Reasons To Get A Health Screening

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Our health is the most important thing we have. However, just taking good care of yourself may not always be enough to prevent serious health problems from developing. Many chronic health conditions are based on heredity and family history can sometimes be stronger than the good care we take of our health on a daily basis.

Getting a professional health screening can mean the difference between early detection and having a health issue become more serious. Simple tests that consist of interview or questionnaires that you answer, along with being screened with ultrasound or Doppler equipment can mean the detection of many health conditions that could be silent, having no symptoms at all.

Health screening that takes place with simple blood tests can find diabetes in the early stages. Elevated glucose levels in the blood can lead to many serious complications if the issue is not addressed as early as possible and having the knowledge that there is something amiss can make all the difference in getting your health back on track to lead a long and strong life.

The medical community agrees that as of age 50, most people should have a series of tests done to screen them for many common conditions. By the age of 50, most people’s lifelong habits will have begun to catch up with them and even those who have led an exemplary life with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise may be seeing some hereditary conditions beginning to surface. It is an intelligent person who realises that the health screening they get can only be a good idea.

If the screening finds there is nothing wrong, the person gets wonderful peace of mind and a chance to relax, knowing they have done the right thing. If there is something detected within the screening process, the early detection can mean that they can make changes in their lifestyle and see their physician in order to address what must be done to improve their health.

The adage of “better safe than sorry” applies to getting screened for chronic conditions such as diabetes or circulatory diseases. Simple tests can give important answers.

Can an Employer Check Your Credit Report When You Apply for a Job?

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When you fill out a job application, don’t be surprised if your prospective employer requests your permission to pull a copy of your credit report. Employers in a variety of different industries use consumer credit reports to help them select responsible employees. A potential employer needs your permission to pull your credit report during the application process.

 Why Employers Check Credit

One common reason employers conduct credit checks is that doing so helps them evaluate the applicant’s reliability level. For example, if your credit report shows that you frequently miss payments to your creditors or have defaulted on certain financial obligations, a prospective employer may conclude that you handle responsibilities poorly. This could result in the company hiring a different applicant.

Prospective employers also check your credit report to determine how much debt you carry. If your credit report reveals that you are deeply in debt, the employer may turn down your application. Employees who struggle with debt pose a greater theft risk for businesses than financially stable employees.

Permissible Purpose and Federal Law

Federal laws pertaining to credit checks are governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Under the FCRA, a prospective employer cannot legally pull your credit report unless it notifies you that it intends to conduct a credit check and obtains your written permission to do so.

The employer must provide you with a written notice disclosing its intention to pull your credit report. The notice must be clearly worded and easy to understand. In the event that you filled out a job application online, the employer can send its request via email.

Credit Score Impact

Certain types of credit inquiries, often referred to as “hard pulls,” have a negative effect on your credit score. Hard credit pulls occur when a lender pulls your credit report after you apply for financing or a loan. Collection agencies also conduct hard credit pulls. Employers, however, do not. Because your employer conducts a “soft” credit pull, your credit score will not decrease each time a prospective employer reviews your credit history.

Employer Responsibilities

In the event that a prospective employer passes you over for a position because of derogatory information on your credit report, the employer must notify you of its reasoning in writing. The company must also notify you that federal law entitles you to a free copy of your credit report whenever an employer chooses not to hire you based on your credit history. You can request your free credit report based on the prospective employer’s “adverse action”even if you have already received your annual free credit report.

If you receive your free credit report and discover that it contains inaccurate information, you have the right to dispute this information with the credit bureaus. If the credit bureaus determine that your dispute is merited, they will delete the incorrect data from your credit history. The credit bureaus will also forward a corrected copy of your credit report to any individual or business that conducted a credit inquiry within the previous six months.

You have the right to refuse a prospective employer’s request to view your credit history. Refusing this request, however, could result in the company selecting another applicant for the position. If your credit history contains negative information, federal law gives you the right to insert a 100-word consumer statement into each of your credit files. A consumer statement provides anyone who pulls your credit report with additional information about the circumstances surrounding your past credit problems. A prospective employer can then take the additional information into consideration when making a hiring decision.