This week my doctor gave me samples (about 4 to be exact) of a new medication he thought would benefit me. He also gave me a coupon for up to $30 off with the written prescription he gave me. On this coupon your patient information must be disclosed. There is space for your name, address, and a check box "if payment to pharmacy".
I call it a coupon. The drug company calls it a copay assistance card. If by chance, your pharmacy does not accept the copay card it instructs you to complete the personal information and mail it in with your pharmacy receipt (cost to mail another 43 cents).
There are all sorts of codes listed on the card in a small box. What does this mean? It seems like some secret tagging process.
I have two issues with this - the privacy afforded patients by HIPAA , and the copay card itself. If you get "up to $30 off", that can only mean that the medication is at least $29.99. This is an average amount for any monthly supply of meds as far as I am concerned.
Thank you, but no thank you, doc. Did it ever dawn on you that I may not be able to fit this in my already tight medical budget? I would have appreciated more samples especially if you have prescribed it to help me. Even information about the drug would have been welcome.
I was turned down for more samples even after shouting down the hall that this seemed unaffordable. I was denied the time to even think about asking for written drug information. Makes you go hmmm....
J.L. Richardson, M.D. is author of the award winning (soon to be NY Times bestseller), Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://mypatienthandbook.com/
viernes, 27 de febrero de 2009
lunes, 23 de febrero de 2009
Fiscal Physical Health of America
America's fiscal physical health is failing. You are part of that body. Have you done your part to make America healthy?
President Obama addressed this issue today. It is great to finally hear more things like "lower your premium" quality healthcare coverage. Health insurance premiums should be capped. What if everyone paid the same amount regardless of present, pre-existing, or future conditions?
Genome genetics will help us live longer and better, but it will also help insurers predict your pre-existing conditions. Your family history is an accurate predictor, but much less so.
Maintaining good health and prevention of disease are the top priorities in keeping America healthy. Early detection of disease makes America stronger. America's health team has the tools you need for medical maintenance. The best in the world, it is often said. It is up to you to build good health.
America's fiscal physical health is a team effort. Do all you can do to lower your chances of becoming a chronic disease liability.
Save you and your money. Put prevention first.
J.L. Richardson, M.D. is the author of the award winning book,
Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://mypatienthandbook.com/
President Obama addressed this issue today. It is great to finally hear more things like "lower your premium" quality healthcare coverage. Health insurance premiums should be capped. What if everyone paid the same amount regardless of present, pre-existing, or future conditions?
Genome genetics will help us live longer and better, but it will also help insurers predict your pre-existing conditions. Your family history is an accurate predictor, but much less so.
Maintaining good health and prevention of disease are the top priorities in keeping America healthy. Early detection of disease makes America stronger. America's health team has the tools you need for medical maintenance. The best in the world, it is often said. It is up to you to build good health.
America's fiscal physical health is a team effort. Do all you can do to lower your chances of becoming a chronic disease liability.
Save you and your money. Put prevention first.
J.L. Richardson, M.D. is the author of the award winning book,
Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
http://mypatienthandbook.com/
domingo, 15 de febrero de 2009
Heart Health Month Tips
Check your heart list:
___Heart and vascular exam by health care provider
___Blood pressure, pulse, weight, height
___EKG
For further evaluation especially if symptoms are present, and/ or a strong family history of heart and vascular disease see a cardiologist. Tests may include:
___Doppler echocardiogram
___Stress test - nuclear, doppler or exercise
___Heart MRI scan
___Interventional studies like cardiac catherization
Heart health habits:
Maintain a healthy weight.
Eat healthy small portions.
Exercise regularly - every little bit counts! Just do it regularly.
Keep blood pressure under control.
Keep stress level low.
Get adequate sleep.
Take an aspirin a day if in a high risk group. Check with your health care provider.
Love, laugh, and let go! Have a happy, healthy heart!
___Heart and vascular exam by health care provider
___Blood pressure, pulse, weight, height
___EKG
For further evaluation especially if symptoms are present, and/ or a strong family history of heart and vascular disease see a cardiologist. Tests may include:
___Doppler echocardiogram
___Stress test - nuclear, doppler or exercise
___Heart MRI scan
___Interventional studies like cardiac catherization
Heart health habits:
Maintain a healthy weight.
Eat healthy small portions.
Exercise regularly - every little bit counts! Just do it regularly.
Keep blood pressure under control.
Keep stress level low.
Get adequate sleep.
Take an aspirin a day if in a high risk group. Check with your health care provider.
Love, laugh, and let go! Have a happy, healthy heart!
Disability Insurance
Have you thought about what you would do financially if you were were unable to work? If you were disabled short term or long term, where would the money come from?
Disability insurance is one of the best lifetime investments you can make. Hopefully you will not have to use it, but you may need it. Like health insurance, it protects your most important asset - YOU.
It is important because anyone can have a devastating health challenge that could wipe them out physically and financially. Medical costs are one of the top reasons people end up in the poor house. Disability insurance payments allow you to have money for health insurance. It sounds sensible.
Disability coverage is available as "own occupation" coverage. This type covers you for being unable to work at the occupation for which you have been explicitly educated, trained, and employed like doctor, lawyer, broadcast media, president, etc.
It is usually more expensive than basic generic coverage like Social Security, and pays more. The going rate is two-thirds of your salary.
