Health care law encompasses the laws and regulations governing hospital and health care administration, and an understanding of health care insurance is integral to it. There are significant differences in the types and amount of coverage provided by various private insurance policies, such as HMOs, PPOs, disability insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance, just as there are important differences in the cost to the purchasers of health insurance. There are also public health care insurance programs. Elderly and disabled persons may be eligible for coverage through the federal Medicare program. The joint state-federal Medicaid program helps certain individuals, including disabled persons and low-income elderly persons, pay for long-term care and in-home health care.
Locust Fork is a town in Blount County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,016 people. As of 2007, the estimated population has risen to 1156 which is an increase of 12%. The community name comes from the proximity of the town to the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River. The Locust Fork area has and continues to see strong residential growth mainly due to outflow from Jefferson County as residents there seek a more rural environment as well as a lower tax structure than is found in Jefferson County. As a result of this growth, enrollment in schools has risen substantially. Also, traffic along the main highway artery Alabama State Route 79 has risen and the road has become increasingly dangerous between the termination of a divided highway four lane just north of Pinson and Locust Fork. There has been some discussion of upgrading the road to four lane status but such work is still considered several years away. Locust Fork will also be impacted by the eventual construction of the Northern Beltline, which is slated to cross Alabama State Route 79 just north of Pinson. This controlled access highway (officially designatged as Interstate 422) will provide much quicker access for Locust Fork residents traveling east to Trussville or westward to Gardendale, Graysville, and Tuscaloosa. However, this route is still 10–15 years away from completion.