Prakash G. writes: Hi there! Upon graduation in Aug 2012, i had to buy insurance from outside to cover me during OPT, but when i learnt about my pregnancy and my insurance denied claims due to not meeting their eligibility criteria “has to be full time student”, i am basically without insurance with bills piled […]

Kathy O’Keefe from Ohio asks: On May 6, 2011, a man broke into my daughter’s home. He forever changed all of our lives that day. He hid in the dark early morning hours, and forced his way in. This man attacked my daughter, stabbing her multiple times. Her brother, Danny, heard her screams, and ran […]

Thanks for the informative website and book! I’m trying to help a friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer. She is uninsured. Initial emergency visit/hospitalization was $40,000. Then $140,000 for follow-up hospitalization and surgery. Now facing $6000+ per week for chemo. We’re filing for PCIP which hopefully will cover her going forward. But meantime, how […]

2020 Predictions: Healthcare, Physicians, Medicare, Hospitals, and Medicaid I have five major US healthcare predictions for the year 2020. You can see many of these healthcare trends happening now. HEALTHCARE PREDICTION #1: EMPLOYERS WILL PASS COSTS TO EMPLOYEES Employers will continue to shift the increasing cost of healthcare insurance to employees by requiring them to […]

“6 Things You Must Do Immediately” When You are Going to Have Surgery 1.) ASK YOUR EMPLOYER ABOUT DISABILITY BENEFITS You may have a short-term or long-term disability insurance benefit through your employer. This is a great benefit to have if your recovery time from surgery will consume a significant portion of your vacation time […]

“6 Things You Must Do Immediately” When You are Discharged from the Hospital 1.) ENROLL IN ONLINE ACCESS TO YOU HEALTH INSURANCE PORTAL If you have insurance, your insurance company provides you with excellent resources including online access to claims, EOBs, your benefit plan, their in-network provider list, and pricing tools that will tell you […]

“6 Things Your Must Do Immediately” When You Get Your First Hospital Statement 1.) MAKE SURE CHARGES, INSURANCE PAYMENTS, PATIENT LIABILITIES, AND WRITE-OFFS MATCH THE EOB The statement of account that your provider sends you should always be validated against the insurance company’s explanation of benefits (EOB) for the same service. Reconcile them to make […]

A prominent media figure recently asked me what advice I would give to a patient that did not have maternity health insurance coverage through her employer. This is a unique situation because only people without insurance can get coverage through Medicaid or SCHIP to cover labor and delivery. The patient was quoted a total cost […]

“6 Things You Must Do Immediately” If You Lose Health Insurance Coverage 1.) USE BENEFITS WHILE YOU STILL HAVE THEM Some employers will continue medical and dental benefits for terminated and “laid off” employees till the end of the month in which their employment ended. If you’re fortunate enough to still have several weeks on […]

I predict that a major consolidation of physician practices is about to occur. The reimbursement paid to physicians by Medicare could drop pretty dramatically in the near future and I don’t see how small practices and solo practices would be able to survive if they have to turn so many patients away. Many physicians saw […]