If you pay for your own policy instead of allowing your employer to do so, your money is tax free. If you withdraw IRA monies early and provide proof of disability you are exempt from the penalty.
Disability insurance is seldom talked about when it comes to insurance you need. Your house is insured. So is your car. So you should be insured, too. Life insurance is good, but pays off after you pass on.
Protect yourself financially from medical disability and potential financial free fall. Disability insurance like health insurance protects your most important asset - YOU.
Disability insurance is one of the best lifetime investments you can make. Hopefully you will not have to use it, but you may need it. Like health insurance, it protects your most important asset - YOU.
It is important because anyone can have a devastating health challenge that could wipe them out physically and financially. Medical costs are one of the top reasons people end up in the poor house. Disability insurance payments allow you to have money for health insurance. It sounds sensible.
Disability coverage is available as "own occupation" coverage. This type covers you for being unable to work at the occupation for which you have been explicitly educated, trained, and employed like doctor, lawyer, broadcast media, president, etc.
It is usually more expensive than basic generic coverage like Social Security, and pays more. The going rate is two-thirds of your salary.
If you pay for your own policy instead of allowing your employer to do so, your money is tax free. If you withdraw IRA monies early and provide proof of disability you are exempt from the penalty.
Disability insurance is seldom talked about when it comes to insurance you need. Your house is insured. So is your car. So you should be insured, too. Life insurance is good, but pays off after you pass on.
Protect yourself financially from medical disability and potential financial free fall. Disability insurance like health insurance protects your most important asset - YOU.
viernes, 6 de febrero de 2009
Gardasil Vaccine Update
The Gardasil vaccination (for prevention of cervical cancer from those who are positive for pre-cancerous HPV virus by Merck) approved by FDA last year was reported to have few adverse events. Reports now show that ER visits have tripled after the vaccine has been given. Deaths have been reported.
This blog spot addressed "vaccine validity" in the May 12, 2007 entry. This vaccine was shown to have serious adverse effects in the studies conducted prior to approval. This information was tucked under the cover. Many of these same effects are being reported now.
Initially it was recommended for girls as young as 9 into teens. It was made mandatory in a couple of states. Now it is being recommended for boys that may carry the pre-cancerous HPV virus.
Girls? Boys? HPV? This insinuates sexual activity. So does giving this vaccine at such an early age - as if. Should Children be getting this vaccine? Some have died trying. Others will suffer the poorly publicized adverse effects for who knows how long.
Even sadder is the fact that some girls developed cervical cancer in spite of being vaccinated. Plus it is does not cover all the HPV strains.
This blog spot addressed "vaccine validity" in the May 12, 2007 entry. This vaccine was shown to have serious adverse effects in the studies conducted prior to approval. This information was tucked under the cover. Many of these same effects are being reported now.
Initially it was recommended for girls as young as 9 into teens. It was made mandatory in a couple of states. Now it is being recommended for boys that may carry the pre-cancerous HPV virus.
Girls? Boys? HPV? This insinuates sexual activity. So does giving this vaccine at such an early age - as if. Should Children be getting this vaccine? Some have died trying. Others will suffer the poorly publicized adverse effects for who knows how long.
Even sadder is the fact that some girls developed cervical cancer in spite of being vaccinated. Plus it is does not cover all the HPV strains.
miércoles, 4 de febrero de 2009
Chidren's Healthcare Bill Passed
As soon as the previous post was published there was breaking news on health care!
President Obama spoke live about the new bill he signed for children's health care today!
He talked about rebuilding the nation's health care system and reaffirmed his stand to provide health care for all!
Pen to paper - it's official!
President Obama spoke live about the new bill he signed for children's health care today!
He talked about rebuilding the nation's health care system and reaffirmed his stand to provide health care for all!
Pen to paper - it's official!
Healthcare Swirl
"Health IT". This has been the dominant theme in health care. This is all that I heard in the glimpses of all the president's interviews yesterday with the major news media stars. This was in the midst of answers to other questions not pertaining to health.
If there was a direct question about health, I surely missed it. Too many other issues were much more important. These were issues we have heard the answers to day after day so much so that these were answers to most of the similar questions asked by different reporters. Health care has been lost in the swirl.
In the midst of overt concern about bipartisanship, economic irresponsibility (taxes, junkets, etc.), war issues, middle class (what about the poor?), and more pork, the health issue has been given a low rung on the ladder. There is much more than "health IT" (information technology), and electronic records in the health care mix.
When will we hear more about health coverage per se? When will we hear more about the pre-presidential national health plan with care for all? As we wait for an HHS director in this swirling storm of economic downturn with job losses (and loss of health insurance) reported daily, I guess it will be business as usual for now.
If there was a direct question about health, I surely missed it. Too many other issues were much more important. These were issues we have heard the answers to day after day so much so that these were answers to most of the similar questions asked by different reporters. Health care has been lost in the swirl.
In the midst of overt concern about bipartisanship, economic irresponsibility (taxes, junkets, etc.), war issues, middle class (what about the poor?), and more pork, the health issue has been given a low rung on the ladder. There is much more than "health IT" (information technology), and electronic records in the health care mix.
When will we hear more about health coverage per se? When will we hear more about the pre-presidential national health plan with care for all? As we wait for an HHS director in this swirling storm of economic downturn with job losses (and loss of health insurance) reported daily, I guess it will be business as usual for now.
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