Over the years I have talked to people who faced medical bills for care they needed but could not pay. In a couple cases I told them about CareCredit, the largest medical care lender. For example, the lady who owns the salon where my wife used to go needed eye surgery. She was happy to learn there was an easy way to make payments for surgery. Our dog’s veterinarian and the equine vet that cares for my wife’s horse both take CareCredit. I’ve even met a plastic surgeon who accepts CareCredit. If your budget can’t take an $8,000 hit for a facelift you can finance it over time putting down a couple thousand dollars and maybe pay $200 a months for several years with interest.
Category: Health Insurance
The Medicaid Pediatric Dental Scam
Kaiser Health News ran an article about private equity taking over health care. The lead anecdote was about a small child taken to a dental clinic that caters to Medicaid patients. The 2-years old died days after a dentist performed root canals and put six crowns on baby teeth on the toddler.
Your Doc May Dump You if You Don’t See Them Often Enough
Just like a neglected girlfriend, you doctor may dump you if you don’t see her often enough. I don’t have a primary care doctor. My previous doctor was an Internist named Paul Craig. When I last called for an appointment several years ago in mid February his office staff told me he was retiring at the end of the month and was booked through the end of the February. Perhaps my irregular appointments were the reason he retired. I ended up being able to see a specialist who saw me without a referral.
Steps to Scrutinize a Medical Bill
A Chicago physician took a nasty spill while skiing in Wisconsin, resulting in a trip to the emergency room on New Years Day. Then came the bill, which was a nasty surprise. The $10,563.49 in initial ER charges from a Froedtert South hospital in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, seemed high considering he basically got only an exam,…