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 […]
Don’t you talk back to me! (Or, why this *isn’t* always advice worth taking!) Read More »
(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
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly About Dr. Google Read More »
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
Appeal Your Insurance Denial Successfully! Read More »
Carla’s* mother had been hospitalized for a week for a hip replacement, and discharged to a skilled nursing facility for rehab. Three weeks after her admission, she received a notice that her mother’s Medicare plan was denying payment for her care because she wasn’t participating in therapy. Dave* had foot surgery that required the
Should you appeal your insurance denial? Read More »
Back in the glory days of black and white television, Dr. Welby walked into a hospital room, provided a diagnosis, and told his patient what to do. As patients insisted on more of a role in decisions that affect them, often we now find ourselves in the position of our physicians providing options and asking
Making Hard Medical Decisions Read More »
What you don’t know might cost you! The air has already gotten a bit crisper on some of my morning walks. While that may mean apples and candy corn for some, it also signals open enrollment for health insurance for many of us. We have the most complicated healthcare system in the world, largely because
Health Insurance: Test Your IQ Read More »
I may be one of the few people on the planet who invested my second language studies in Latin. And yes, it probably would have been more practical to study a language people actually speak! While having a working knowledge of Latin has been helpful for crossword puzzles, at other times my intellectual curiosity simply
Hospital Discharge: Could it be a bit more hospitable? Read More »
It looks like a horse. It smells like a horse. It rides like a horse. It must be a horse, right? Well, maybe, unless it’s the Famous Mr. Ed. For those of you too young to remember, Mr. Ed was a talking horse who could only be heard by his owner, and was a bit
Short term health insurance….A horse (of course) or Mr. Ed? Read More »
You took the time to prepare for your visit with your doctor. You asked your doctor to explain her observations with words you understand, you told her what you thought you heard, and she confirmed it. You request a copy of you medical record or log onto your patient portal a few days later, and
Is that what I said? That’s not what I meant! Now what? Part 2 Read More »
You might remember a children’s game from long ago called “Telephone:” Someone thought of a message and whispered it to the person next to them, who whispered it to the person next to them and so on. The last person would repeat what they heard out loud and it was always met with giggles and
Is That What I said? That’s not what I meant! Read More »