Health Blog
Topic: Health Planning
Strategies to Help You Plan for and Manage Large Medical Bills
Whether they’re the result of an unexpected illness or injury, out-of-network care, a high cost medical procedure like joint replacement or organ transplant, or a common but costly medical expense such as labor and delivery, large medical bills not only affect your financial wellbeing, they can also impact your health. The stress caused by high... Read More
How to get the most out of your doctor’s visit
Your annual doctor’s visit and checkup is a good opportunity to be an active partner in your care. Rather than simply sitting through your weigh-in, blood pressure check, and flu shot, now is the time to be proactive and ask your doctor key questions that can help you build a health and wellness strategy. If... Read More
Why affluent families may want to reconsider direct-to-consumer genetic testing
Ads suggest they make great Father’s Day or holiday gifts. Around 30 million people have tried them and that number is projected to grow to 100 million next year. Direct-to-consumer genetic tests that provide information about your ancestry and risk of developing certain health problems are undeniably popular, but people from affluent families may want... Read More
How to negotiate lower costs for out-of-network care
While seeking care within your health insurer’s provider network costs less, there are situations when you may decide to seek care outside of the network. For example, if you’re diagnosed with a serious, rare, or complex condition, the physicians and hospitals that have the most experience treating your condition and the best outcomes may not... Read More
Facing large medical bills? How to ask for a payment plan
There are many reasons you could end up with large medical bills that strain your budget. If you have a high deductible health plan, you could be required to pay several thousand dollars out of pocket before your health insurance starts to cover the cost of your care. If you go outside your health plan’s... Read More
High Medical Bills: How to Negotiate a Lower Cost
If you’re having trouble paying high medical bills or are faced with unexpected medical costs, you may want to consider negotiating with your healthcare providers to reduce the amount you owe. High medical bills and medical debt are problems a growing number of Americans of all ages are facing. According to data collected by the... Read More
Strategies to help you avoid surprise high medical bills
If you’ve ever received an unexpected high medical bill you’re not alone. Maybe your primary care doctor or a specialist referred you for diagnostic tests or imaging and you assumed that since your doctor was in your insurance network, he or she would refer you to an in-network facility, which is often not the case.... Read More
What to consider when you’re looking for a new doctor
There are many reasons you may need to find a new doctor. Your doctor may be retiring. Your health insurance may have changed and you’ve got a new provider network. You moved. Or you may not feel you and your doctor are a good fit. So where should you start and what questions should you... Read More
How to make sure your care is coordinated when you see more than one doctor
Even if you’re the picture of health, you may see more than one doctor—a primary care physician, a gynecologist if you’re a woman, an occasional urgent care healthcare professional. And if you’re living with a chronic condition like heart disease or diabetes or have been diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, the number of... Read More
Can hospital pricing transparency help you make smarter healthcare decisions?
There’s a new rule that requires hospitals to list the price for all the services they provide and medications they prescribe for patients in the hospital. In theory, this should give you more information that can help you figure out what your care will cost and where it makes the most economic sense to receive... Read More