Consumerist
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health
FTC Launches Older Patient Info Site
The FTC launched the strangely named "Who Cares" resource site for older patients and those who care for them. It's a reliable source for knowledge about generics, hormone therapies, hiring caregivers, hearing aids, and alternative treatments, located at ftc.gov/whocares. -
health insurance
Faced With A Broken Health Care System, Some Doctors Are Opting-Out
A combination of rising costs and low insurance reimbursements is forcing some primary care physicians to opt-out of the insurance game completely — accepting a flat fee instead of private insurance or Medicare. For a $4,500 annual fee, patients who formerly used their insurance to pay for doctor's visits can get 24-hour access to doctors, unhurried appointments, home visits and state-of-the-art annual physicals. Or they can find another doctor. More » -
insurance
Hospital Bills Woman For Waiting 19 Hours Without Seeing Dr
Amber Joy Milbrodt waited for 19 hours in a Dallas emergency room to get her broken leg fixed without seeing a doctor before she finally left. Two weeks later, she got a bill for $162. The hospital says it was for when a nurse checked her vital signs. "She's not paying for waiting...She's paying for the assessment she received." said Rick Rhine, the hospital's vice president in charge of billing. "It should have been more like them paying me for having to sit in the emergency room for 19 hours," Amber told The Dallas Morning News. Amber says she's not going to pay the bill.
Dallas hospital bills woman who waited 19 hours and never saw a doctor [Chron] (Thanks to Chester!) (Photo: xxxlps)
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Tonik
Tonik Insurance Sneaks 20% Premium Increase On Customer After Approval
Tonik is the rad, x-treme! lifestyle health insurance for young people who can't afford regular insurance—sort of the Poochie of health insurance, except it's not going to go away. Aasma wrote to us to let us know that when she signed up for it over the weekend, she got a nasty surprise after she submitted her credit card information. More » -
phone numbers
Reach 19 Blue Cross Blue Shield CEOs
Here is the full contact information for 18 different Blue Cross Blue Shield CEOs. Name, address, phone number, and the contact info for their assistants. If you have an unresolved issue with one of these health insurance groups that regular customer service can't or won't solve, might want to give the appropriate honchos one the following list a holler. More » -
health
Your Best Investment: Your Health
It's been suggested that your career is your biggest financial asset because it fuels all of your financial progress — it grows your net worth, pays for your living expenses, sends your kids to college,funds your retirement, and the like. That's why we protect our careers with products like disability, medical, and life insurance, because without the ability to work — even for a limited amount of time — most of us would experience severe financial hardship. More » -
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BCBCS Must Think Your Breasts Are A "Pre-Existing Condition"
Marc's girlfriend found some lumps in her breasts, the mammogram and ultrasound came back ok, but BCBS is denying coverage for the biopsy, saying it's a "pre-existing condition." The out-of-pocket cost is over $2,000. We're confused, BCBS. What pre-existing condition? That she has breasts? That she might not have cancer? More » -
generics
Shun Brand Name Drugs With Two Letters After The Name And Save
What do those little letters, CD, ER, SR, etc, after a brand name drug's name mean? The exact terminology varies, but they usually translate to the same thing: unnecessary ripoffs. More » -
drugs
14 Ways To Save On Drugs Big Pharma Doesn't Want You To Know
It's no secret that prescription drugs are expensive, but it is a bit of one that they don't have to be. Dr. Edward Jardini's book, How To Save On Prescription Drugs, has 20 methods that anyone can use to drastically cut the costs of long-term medications, without sacrificing quality. Here's 14 of them:
More »
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videos
Your Brother Committed Suicide? No Insurance For You
Consumer Reports has an interview with the mother of a young man who couldn't get any insurance because, after his brother committed suicide when he was younger, he saw a psychiatrist for a few sessions. He went uninsured after he aged out of his father's coverage and taking jobs with no health benefits. Then, while he was cleaning it, his pickup truck burst into flames. More »
health insurance
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Wed Dec 3
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