The recent epidemic was gallantly absorbed by millions of health care workers. Everyone from doctors, nurses, lab techs, hospital employees, EMT’s, pharmacists and all the other support players deserve our genuine thanks for holding the line, delivering the care and doing all the behind-the-scenes work that got us to where we are today. That said, the cost recoil is now surging. Hospitals and doctors are now offering discounts or requiring payments BEFORE treatment to guarantee cash flow. Insurance companies are reeling from losses and trying to find ways to replenish their lost profits. One ploy: doctors are requiring patients to visit their offices to renew prescriptions even when the patient has no complaints. Insurance companies are refusing to pay for what they call “low risk” tests. And Medicare continues to reduce the allowable expense charge amounts for hospitals, doctors, and labs as the population ages. Every stakeholder in the industry and all the patients are scrambling to protect their position. The system is being “gamed” by everyone because we all see medical cost inflation that is twice the general inflation rate. Our advice: watch your bills; read your insurance plan and strictly follow its guidelines; and ask your doctor questions when receiving care. One caution: remember, doctors will frequently over prescribe tests to protect themselves from malpractice situations; but insurance companies are refusing to pay for “cover-your-ass” over testing. So you end up paying the bill…a word to the wise.

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