Nov 12, 2014 | Health Navigator
The Kaiser Health News article noted “Consumer advocacy group Public Citizen… called on 20 hospital systems to stop partnering with companies that offer low-cost screenings for heart disease and stroke risk, saying the promotions are ‘unethical’ and the exams are more likely to do harm than good.”
“In recent years, more hospitals have paired with firms offering such testing packages, partly to build community goodwill and referrals. Hospitals say residents benefit from the testing packages, which can cost less than $150, because some will discover they are at higher risk for heart problems or stroke early enough to take steps to reduce their risks.”
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Nov 11, 2014 | Health Navigator
Q. My 24-year-old daughter was covered under her father’s health insurance, which is a grandfathered plan. She started working and was offered coverage through her employer. My husband’s employer said she had to sign up for her employer’s insurance and could not stay on his policy. Is that true?
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Nov 10, 2014 | Health Navigator
The New York Times article noted: “Calling 911 can cause particular problems … Emergency medical personnel want orders … Nothing else has been shown to be effective.”
“Health care professionals, ethicists and advocates continually urge older people to document their preferences about end-of-life medical decisions, and a growing proportion do. A recent large national study, tracking more than 6,000 people over age 60 who died between 2000 and 2010, found that the proportion with advance directives climbed to 72 percent from 47 percent.”
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Nov 7, 2014 | Health Navigator
The Connecticut Mirror article noted : “Many patients now have insurance plans that require them to pay a portion of their medical bills. But finding out what their care will cost remains difficult.”
“Because her family’s health insurance plan has a $10,000 deductible, Sue Haynie tries to watch what they spend on medical care and figure out what it will cost ahead of time. But that’s easier said than done, she’s found. There was the time her daughter needed to see a doctor about a lingering sore throat. Haynie wondered how she’d know the cost of any tests the doctor performed, so she asked her insurer, Aetna. Haynie said the representative suggested two options: Ask the doctor’s office to call Aetna and find out, or leave the appointment after finding out what tests the doctor recommends, price out the tests, and — if she decided they’re worth it — go back for another appointment to have the tests done. Haynie chose the first option, so when her daughter went to the appointment, she asked the office staff to call Aetna. But Haynie said she was told they didn’t have time to do so, and that if Haynie wouldn’t pay the bill, her daughter could be pulled out of the visit.”
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Nov 6, 2014 | Health Navigator
The Connecticut Mirror article noted: “Want to know how much a medical procedure is going to cost? Experts say it’s not easy. But if you try, there are some things that you should know.”
“Here are few places to look, based on the recommendations of Connecticut and national experts.”
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Ask your insurance company. But be sure you have the right information first.
- Ask your health care provider.
- For an estimate, look at online tools like FAIR Health and Health Care Blue Book.
- Another approach: Know the worst-case scenario.
- Know the limits of price information.
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The Kaiser Health News article noted “Consumer advocacy group Public Citizen… called on 20 hospital systems to stop partnering with companies that offer low-cost screenings for heart disease and stroke risk, saying the promotions are ‘unethical’ and the exams are more likely to do harm than good.”
