MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'health savings'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:55:07 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592369&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6l3b7Oy1uew%2F By George Scoville How can we have an "adult conversation" on the budget if the White House won't release its budget and deficit projections to the public? A new guide to India's uneven spread of economic freedom could help state-level policymakers there improve the welfare of citizens there. "When the Cato guy tells you someone is corrupting the idea of HSAs, pay attention." Despite having the bully pulpit, and despite touting opinion polls in favor of reform, the Obama administration finds it necessary to use taxpayer funds to tell Googlers what's best for them. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has doubled down on the social issues truce--Cato's John Samples talked about this on Friday on the Cato Daily Podcast: Monday Links is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: C... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592369 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:17:19 +0100 4592369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4580971&cid=t_235462_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2FzNuaBRS5t4o%2Fdavid-harlow-quoted-in-ama-american-medical-news-story-on-daily-deal-websites.html Groupon, LivingSocial and other daily deal websites are being used by health care providers -- though thus far mostly by those that are not covered by traditional commercial or governmental health insurance (e.g., dental, chiropractic, acupuncture services).  Read the American Medical News story on Groupon, where I was quoted, and please take a look at my blog post on the subject as well -- at the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media blog -- entitled: Groupons for Health Care Services: No-Brainer or Legal Minefield?  In that post, I observed: There are a number of legal issues, and their resolution will depend, in part, on where you are situated, since many of the relevant rules are state laws, which vary.  For example: Groupon collects 50% of the price of the groupon as its fee; is th... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4580971 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:48:42 +0100 4580971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512391&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fconsumer-driven-healthcare-why-it-will-fail%2F2011.02.23 With the creation of consumer-driven health plans and health insurance policies with high deductibles linked to a savings option, more financial responsibility shouldered by patients and employees and less by employers was completely inevitable. The American public likes to have everything, whether consumer electronics or other services, as cheap as possible. With escalating healthcare expenses rising far more rapidly than wages or inflation, it’s not surprising employers needed a way to manage this increasingly-costly business expense. In the past, companies faced a similar dilemma. It wasn’t about medical costs, but managing increasingly expensive retirement and pension plan obligations. Years ago, companies moved from these defined benefit plans to defined contribution plan... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4512391 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:00:00 +0100 4512391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4300543&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F12%2Fflexible-spending-account-tips-how-to-spend-your-flexible-healthcare-spending-money-before-2011.html If you have money left in your employer-sponsored, flexible healthcare spending account (FSA), there's not much time left to spend it. For many employees, December 31 is the last day on which you can spend FSA money you've saved for 2010. Consumer Reports' Money bloggers have come up with some helpful ideas on where to spend those leftover bucks if your insurer doesn't otherwise cover you, including a new pair of eyeglasses, over-the-counter medications, and even a hearing aid. Some employers extend the amount of time you have to use up your FSA money into the first months of the next year. But all require that by March 31, you submit your receipts to the FSA administrator, including your insurance company's explanation of benefits showing which items it won't c... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4300543 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:20:45 +0100 4300543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4142744&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F11%2Fopen-enrollment-for-health-insurance-what-to-know.html It’s open enrollment season for Americans lucky enough not only to have employee health benefits, but also a choice of more than one plan. Our advice to review your choices annually is more important than ever this year because of changes triggered by the new health-reform law.  Key changes to be aware of:  Coverage for young adults. The start of your new plan year (Jan. 1 for most of us) is when you can put your under-26 young-adult children back on your health plan, per the  reform law. This won’t happen automatically; you have to actively sign them up. The only restriction is that the young adult can’t have other access to employer-provided insurance. The new law says that health plans have to treat young-adult children the same as any dependent. In other words... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4142744 Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:00:00 +0100 4142744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125002&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F11%2Fmore-than-one-third-of-medicaid-hmos-decline-to-make-quality-of-care-data-public.html If you or someone you know is on Medicaid, the public health-insurance program for low-income Americans, you can now look up rankings of 104 Medicaid HMOs in 27 states and the District of Columbia on Consumer Reports Health.  