Finding the Right Doctor…For *You*
By Cindi Gatton |
As a patient/health advocate, a common call is “I need to find a doctor. Who’s the best for _________ (fill in the blank?)” Should be a simple question, right? Dictionary.com defines “best” as: “of the highest quality or standing: the best work, the best students; or “the most advantageous, suitable, or desirable: the best way. …
You only think you’re Covered
By Cindi Gatton |
This was the title of a Time magazine piece by Haley Edwards a few years back that included a profile of a case in our practice. The article came to mind through a recent personal experience I wanted to share. Seven weeks ago I sustained a catastrophic plumbing accident in my home, a condo I …
…Not a guarantee of payment. Huh?
By Cindi Gatton |
Your doctor recommends a test or procedure. You’re a wise consumer. You ask your doctor or hospital to pre-authorize coverage, or maybe you even get the codes they will use to bill and call your insurer yourself. You get a pre-authorization reference number or a letter, but somewhere in the documents is a statement that …
Don’t you talk back to me! (Or, why this *isn’t* always advice worth taking!)
By Cindi Gatton |
I think it was often the look on my face. I can’t really remember ever “talking back” to an adult, but it’s hard to imagine any kid not wanting to at some point. I suspect there must have been something on my face that indicated I wanted to “talk back” that caused my grandmother or …
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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly About Dr. Google
By Cindi Gatton |
(Hint: It’s not personal.) There is no question that the internet has been the most important tool to ever empower patients with knowledge and information to make informed choices about their health and healthcare. Some have even given it a nickname of sorts, “Doctor Google.” It’s the first place many of us go when we …
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Appeal Your Insurance Denial Successfully!
By Cindi Gatton |
You’ve reviewed the letter from your insurance company that says they’re not going to pay for a service you or a loved one has already had. When the rage has cooled and you re-read the letter, it states the reasons they denied payment, which may or may not make sense to you. Terms like “Didn’t …