Thursday, October 31, 2019

Cheap Insurance is .... Cheap .....Insurance



The Trump administration is working to empower short term easy-to-buy insurance plans.

These are sometimes known as "association health plans."

Problem is you get what you pay for.

Lousy insurance is only marginally better than no insurance at all. Or maybe worse.

The Affordable Care Act marketplace has better products and some at decent (but not cheap) prices.

Buyer beware.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Ambush Billing



Most people think of a hospital as a large building with lots of departments managed by a central group of executives.

Maybe not.

Increasingly a hospital is a large building full of contractors and subcontractors hired by a central administration.

Problem is, not all of the contractors are necessarily contracted with major insurance companies. This is called OoN or Out of Network.

This is especially prevalent with emergency department contractors.

Sometimes this failure to contract is very intentional... and the resulting billings can be massive as compared to in-network providers.

Both state and federal governments are talking about a fix, and the contractors are directing a fierce lobbying campaign toward protecting ambush billing.

Sunday, May 19, 2019

Miracle Cures (?)



Advertisements abound for miracle cures for seniors.

Stem cells:

Stem cell clinics are popping up everywhere promising cures and possibly a fountain of youth.

There is scant valid evidence that stem cells cure much of anything in seniors, especially aging. They will make your wallet skinny.

Cheap surgery:

Several Florida plastic surgery clinics are losing licenses due to killing and mutilating patients.

The lure was cheap plastic surgery. Cheap and surgery are not really compatible.

Some of the clinics were owned by felons with no medical background. Oops.

Medical Tourism:

Travel to Mexico or India and get surgery for less money.

Sometimes this works very well, sometimes it is a disaster.

Buyer beware.