More than one-third of Medicaid health maintenance organizations were not willing to have data about their quality of care made public, and so are ineligible to be ranked. By contrast, only 19 percent of HMO plans that serve people who have coverage through their job or buy it on their own chose to withhold their information, and only 5 percent of Medicare HMOs did so.  The free rankings show how Medicaid HMOs compare with one another on scores for 37 measures of clinical care, preventive care services, and consumer satisfaction.  In most st... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125002 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 03:27:01 +0100 4125002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018173&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F09%2Fsplitting-pills-can-save-you-money-but-remember-these-dos-and-donts-drug-safety-best-buy-drugs.html Our 2nd annual prescription drug survey found that some Americans are splitting pills to save money on high priced prescription drugs. That strategy could indeed cut your medication bill, but there's a right way and a wrong way to split pills. If you're considering splitting your pills, these tips from our free pill splitting guide will help ensure that you do it the right way. First, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your medication can be safely split. Some medications cannot be split (more on that below), but in general, many common ones can, including aspirin, cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins, and many high blood pressure and depression drugs. Second, always use a pill splitter to ensure you've split the medication into equal halves. Pill splitters are widely available... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018173 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:55:00 +0100 4018173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3972906&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRJz0v7DMT98%2F By Michael F. CannonHere’s my contribution to a “one-minute debate” on ObamaCare in the Christian Science Monitor: The new health-care law’s mandates are already causing health insurance premiums to rise 3 to 9 percent more than they otherwise would. Its price controls are pushing insurers to abandon the market for child-only coverage and will soon begin rationing care to Medicare patients, partly by driving nearly 1 in 6 hospitals and other providers out of the program. Starting in 2014, when the full law takes effect, things will get really ugly. ObamaCare’s “individual mandate” will drive premiums even higher – assuming the courts have not declared it unconstitutional, as they should. Because the penalty for violating the mandate is a fraction of those premiu... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3972906 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:00:23 +0100 3972906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907595&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F08%2Fask-president-obama-what-does-health-reform-mean-for-me.html Exciting news! We’ve just received an invitation from the White House to sit down next week for an in-person conversation with the President about the new law. But the invitation, we’re quite sure, is really meant for you, the American consumer. So here’s your chance to give us the questions you’d like President Obama to answer about the new law. Is there something you still don’t understand? Wondering when or whether your own health coverage might be affected? We’re interested in any and all suggestions. Obviously the President is a busy guy and our time with him is limited, so we probably won’t be able to make it through the whole list.  But we’ll do our best to get follow-up answers from the White House about questions that we don’t get to ask in the interview.... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907595 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:49:18 +0100 3907595 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3737037&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F07%2Fstatins-may-not-help-healthy-people.html Up until recently, it was widely thought that people could benefit from cholesterol-lowering statin drugs even if they were healthy. About three-quarters of people taking statins don’t have heart disease, but are at risk of getting it in the future. In a new study, researchers have re-analyzed all the existing research looking at healthy people who were taking statins. Excluding people who already had cardiovascular disease, the researchers found data on more than 65,000 people from 11 trials. Among 32,606 people taking an inactive placebo treatment, there were 1,447 deaths. Among the 32,623 people treated with statins, there were 1,346 deaths. Although fewer people died while taking statins, statistical tests show that the difference is small enough to have happened by chance. Studie... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3737037 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:00:00 +0100 3737037 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671688&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F06%2Fhow-to-save-money-on-your-medications-choose-storebrand-drugs-and-save.html Compared below are the prices we found at Walmart for brand-name versions of three common over-the-counter drugs, and prices for Walmart’s own store-brand version of the same drugs, called Equate. Each drug is our recommended choice within its category: acetaminophen for fever reduction and pain relief; omeprazole for heartburn; and loratadine for seasonal allergies. Store-brand drugs have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs and are just as safe and effective. And, as the table shows, they’re often much cheaper. That was true not only at Walmart, which had the lowest prices for these three drugs, but at other stores we checked out, including CVS, RiteAid, and Target. For more on how to save money on your medications, take a look at our free Best Buy Drugs repor... