New York State makes policy changes in response to our Medical Price Roulette reporting

Jeanne Pinder October 10, 2019

New York State makes policy changes in response to our Medical Price Roulette reporting

The New York State superintendent of financial services, Linda A. Lacewell, announced that the state Department of Financial Services (DFS) has proposed an amendment to a regulation on New York’s Out of Network Law to protect New Yorkers further from surprise medical bills. In a statement in a press release, Lacewell said she was taking […]

Who gets paid what: The ABC’s of health care pricing

Jeanne Pinder October 7, 2019

Who gets paid what: The ABC’s of health care pricing

Pricing is byzantine in the U.S. health care system. For any given procedure or item at any given hospital or clinic, there may be a dozen prices or more. Why? We have what’s called a third-party payer system — many bills are paid not by the patient (the recipient of the service or medication) but […]

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Young adults take ‘risky’ actions to save on health care costs: Forbes

Jeanne Pinder September 23, 2019

Young adults take ‘risky’ actions to save on health care costs: Forbes

“Much of the news about health care costs focuses on the assets required to cover health care costs in retirement,” Janet Berry-Johnson writes at Forbes. “HealthView Services 2018 Retirement Healthcare Costs Data Report estimates that a 65-year-old couple in good health will need $363,946 to pay for health-care costs for the remainder of their lives, […]

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Some things I have observed by using our shitshow of a healthcare system (US): Reddit

Jeanne Pinder September 2, 2019

Some things I have observed by using our shitshow of a healthcare system (US): Reddit

This interesting piece of writing comes to us courtesy of Reddit, which calls itself “the front page of the internet.” She posted it on the subreddit channel r/self.povertyfinance. I saw it and reached out to her to ask if we could re-post on our blog because we are interested in her perspective. She agreed. She […]

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Umpteen rounds with Aliera Healthcare: How to argue a bill with a sharing ministry

Jeanne Pinder August 29, 2019

Umpteen rounds with Aliera Healthcare: How to argue a bill with a sharing ministry

A Facebook friend commented on one of our posts that Aliera Healthcare, one of the healthcare sharing ministries, had denied a claim, saying that while the doctor was in-network, the billing entity was not. It seemed wacky, so I asked for more detail. Here is his story. We’re not using his name because that’s not […]

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What happens if you don’t pay a hospital bill? – The Atlantic

Jeanne Pinder August 28, 2019

What happens if you don’t pay a hospital bill? – The Atlantic

“On March 8, 2011, Joclyn Krevat, an occupational therapist in New York, was sitting at her computer when she received a most unusual LinkedIn request,” Olga Khazan writes over at The Atlantic. “The wording was the familiar: ‘I’d like to add you to my professional network.’ The sender was familiar, too, but not for the […]

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Here’s why your patients disregard prescriptions: KevinMD

Jeanne Pinder August 27, 2019

Here’s why your patients disregard prescriptions: KevinMD

“Take one-half tablet three times per day with meals, increasing by half each week until reaching a maximum of three tablets three times per day,” Kevin R.R. Williams writes over at KevinMD. “Did you get a new prescription from your doctor? If so, there is a 50 percent chance you will not adhere to label […]

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Buying health insurance: A handbook

Jeanne Pinder August 26, 2019

(Posted August 2019; updates planned) How do you buy health insurance? We are frequently asked to help people buy health insurance. Our specialty is the cost of health care, not buying insurance. We don’t do individual consultations on what insurance to buy. We’re not really qualified for that, and also people must be certified and […]

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How much does a cardio stress test cost? $9,200 an hour?

Jeanne Pinder August 23, 2019

How much does a cardio stress test cost? $9,200 an hour?

The community member did not leave a name, but she/he was outraged. The procedure: A cardiovascular stress test, CPT code 93107. The charge? $864.80. Cigna insurance paid nothing at the St. David’s North Austin Medical Center in Texas. The comment: “This was a simple 10 EKG on a treadmill. No Dr. Present, no interpretation. Trace […]

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How much does Losartan cost? $6.43 or $13? $26.25 or $63?

Jeanne Pinder August 21, 2019

How much does Losartan cost? $6.43 or $13? $26.25 or $63?

A friend writes: “The price of my medication, Losartan for high blood pressure, jumped last month. “I take the 100 mg size. It went from $13 a month to $63 a month on my insurance, via Cigna. The medication is a generic for Benicar, so I was surprised at the price jump. “They told me […]