The number of uninsured Americans rose by 4.3 million in 2009, mainly due to job losses.

Most Americans receive health insurance benefits through their employer, and rising unemployment left many without coverage.

It's no surprise that those with the lowest incomes are most likely to be uninsured. Over 75 percent of the uninsured are members of the working-class.

Don't miss out on valuable health care because of cost. Find health insurance today and keep yourself healthy.

*The Commonwealth Fund

The number of uninsured Americans rose by 4.3 million in 2009, mainly due to job losses. Most Americans receive health insurance benefits through their employer, and rising unemployment left many without coverage.

It's no surprise that those with the lowest incomes are most likely to be uninsured. Over 75 percent of the uninsured are members of the working-class.

Contrary to popular belief, losing a job doesn't necessarily mean losing health insurance, too.

A more affordable alternative is individual health insurance. Applicants who are relatively healthy can find quality health care coverage for a lot less than the cost of COBRA.

Use InsWeb to shop and compare individual health insurance quotes from multiple insurers.

Research published in The Lancet, a medical journal, has found that drivers are more conscientious after being ticketed, at least for a while.

Researchers found that for a few weeks after receiving a traffic ticket, a driver's chances of being killed in an automobile accident fall by 35 percent.

After three or four months, though, the impact wears off and drivers continue to leadfoot around town.

So, the next time a cop gives you a ticket, give him a big smile and say thank you--he or she may be saving your life.

Yet, for whatever reason, texting while driving is still deemed acceptable by many drivers while drunk driving is considered taboo.

A recent article from the Insurance Journal explores this issue in-depth. It draws striking similarities between texting behind the wheel and driving drunk.

One state has already caught on. Legislation in Utah equates texting while driving with drunk driving. If a driver who is texting while driving causes an accident resulting in a fatality, he or she will be sentenced as harshly as if they had been driving drunk and could face up to 15 years in prison.

The National Safety Council estimates that 200,000 crashes are caused each year by drivers who are text messaging.

Check out the IJ article--you won't look at texting while driving in the same way again.

During the next experiment, the subjects were instructed to chew each bite 15 times, while another experiment they were asked to chew 40 times.

When the subjects chewed each bite 40 times, they consumed 12 percent fewer calories than when they chewed 15 times. The 40-chew group also had lower levels of ghrelin, a hunger-producing hormone, in their stomachs.

So there you have it: Chewing, along with diet and exercise, should be a part of your weight-loss routine.

For 2010, the most frequently stolen vehicles are as follows:

1. 1994 Honda Accord

2. 1995 Honda Civic

3. 1991 Toyota Camry

4. 1999 Chevrolet Pickup

5. 1997 Ford F150 Series

6. 2004 Dodge Ram

7. 2000 Dodge Caravan

8. 1994 Acura Integra

9. 2002 Ford Explorer

10. 1999 Ford Taurus

Older vehicles are stolen primarily for valuable spare parts, according to the NICB.

The report indicates that overall incidents of vehicle theft are down, mainly due to improved anti-theft technology. In fact, the FBI projects that 2010 saw the lowest rate of vehicle thefts since 1967.

An editorial recently published on PeoplesPharmacy.com explored the potentially fatal effects of NSAID painkillers.

The article references studies which suggest that the use of NSAIDs can:

Additionally, those who take NSAIDs regularly have been shown to be at increased risk of developing stomach ulcers.

Popular over-the-counter NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) and aspirin.

The Institute of Medicine recently recommended insurers cover 100 percent of costs for certain preventive services for women. This week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services signed those recommendations into law.

Other than birth control, insurers will cover the following services without out-of-pocket expense to patients:

The requirements will apply to new health insurance policies beginning August 1, 2012.

The company, which has been under pressure from health advocacy groups to offer healthier food to children, rolled out a list of changes on Tuesday.

French fry holders will be reduced from 2.4 ounces to 1.1. The company tried cutting fries from kids' meals entirely, but customers objected.

Side dishes will include apple slices, carrots, raisins, pinapple slices or mandarin oranges. The type of side dish will depend on the season and region.

The changes will take effect in September.

The Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department have developed applications with names such as "Breathe2Relax," "MoodTracker" and others to help soldiers manage their symptoms.

The newest application, PTSD Coach, offers step-by-step directions to assist in muscle relaxation and breathing, self-assess and track their symptoms and mood changes, and offers a list of emotional support hotlines.

A few major symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder include:

The Pentagon stresses that these applications are not intended to diagnose illness or replace counseling. Rather, they are tools designed to help soldiers manage their day-to-day symptoms.

Learn more about mood disorders and health care coverage by visiting InsWeb's article: Mental Health, Depression and Health Insurance.

Looking to avoid a potentially crippling shortage of vaccines, some drug manufacturers are disbursing shipments early.

This year's formulation is similar to last year's, offering protection against a range of type A and B strains. This includes the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu.

Even if you had a flu shot last year, you'll need it again this time around. The immunity offered only lasts for a short period.

The CDC recommends influenza vaccination for anyone six months and older. Different forms of flu vaccine are approved for different age groups.

Six drug manufacturers are licensed to produce and distribute flu vaccines in the United States this year, according to the FDA. One of these manufacturers, Novartis, has already begun to ship its Fluvirin vaccine.

Learn more about the flu by browsing this article from the editors at InsWeb: Staying Healthy This Flu Season.

In fact, pharmacists themselves are often guilty of critical errors, as we see in this excerpt from the story:

Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals. They can save lives if given the chance. When mistakes occur, though, the results can be tragic, as one reader reported:

 

"My ex-husband died from a pharmacy error. He was in relatively good health before the pharmacy dispensed an overdose of Coumadin. The physician denied any responsibility for this problem, though the pharmacy blames the physician.

 

"The drug manufacturer clearly states in its written information that Coumadin should not be taken twice a day. Even if the physician erred on the phone, the pharmacist should have been knowledgeable enough to question the overdose."

According to the article, understaffed pharmacies are especially susceptible to errors.

So, triple-check your prescription and dosage, and always discuss your medication with your pharmacist. Also, you may consider checking drug interactions online at a site like Drugs.com.

Last month, a woman in South Carolina was killed following a golf cart accident, raising the question: Should seat belts be mandatory on golf carts?

In this case, though, seat belts weren't the primary issue--alcohol was involved. Here's a snippet from the Insurance Journal:

"Anita Kay Bergeson, 37, of Knoxville, Tenn., was riding with her boyfriend in his parents' golf cart in Sun City at about 11 p.m. June 4. She had a beer in one hand and her feet propped on the dash, according to the Sheriff's Office report. When her boyfriend made a sharp left turn, she fell out, hit her head and died.

 

"Investigators deemed it an accident but said the sharp turn and the fact that Bergeson was not holding onto the cart and did not have her feet planted on the floor contributed to her fall."

In addition to wearing seat belts, experts advise driving during daylight, taking it slow and, of course, not consuming alcohol while operating any vehicle, even a golf cart.

But in today's high-tech world, that's quickly changing.

Now, Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks have become the go-to source for car insurance advice and information.

Check out the full-length article from InsWeb: More Drivers Seek Car Insurance Advice on Facebook, Twitter

The study, which surveyed over 30,000 adults, found that 49 percent of respondents prayed about health issues in 2007.

Respondents who experienced a significant decline or improvement in health reported more prayer, suggesting that Americans use prayer to cope with changing health circumstances.

A few notable statistics from the study include:

Rather than relying on faith alone to keep you well, invest in a health insurance policy. It could make a world of difference.