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671688 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:03:45 +0100 3671688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662664&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F06%2Fhow-to-save-money-on-your-medications-choose-storebrand-drugs-and-save.html This article first appeared in the July 2010 issue of Consumer Reports on Health. For more on how to save money on your medications, take a look at our free Best Buy Drugs reports on a number of common conditions including diabetes, insomnia, overactive bladder, and asthma. (Source: Consumer Reports Health Blog) Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662664 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:03:45 +0100 3662664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3592197&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FOdetYO-VnLg%2F By Michael F. CannonJohn Goodman is correct that ObamaCare’s individual mandate — and Kathleen Sebelius’s power to make the mandate more burdensome at whim — threaten the continued existence of health savings accounts (HSAs).  But ObamaCare’s price controls are no less a threat. The new law requires insurers to charge enrollees of the same age the same average premium, regardless of health status.  That’s a price control, and it will cause premiums for healthy people to rise dramatically and thus lead to massive adverse selection.  Healthy people will gravitate to less-comprehensive insurance — in particular, HSA-compatible high-deductible plans — where the implicit tax is smaller. As premiums for comprehensive plans spiral upward (ulti... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3592197 Mon, 24 May 2010 13:55:02 +0100 3592197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3331273&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FPRv9cOR422k%2F By Michael F. CannonPresident Obama evidently thinks that if he promises not to kill health savings accounts (HSAs), opponents will swoon for his government takeover of health care.  If that doesn’t do the trick, he should make clear that his health plan would not eliminate other things too, like the Defense Department and puppies. Of course, that hollow gesture didn’t win the president any Republican support.  But it may have cost him some Democratic support — or at least frayed the nerves of a few House Democrats.  According to CongressDaily: Liberals, meanwhile, are fuming over an addition Obama made to his proposal to make the effort appear bipartisan and possibly switch the votes of moderate Democrats who opposed the House bill last year. The Congressional Progres... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3331273 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:42:23 +0100 3331273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3331274&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FcU7G-VGMFX8%2F By Roger PilonThis afternoon Politico Arena asks: Will the president’s health care remarks today sway enough votes to pass ObamaCare through “reconciliation”? My response: Who knows? What they show beyond all doubt, however, is the mind-set of the president and the bill’s proponents. Consider just a few of his opening words: “Everything there is to say about health care has been said and just about everyone has said it. So now is the time to make a decision about how to finally reform health care so that it works, not just for the insurance companies, but for America’s families and businesses.” Notice first the insinuation that health care works today for the insurance companies, but not for the rest of us. Obama has to have his foil, this man with no ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3331274 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:16:14 +0100 3331274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3326961&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FVDed4mPfv20%2F By Michael F. CannonIn a letter to congressional leaders, President Obama wrote of his openness to including Republican proposals in his health care legislation. Dropping a few Republican ideas into a government takeover of health care is like sterilizing the needle before a lethal injection: a nice thought, but the ultimate outcome is the same. Two of the four Republican ideas – federal grants to states that adopt medical malpractice liability reforms, and ratcheting upward Medicare’s physician-price controls – would increase government spending. The president’s health savings accounts (HSAs) proposal would merely loosen the noose around consumer-directed health plans. Undercover investigations in Medicare and Medicaid are likely to be as unsuccessful as past efforts to comba... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3326961 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:04:19 +0100 3326961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3290807&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F02%2Fnow-its-getting-interestingis-more-health-care-always-better.html We welcome the controversy sparked by this week’s New England Journal of Medicine article and reported by the New York Times regarding the hospital intensity data published by the Dartmouth Atlas and used in Consumer Reports hospital ratings. It is our hope that this encourages U.S. hospitals and doctors to make better information available on the quality, costs, and results of various types of medical treatments so that consumers can make better choices. For decades the independent studies conducted by the Dartmouth Atlas have been raising concerns that hospitals in some regions of the country used two or three times the medical and financial resources than those in other regions on treating Medicare patients with chronic diseases, with no noticeable increase in life span or qual... