The latest news from HealthcareFees.com
|
|
Welcome To Healthcare Fees |
To use this site, select a category to determine and compare your healthcare costs.
Health care facilities do not have a single rate sheet you can consult. Bills from a hospital or doctor can come from many different providers: your surgeon, anesthesiologist, pathologist, labs, and the hospital.
Reviewing your bill is vital. Even when you have insurance, overcharges will come out of your pocket. You will receive a EOB (Explanation of benefits) from your insurance company. It will say, "This is not a bill." This statement will tell you how much your insurance plan will cover and what you are responsible for. Your bill will follow in separate statements. Find out approximately what you should expect to pay by selecting the appropriate category here.
|
|
|
Surgery Overseas - Medical Tourism |
 Save Money and Enjoy a Vacation. One option for patients looking for an alternative to expensive surgery in the US is to have it done overseas. I don't recommend this option and would advise you to do your homework and get plenty of recommendations before seeking overseas surgery as an alternative to having it done in the US. The savings are definetly there. A hip replacement in the US can cost upwards of $43,000. Overseas it can cost as little as $7,100. That's roughly what it would cost you in India! There are other alternatives as well. You could have the operation performed in New Zealand for roughly $15,000 and use your savings to make a little vacation out of it while you are recovering.
|
 Just because you are receiving COBRA benefits doesn't automatically guarantee that you are receiving the cheapest health insurance. Some insurance companies may be able to beat the prices you are paying for COBRA. If you just want insurance to cover very expensive procedures, a higher deductable could reduce your monthly premiums substantially. Try raising your deductable and see what happens to your rates. You can receive free quotes from several companies at once and compare. Compare Insurance Quotes here.
|
|
 According to Foundation Director Dr. Sherman, specially prepared maggots were cleared for marketing in 2004 for treating neuropathic (diabetic) foot ulcers, pressure ulcers (bed sores), venous stasis ulcers, and traumatic and post-surgical wounds that failed other forms of conventional therapy.
Juvenile larvae are used because that is the stage of the animal that feeds on dead tissue. The maggots do not actually eat dead tissue, nor is it specifically their "eating" that benefits the wound, Sherman said.
"They liquefy the dead tissue so the wound is cleaned whether the liquefied tissue and debris is eaten or simply drains out of the wound," he said. Larvae, being immature, are unable to reproduce in the wound, he added.
A supply of medicinal maggots costs less than $100, but can save tens of thousands of dollars in surgical and hospital costs.
"It's strange, but some insurance will pay tens of thousands of dollars for an amputation, because it is so common now, but will hesitate or object to paying $100 for maggot therapy," said Sherman, "even though studies demonstrate that medical maggots have saved up to 50 percent of limbs scheduled for amputation due to non-healing wounds."
"I have long wondered why some insurance companies are not eager to pay for maggot therapy instead of more expensive medical or surgical wound care or amputations. After all, maggot therapy is effective, fast, and very inexpensive," Sherman said.
|
|
Healthcare Cost Increases |
Here we go again. Another year just around the corner and another increase in medical costs. Hewitt Associates reported that out-of-pocket healthcare costs are expected to rise almost 9% next year. Premiums are projected to go from $1,800 in 2008 to $1,950 in 2009. Your out-of-pocket costs will increase from $1,700 in 2008 to $1,900 in 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page 1 of 4 |
