Topic: Health Planning

large medical bills
Jun 2 2020

Strategies to Help You Plan for and Manage Large Medical Bills

Health finance  •  By Miles Varn, MD

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

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doctor's visit
Apr 14 2020

How to get the most out of your doctor’s visit

Preventive Care  •  By Miles Varn, MD

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

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genetic testing
Feb 18 2020

Why affluent families may want to reconsider direct-to-consumer genetic testing

Health Risk Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

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

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out-of-network
Feb 11 2020

How to negotiate lower costs for out-of-network care

Health finance  •  By Miles Varn, MD

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

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Feeling Lost Without PinnacleCare
Jan 21 2020

Facing large medical bills? How to ask for a payment plan

Health finance  •  By Miles Varn, MD

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

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high medical bills
Jan 7 2020

High Medical Bills: How to Negotiate a Lower Cost

Health finance  •  By Miles Varn, MD

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

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medical bills
Jul 30 2019

Strategies to help you avoid surprise high medical bills

Health finance  •  By Miles Varn, MD

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

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new doctor
Jul 23 2019

What to consider when you’re looking for a new doctor

Family Caregiving  •  By Miles Varn, MD

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

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care coordination
May 14 2019

How to make sure your care is coordinated when you see more than one doctor

Health Risk Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

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

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medical bills
Feb 19 2019

Can hospital pricing transparency help you make smarter healthcare decisions?

Health Risk Management  •  By Miles Varn, MD

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

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