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3290807 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:32:00 +0100 3290807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3118867&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F12%2Fhealthcare-reform-senate-passes-healthcare-overhaul.html In a historic vote of 60 yeas to 39 nays the Senate passed a far-reaching health-care reform bill that would extend health insurance to more than 30 million Americans. The vote came shortly after 7 a.m. on Christmas Eve. The House passed its bill in early November. After the Senate vote, President Obama said health-care reform would be the most important social reform since Social Security in the 1930s, and the most important medical reform since the creation of Medicare in the 1960s.In a moment of levity, and perhaps exhaustion, Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-Nev) accidentally voted against the bill that has been his top priority for months. The Senator brought his hands to his head and then quickly changed his vote to yes.Senators could be seen sharing congratulatory hugs in the a... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3118867 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:11:58 +0100 3118867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115074&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F12%2Fhealthcare-reform-how-would-the-bills-affect-cobra-coverage.html Staying on the subject of COBRA…The program that allows you to continue health coverage after being laid-off has been an important safety net in a system where losing your job, and with it your employer-based health insurance, can easily spiral into a nightmare scenario under the current system. If you can’t afford the COBRA continuation insurance—typically more than $1,000 a month for families—or your eligibility runs out, which happens after 18 months for most people, you enter the dreaded individual market. Once you’re in the individual market you might be turned down due to preexisting conditions; or if you’re older, or a woman, or have had a prior illness, you can be charged much higher rates. You might also end up with junk insurance that doesn’t really cover you when y... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115074 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:43:38 +0100 3115074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3105002&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F12%2Fhealthcare-reform-tackling-the-waste-in-the-system.html The human consequences of our broken health-care system are easy to understand. It is estimated that about 45,000 Americans die each year due to lack of insurance. Almost 50 million Americans don’t have health insurance and are at risk of financial ruin if they get sick or injured. Millions more are at risk because of inadequate health insurance. But how do you measure the problem of waste in the entire health-care system? Researchers at Thomson Reuters, a private company that collects and analyzes health spending data, just came out with a study that estimates that the United States wastes between $650 and $800 billion dollars every year. That’s about one third of total health care spending.  Here’s where the study says we throw away the most money every year: Unnecessa... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3105002 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:58:22 +0100 3105002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3105003&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F12%2Fhealthcare-reform-what-will-keep-health-care-affordable-if-not-a-public-plan.html There’s a growing chorus of public plan supporters calling for the health-care reform to be killed if it doesn’t include some kind of public plan option. Some argue that without it there’s nothing to control premiums, so why mandate that most people buy health insurance from the private market? But studies suggest that the average household would save money under the health care bills, even without the public plan.A study over the summer from the Commonwealth Fund tested three scenarios for health-care reform. One included a “robust public option” that paid providers Medicare rates. Another had a public option that paid providers a bit less than private insurance and a bit more than Medicare. The third had no public plan. The two scenarios with the public plans lowered premiums m... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3105003 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:59:19 +0100 3105003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3100793&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F12%2Fhealthcare-reform-what-happens-when-cobra-subsidies-run-out.html In February of this year Congress passed a measure to provide subsidies to newly laid-off workers to help to pay for COBRA coverage, which allows you to continue employer-based health insurance after leaving your job. Employers often pay 70 percent or more of the bill for insurance, so paying the full price (plus about two percent for administration costs) is quite expensive—more than $1,000 a month for families on average. The subsidies cover up to 65 percent of premiums, but they last only nine months and eligibility expires on Dec. 31st of this year. (For more on how to apply for the program, see Protect Your Medical Coverage.)Those who started using the COBRA subsidy shortly after it was made available have already begun to see bills for the entire premium. And those who lose their j... