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Tag: cost of healthcare

After Surgery, Surprise $117,000 Medical Bill From Doctor He Didn’t Know

Before his three-hour neck surgery for herniated disks in December, Peter Drier, 37, signed a pile of consent forms. A bank technology manager who had researched his insurance coverage, Mr. Drier was prepared when the bills started arriving: $56,000 from Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, $4,300 from the anesthesiologist and even $133,000 from his orthopedist, who he knew would accept a fraction of that fee.

He was blindsided, though, by a bill of about $117,000 from an “assistant surgeon,” a Queens-based neurosurgeon whom Mr. Drier did not recall meeting.

“I thought I understood the risks,” Mr. Drier, who lives in New York City, said later. “But this was just so wrong — I had no choice and no negotiating power.”

Read the full article here.

Contact Steven G. Cosby, MHSA with questions or to request more information and to schedule a healthcare plan evaluation, savings analysis or group plan solution for your company.

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3 Ways to Save Money on Health Insurance

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It’s open enrollment season, a short period of time when companies offer employees the opportunity to make changes to their health insurance and other benefits for the next year. In some cases, your choices this fall could potentially save you hundreds of dollars in 2015. But you have to take action and analyze your health benefits.

Nearly 150 million Americans are covered under employer-sponsored health plans. Still, many may spend far less time reviewing plan options than choosing a new place to vacation.

Workplace benefits can be complex and confusing to navigate. Yet, taking time to ensure that the plan you selected last year is still appropriate for you and your family can potentially save you hundreds of dollars. If you or your dependents have had a change in their health status, you need to consider the out-of-pocket costs and possibly change your plan.

Read the full article here.

Contact Steven G. Cosby, MHSA with questions or to request more information and to schedule a healthcare plan evaluation, savings analysis or group plan solution for your company.

ACA’s Cost Impact: Employer-Sponsored Health Plans

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Below are major survey findings concerning the financial impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on single employer plans. Completed responses were received from 728 individuals representing single employer plans (including corporations). The vast majority (676 or 92.9%) of those respondents represented employers currently offering health care benefits to employees who work more than 30 hours per week. Attention is given to the cost impact of ACA, the costliest ACA requirements in 2013 and beyond, and employer plans for dealing with increased costs.

Read the full article here.

Contact Steven Cosby with questions or to request more information and to schedule a healthcare plan evaluation, savings analysis or group plan solution for your company.

Contact Steven G. Cosby, MHSA with questions or to request more information and to schedule a healthcare plan evaluation, savings analysis or group plan solution for your company.

For Telehealth Patient Safety Insists Upon An Evolution In Policy

The nation’s ongoing battle to strike a delicate balance between increasing access to quality health care for all Americans and reducing overall health care spending just scored one of its most substantial victories. In late April, after several months of thoughtful and robust collaboration, the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) ratified a new model national policy – the Appropriate Use of Telemedicine in the Practice of Medicine – at its annual meeting in Denver. This marks the first time the medical community has unilaterally acknowledged the impact technology has had on the practice of medicine, and the ability telemedicine — or connected health — has to facilitate and improve the delivery of health care.
Let us first put this in perspective. We all know health care is at a critical juncture. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act means millions of newly eligible Americans will seek access to an already over-burdened health care system. The nation faces a serious shortage of primary care providers, specialty care is becoming more diversified, and access to care in rural areas is an ongoing challenge. All of these issues are on the rise.
Read full article here.

Contact Steven Cosby with questions or to request more information and to schedule a healthcare plan evaluation, savings analysis or group plan solution for your company.
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