Medical Expenses

Medicare Offers Free Weight-Loss Counseling

Medicare Offers Free Weight-Loss Counseling

February 8, 2016

Medicare offers free weight-loss counseling, but fewer than 1% of Medicare’s 50 million beneficiaries use it—even though 30% of seniors…

The Generic-Drug Rip-Off

The Generic-Drug Rip-Off

November 13, 2015

Medicare Premiums Could Soar

Medicare Premiums Could Soar

Aaron Tidball | October 14, 2015

Medicare recently warned that Part B premiums could increase by as much as 52% for certain recipients in 2016. This…

Long-Term-Care Warning

Long-Term-Care Warning

Phyllis Shelton | April 21, 2015

A move to a foreign country can devastate a person’s long-term-care (LTC) insurance benefits. Many LTC policies do not cover…

Stop Getting Double-Billed!

Stop Getting Double-Billed!

Charles B. Inlander | April 1, 2015

Here’s a cautionary tale for those of you who aren’t paying close attention to your doctor bills: Four times this…

Medicare Traps 2015

Medicare Traps 2015

March 9, 2015

Avoid These 4 Costly Mistakes If you fail to fully grasp certain Medicare rules, you could end up paying unnecessarily high…

Doctors and Hospitals Are Adding Sneaky New Fees

Doctors and Hospitals Are Adding Sneaky New Fees

Charles B. Inlander | February 26, 2015

Many doctors and hospitals are adding on sneaky fees for services that used to be included with routine visits and…

Hospital-Bill Sucker Punch
Medical Expenses

Hospital-Bill Sucker Punch

Elisabeth Ryden Benjamin | December 11, 2014

The latest health-care trap: What starts out as an in-network hospital visit fully covered by insurance turns into a surprise…

Open Enrollment for Obamacare

Open Enrollment for Obamacare

Wendell ­Potter | November 6, 2014

New Cautions Even If You Signed Up Last Year The Obamacare health insurance marketplaces are no longer brand new, but…

If You Have Employer Health Insurance…

If You Have Employer Health Insurance…

Paul ­Fronstin, PhD | November 3, 2014

Watch Out for This Year's Traps Keep your eyes open during your employer's health insurance open-enrollment period this year. Widespread…

Get Your Health Insurer to Pay Up

Get Your Health Insurer to Pay Up

Adria Gross | September 8, 2014

Former Claims Examiner Tells All Every time you make a claim under your health insurance policy, there is a substantial…

Don’t Be a Victim of Nursing Home Theft
Medical Expenses

Don’t Be a Victim of Nursing Home Theft

Robyn Grant | April 9, 2014

Nursing home residents often entrust a portion of their savings to the facility’s care so that the facility can handle…

Your Hospital May Be Ripping You Off: Medicare “Observation Status”
Medical Expenses

Your Hospital May Be Ripping You Off: Medicare “Observation Status”

Toby Edelman, EdM, JD | April 4, 2014

When you go to the hospital as a Medicare patient with an acute condition that requires a stay of two…

Coping with the Obamacare “Kid Glitch”

Coping with the Obamacare “Kid Glitch”

Dylan Roby, PhD | March 26, 2014

A little-known trap means that some families won’t be able to take advantage of the new tax subsidies created by…

Insurer Says “No”? What to Do

Insurer Says “No”? What to Do

Charles B. Inlander | January 17, 2014

Here's a sobering statistic: Each year, more than 200 million (yes, you read that right) claims are denied by insurance…