Category: Patients

Barriers to care experienced by women in the United States: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

Filed Under: Costs, Health plans, Health reform

Barriers to care experienced by women in the United States: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

“This Visualizing Health Policy infographic looks at barriers to care experienced by women in the United States. Women incur greater health care costs than men, particularly during the reproductive years,” The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation says on its website. “Despite a lower uninsured rate than men (11% vs 14%), women are more likely to […]

barriers to care men The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation women

How much does an emergency room visit cost? Or how to successfully argue a bill

Filed Under: Costs, Health plans, Health reform

How much does an emergency room visit cost? Or how to successfully argue a bill

His kid was treated at the emergency room at Children’s Medical Center – Plano, Tex., he told us when he shared his experience on our website. The charge was $1,770; insurance paid nothing, and he was asked to pay $1,501.24. His remark: ‘Waited six hours. Very expensive treatment for a kid’s tummyache.” I asked him […]

appeal argue a bill emergency room hospital X-ray

A $9,000 surgery, and her dog died: A different take on health costs, this time for pets

Filed Under: Costs, Patients

A $9,000 surgery, and her dog died: A different take on health costs, this time for pets

My friend Lisa Collier Cool had a young dog who died a few months ago after surgery at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan. She was charged $9,000, and was irate. Cool, an author and journalist, wrote this letter. Her web site is here. Why am I’m posting here? We hear a lot about people […]

Animal Medical Center Lisa Collier Cool pet health costs pet surgery veterinarian

A missed opportunity for the malpractice system to improve health care: The New York Times

Filed Under: Costs, Health plans, Health reform

A missed opportunity for the malpractice system to improve health care: The New York Times

“The American medical malpractice system is doing almost nothing to improve the quality of health care, research suggests,” Aaron E. Carroll writes over at The New York Times. “What may be more concerning is that there is very little discussion, much less action, about changing this. Despite worries among doctors that they are at financial […]

malpractice

Strategies for Effective Cost-of-Care Conversations with Patients: Revcycle Intelligence

Filed Under: Costs, Health plans, Patients

Strategies for Effective Cost-of-Care Conversations with Patients: Revcycle Intelligence

“Patients are paying more and more for their healthcare services, making effective cost-of-care conversations a skill that providers need to successfully treat patients,” Jacqueline LaPointe writes over at RevCycle Intelligence. “Health plans with deductibles are becoming commonplace. A new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) shows that about 85 percent of covered workers had […]

costs

How much does a hip replacement cost, $95,459 or $77,967? Or, why does the insurance company pay more than the bill?

Filed Under: Costs, Health plans, Patients

How much does a hip replacement cost, $95,459 or $77,967? Or, why does the insurance company pay more than the bill?

How much does a hip replacement cost, $95,459.83 or $77,967? Or $63,604? A friend had a hip replacement recently, and she sent over her bill. What’s interesting to us is, among other things, the Hospital for Special Surgery bill and the Cigna bill don’t add up. Cigna reports that it was billed $95,459.83; HSS reports […]

Cigna crutches hip replacement Hospital for Special Surgery Orthonet

Why Drug Costs Are Skyrocketing for Conditions Like MS, Parkinson’s: Healthline

Filed Under: Costs, Health plans, Patients

Why Drug Costs Are Skyrocketing for Conditions Like MS, Parkinson’s: Healthline

“The financial cost of having a neurological disease such as Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis is growing,” according to Healthline. “Those are the findings of a new study funded by the American Academy of Neurology and published in the organization’s journal Neurology. In it, researchers say they found the average out-of-pocket costs for a number of […]

medications multiple sclerosis Parkinson's prescriptions

How much do blood tests cost? Or, how to argue a bill for a $3,000-plus trip to the doctor.

Filed Under: Costs, Health plans, Patients

How much do blood tests cost? Or, how to argue a bill for a $3,000-plus trip to the doctor.

It was one of those shares that seemed hard to believe. The charge for the blood tests at University of North Carolina Hospitals was $2,378, and the person who shared was asked to pay $1,474.92. Cigna, the insurer, paid nothing. The comment: “The UNC facility in question notably distinguished by Cigna as meeting certain quality […]

blood tests Cigna discount estimate high deductibles

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