Patients appear to be at higher risk of heart problems or stroke when prescriptions for the newest cholesterol-lowering drugs are rejected by insurance companies or unfilled by patients, according to new research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal. The drugs, PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9i), can substantially lower levels of low-density lipoprotein… Continue reading Rejected and Unfilled Prescriptions for New, Pricier Cholesterol Drugs Tied to Higher Heart, Stroke Risk
Tag: Insurance
What If Your Travel Insurance Claim Is Denied?
As you can imagine, having your travel canceled, interrupted or simply not go as planned is never ideal. When you have travel insurance, however, you can feel better knowing that at least some of your travel expenses will be reimbursed. But what if you file your claim, and it comes back denied? Here are some… Continue reading What If Your Travel Insurance Claim Is Denied?
Do You Have a Disaster Plan?
As the devastating flood Florence shows, extreme weather costs dozens of lives and billions of dollars in damage. What would you do if you were in the midst of a disaster? Are you ready to leave your home at a moment’s notice? Would you have all that you need? You can reduce your anxiety about… Continue reading Do You Have a Disaster Plan?
How to Fight Medical ID Theft
Having your records stolen in a healthcare data breach can be a prescription for financial disaster. If scam artists break into healthcare networks and grab your medical information, they can impersonate you to get medical services, use your data to open credit accounts, break into your bank accounts, obtain drugs illegally, and even blackmail you… Continue reading How to Fight Medical ID Theft
Health Care: Starting A Conversation Between Millennials and Baby Boomers
“When I was your age” is a phrase that Millennials say they’ve grown tired of hearing from Boomers on almost every subject, including how our health care system has changed over the years. Millennials didn’t live the before and after of many health care measures, so they may think it’s no big deal that we… Continue reading Health Care: Starting A Conversation Between Millennials and Baby Boomers
Strategies for Solo Travelers
Solo travel will always represent one of the largest segments of the travel market. If you’re thinking of hitting the road by yourself, here are some tips from Stan Sandberg, travel expert and co-founder of Travel Insurance.com: Let someone know where you are going and how to contact you. Designate at least one emergency contact… Continue reading Strategies for Solo Travelers
The Truths about Your Doctor You’ll Never See on TV
What makes a drug-addicted people-hating doctor with zero regard for laws so popular that millions of people chose to spend time with him every week? Who am I talking about? Gregory House, MD. For eight years, we loved every episode. One year, House was the most watched television show on the entire planet. The newest… Continue reading The Truths about Your Doctor You’ll Never See on TV
Planning for Your Own Long-Term Care
Planning for our own long-term care may not be pleasant, but it’s essential. In this guide, the National Institute on Aging shares how you can look after yourself and your future: You can never know for sure if you will need long-term care. Maybe you will never need it. But an unexpected accident, illness, or… Continue reading Planning for Your Own Long-Term Care
Managing the ER Visit
Most visits to the emergency room are unexpected and frightening. In circumstances like these, it’s important to keep your focus on what will help you or your loved one most. Health care workers, often overwhelmed by the number of patients they need to treat, may not ask every question they should. Here, from the experts… Continue reading Managing the ER Visit
The Importance of A Chronic-Care Plan
Editor’s note: Nobody likes to think about becoming incapacitated, but preparing for the time when chronic care is needed can go a long way toward having peace of mind for both the potential patient and their family. Here, from the experts at Generations Healthcare, a network of skilled nursing, memory care and rehabilitation facilities in… Continue reading The Importance of A Chronic-Care Plan
Making Sure Your Loved Ones Age Safely “In Place”
Fact: Everyday nearly 10,000 people turn age 65 – and most people, as they age, want to stay in their homes as long as possible — instead of moving into a retirement community. This process is called “aging in place” – but for this process to fully work, any possible risks (physical or emotional) should… Continue reading Making Sure Your Loved Ones Age Safely “In Place”
Is Genetic Testing for You?
Editor’s note: Genetic testing can be a frightening, expensive prospect – and it can also help you. How should you decide? Here, experts from the SeniorHealth division of the National Institutes of Health tell you what you need to know about this crucial choice. In a genetic test, a small sample of blood, saliva, or… Continue reading Is Genetic Testing for You?
Choosing the Right Doctor for You
Editor’s Note: You might be looking for a new doctor for any number of reasons – you’ve moved, for example, or your doctor has retired. Here, from the National Institute on Aging, are some strategies to help make the search more productive and easier: Types of Primary Care Doctors Your primary care doctor is the… Continue reading Choosing the Right Doctor for You
Too Many Patients Are Delaying Hospice Care
Although hospice can benefit terminally ill patients over a period of time, one in six cancer patients enroll it in only during the last three days of life, according to a new study. The findings, by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, also revealed a profile of the kind of patient… Continue reading Too Many Patients Are Delaying Hospice Care
Long-Term Care Crisis & Aggressive Collection Tactics
By Chris Orestis
Shopping for Health Insurance in the Digital Age
By Edward Oberg
With the introduction of legislation such as Obama Care, The Affordable Care Act, and even DOMA, the world of insurance is in flux and shopping for a new policy is more confusing than ever. This leaves those who remain uninsured and those who have found themselves underinsured with the newly imposed restrictions in quite a quandary. Despite the plethora of new questions these changes pose, luckily there are answers to be had.
State Efforts to Promote Continuity of ACA Coverage
A new culture of health care has been ushered in by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) but Americans with income fluctuations, such as those with multiple part-time jobs, may experience shifts in coverage. Those transitions would require the affected people to "churn" between Medicaid and private insurance, a process that could affect affordability and continuous access to care.
States’ Restrictions on ACA Hampering Access
The first study to gauge the impact of state restrictions on the roll-out of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) indicates that community health centers across the country are engaged in an intensive effort to find and enroll eligible and uninsured patients and community residents.