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Tag Archives: affordable-care-act

posts about health care reform

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Protect yourself from medical identity theft

Frugal Nurse Posted on October 2, 2018 by Frugal NurseOctober 4, 2018

medical identity theftA growing problem

Financial identity theft is when someone steals your credit card or debit card, or uses your personal information to take out a loan in your name.

Medical identity theft is when someone uses your personal information to fraudulently receive medical care and have it paid for by you or your insurance.

If that person is treated under your name, your finances, your medical history and your health … read on

Posted in Be informed | Tagged affordable-care-act, health-care-costs, health-insurance, internet, prevention

Alternatives to traditional health insurance

Frugal Nurse Posted on September 25, 2018 by Frugal NurseSeptember 24, 2018

alternatives to traditional health insuranceTraditional and expensive

Over the next few weeks many families, mine included, will receive the dreaded letter from their health insurance company that tells them how much their premiums will be for 2019.

Last spring my insurance company applied for a 29% rate hike. They settled for 19%. That still hurts. Especially because the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum are going up, too.

I really feel for other families receiving … read on

Posted in Be informed | Tagged affordable-care-act, health-care-costs, health-care-policy, health-insurance, obamacare

What is short-term health insurance?

Frugal Nurse Posted on August 9, 2018 by Frugal NurseAugust 9, 2018

short-term health insuranceShort-term health insurance plans are coming back

Is there anything about our healthcare system, especially the insurance market, that isn’t confusing?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) finally phased out most short-term health insurance plans last year, but last week the current administration changed the rules to bring them back.

The cost of health insurance is really expensive for anyone who doesn’t have an employer-provided plan or doesn’t qualify for … read on

Posted in Be informed | Tagged affordable-care-act, cost-saving, health-care-costs, health-care-policy, health-insurance

Premium increases for 2019. Here we go again.

Frugal Nurse Posted on June 12, 2018 by Frugal NurseJune 11, 2018

premium increases 2019When will these double-digit increases stop?

OK, it’s June and that means it’s time for my annual rant about ever-increasing health insurance premiums.

In my state, Washington, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner just posted the proposed rate increases.

Not in Washington? Use this interactive map to find the insurance commissioner in your state and search for rate increases.

By law these requests have to be made public and … read on

Posted in Be informed | Tagged affordable-care-act, health-care-costs, health-care-policy, health-insurance, obamacare

Tips to handle or avoid surprise medical bills

Frugal Nurse Posted on May 31, 2018 by Frugal NurseMay 31, 2018

surprise medical billsSurprise medical bills can catch you by, well, surprise

Bottom line on top: If you’re the victim of a surprise medical bill, there are resources to help you.

After several years of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many of us are resigned to high premiums, high deductibles and small provider networks.

We try to be good healthcare “consumers” (as if we really want to buy healthcare!) by reading the fine … read on

Posted in Be informed | Tagged affordable-care-act, doctors, health-care-costs, health-care-policy, health-insurance

3 advocates for a better healthcare system

Frugal Nurse Posted on January 11, 2018 by Frugal NurseApril 23, 2018

better healthcare systemIf you are one of the millions of people suffering under our broken healthcare system, take heart.

Industry leaders who recognize your pain actually exist, and are trying to help.

Changing the system is a huge and thankless task, because the bulk of the industry is profit-driven and resistant to giving up the status quo.

But these individuals and groups are using different ways to connect with increasing numbers of … read on

Posted in Be informed | Tagged affordable-care-act, health-care-costs, health-care-policy, health-insurance, obamacare, patient safety

Take time to understand your new health insurance policy

Frugal Nurse Posted on January 4, 2018 by Frugal NurseJanuary 3, 2018

Happy New (Calendar) Year!

It’s a new calendar year, and that means many people will have a new health insurance plan. Or last year’s insurance will have been tweaked with a slightly higher deductible or copays, or an updated list of “in-network” providers.

This is a good time to sit down and become familiar with your health insurance benefits, so you aren’t taken by surprise when you actually need to … read on

Posted in Be informed | Tagged affordable-care-act, health-insurance, obamacare

Is health care a right or a privilege?

Frugal Nurse Posted on October 10, 2017 by Frugal NurseOctober 11, 2017

The health care debate rages on.

Atul Gawande, one of my favorite physician-authors, wrote an article on this topic last week in The New Yorker magazine.

He spoke to residents in his home state of Ohio and posed the question, “Is health care a right or a privilege?” He listened to their stories of unexpected illness, lost jobs and medical bankruptcy. Yet none of them thought their health insurance should … read on

Posted in Be informed, Health Care Reform | Tagged affordable-care-act, health-care-costs, health-care-policy, obamacare

Premium increases for 2018. Ouch.

Frugal Nurse Posted on June 22, 2017 by Frugal NurseJune 22, 2017

My peek into the future

Health insurance companies in my state finally submitted their requests for 2018 rate hikes.

Usually I can look up this info online by mid-May, but all the partisan and intra-party bickering over the future of healthcare in this country has left insurance companies scratching their figurative heads over how to price next year’s policies.

I remember a time when I never gave my health insurance … read on

Posted in Be informed | Tagged affordable-care-act, health-care-costs, health-insurance, obamacare

Annual exams vs. annual wellness visits

Frugal Nurse Posted on January 3, 2017 by Frugal NurseApril 10, 2018

Happy New (Calendar) Year!

It’s the start of a new year or, in health insurance lingo, the start of a new calendar year deductible. I’m reposting this from last January, because this month is the best time to start trying to schedule that annual exam or annual wellness visit (it could take weeks, after all, to get an appointment!).

I usually advise people to get any screening tests or annual … read on

Posted in Be informed | Tagged affordable-care-act, doctors, health-care-costs, health-insurance, medicare, obamacare, prevention, screening

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Health tips for 2019

  • 5 tips for better sleep
  • Breathe to relax
  • Healthy eating
  • Homemade probiotics
  • Don't sit—move!

Frugal (froo-guhl); adj.

Economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; requiring few resources.

Sláinte (slawn-cha)

Gaelic for “health”; an Irish toast.

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This blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for medical advice from a licensed health care provider in your state.

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Some posts may contain Amazon affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from my link I  make a small commission (a few cents) at no cost to you.

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