s typically covered in an employer-provided plan. That’s a significant point. Until now, individual insurance policies haven’t always offered such an array of services. How do the health plans vary in cost? Some marketplace plans have lower monthly premiums but charge you more out-of-pocket when you require care. Other plans charge higher premiums but cover more of your medical expenses. You’ll decide how you want to balance your premium costs with your out-ofpocket costs.
For example, if you see your doctor often and take a number of prescription drugs, a “platinum� or “gold� plan may work better for you. If you don’t, a “silver� or “bronze� plan may be more practical. You’ll see the differences in premiums and out-of-pocket costs when you shop for a plan. How does someone shop for insurance in the marketplace? You’ll fill out an application and find out how much you can save on monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Most people who apply will qualify for lower costs of some kind. Specific information about the health plans available in your area is posted at http://www.healthcare. gov/. Where can someone go for help in applying for coverage and enrolling? You can get help online (http://www. healthcare.gov/), by phone (1-800-3182596) or in person. There will be people trained and certified to help you understand your health coverage options. The website and toll-free call center can direct you to the benefit counselors in your area. Insurance agents and brokers can also help you with your application and health plan choices. When can someone shop and enroll, and when does coverage start? Open enrollment runs through March 31, 2014. Coverage starts as soon as Jan. 1, 2014. What if someone doesn’t have coverage
in 2014? The new health care law requires people who can afford it to take responsibility for their health insurance by getting coverage or paying a fee. With insurance, you have peace of mind. Without it, you bear the full brunt of any medical bills, which could land you and your family deep in debt. ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ Health Insurance Marketplace won’t affect Medicare, but ‌ You’ve probably heard a lot over the last month about the Health Insurance Marketplace, a new way to shop for health care coverage. The initial enrollment period kicked off in October and runs through March 31. If you’re enrolled in Medicare, you may think that you’re affected by this new program and that you need to do something in response to everything you’re hearing and reading. Relax. The Marketplace is designed primarily to help people without health insurance. You have insurance through Medicare. No matter how you get Medicare -- whether through the traditional fee-for-service program or a private Medicare Advantage plan -- you won’t have to make any changes. But you also won’t want to turn a deaf ear to all the talk about the Marketplace because you may have family members and friends without health insurance who could benefit. A few words from you could alert them to this new way of buying insurance and persuade them to sign up for health care See MARKETPLACE, page 6