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3100793 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:17:51 +0100 3100793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015281&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F11%2Fprescription-drug-prices-increase-as-inflation-rate-declines-lowercost-medications-best-buy-drugs-.html You may want to be extra vigilant buying brand-name prescription drugs these days. Prices for some of the most widely prescribed brands shot up an average 9% this year–the highest rate in over a decade–even as the overall inflation rate actually declined by around 1 percent.This assessment* comes from Stephen W. Scholdelmeyer, a professor of pharmaceutical economics at the University of Minnesota’s PRIME Institute. The analysis includes drugs such as Nexium for heartburn (up 7.2%), Plavix to prevent blood clots (up 8.2%), Singulair for asthma (up 12.5%), Flomax for enlarged prostate (up 19.7%), and Fosamax and Boniva for osteoporosis (up 6.9% and 18.6%, respectively). The analysis was done for AARP, which has closely monitored wholesale prices for a group of 219 drugs since 2002.... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015281 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:54:45 +0100 3015281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920166&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FI8UNFfiDDkE%2F At his White House forum on health reform back in March, President Barack Obama offered: If there is a way of getting this done where we’re driving down costs and people are getting health insurance at an affordable rate, and have choice of doctor, have flexibility in terms of their plans, and we could do that entirely through the market, I’d be happy to do it that way. In a new Cato study titled, “Yes, Mr. President, a Free Market Can Fix Health Care,” I take up the president’s challenge and explain that markets are indeed the only way to achieve those goals.  I also explain how Congress can remove the impediments that currently prevent markets from doing so: Give Medicare enrollees a voucher (adjusted for their means and health risk) and let them purchase any ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920166 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:46:37 +0100 2920166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2838913&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F09%2Fhatch-waxman-act-exclusivity-generic-drugs.html What does it mean? The Hatch-Waxman Act (formally known as The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act) first passed 25 years ago in 1984 helped make inexpensive generic drugs available to consumers. This law streamlined the process by which generic drug manufacturers could apply for Food and Drug Administration approval of their drugs once the patent on a brand-name medicine expired. Under this law, generic manufacturers can forego expensive clinical trials and instead gain FDA approval based on less costly studies that show their drugs are equivalent to brand-name medicines. This cut the expense of bringing a generic drug to market, which lowered the cost of these medicines for consumers. Generic drugs now comprise more than 60 percent of prescriptions filled—up from 19 ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2838913 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:08:24 +0100 2838913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2820197&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FPdJLRwfKAIA%2F Ezra Klein, the young Washington Post blogger who writes a lot about health care, contributed an article to the paper’s Sunday Business section in which he made this compelling point along the way: The surest way to cut health-care spending would be to make people shoulder more of the burden directly, as opposed to hiding it in taxes and lost wages. Bingo! Exactly! So why does Klein want government to get more involved, to wrap our health care in a web of mandates and subsidies and regulations and gatekeepers and monitors? When, as he says, making the cost of health care clear and direct would be “the surest way to cut health-care spending”? Michael Cannon’s proposal for “Large HSAs” would move us in the right direction. It would allow workers to recei... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2820197 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:50:21 +0100 2820197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2774607&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FsQnzXQxW7fE%2F President Obama continues to portray the debate over health care reform as a choice between his plan for a massive government-takeover of the US healthcare system and “doing nothing.”  Those who oppose his plan are said to be “obstructionist” or in favor of the status-quo.  Yesterday, the President again said, “I’ve got a question for all those folks [who oppose his plan]: What are you going to do? What’s your answer? What’s your solution?” Well, I can’t speak for all his critics, but the Cato Institute has a long record of supporting health care reform based on free-markets and competition.  If the President wanted to know more he might have read my recent op-ed in the Los Angeles Times or Michael Cannon’s piece in Investors Business Daily.  H... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2774607 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:15:10 +0100 2774607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2724801&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F08%2Ffive-ways-to-cut-your-grocery-costs-this-weekend.html I'm usually quite organized and frugal with my shopping. I don't buy more than needed and love making frittata or pasta dinners from leftovers. But this summer, I've fallen out of that routine and need to re-calibrate my shopping and cooking habits to save some money and get into a groove before school starts. So in an attempt to get back to basics, I checked out our Shop Smart sister site, and found these five tips to help us with the weekend grocery shop: 1. Make your own salad dressing instead of bottled Seems obvious, but it hasn't stopped me from collecting five bottles of various Caesar dressings over time that I don't even like--they're all too sweet and creamy. Making my own would've saved a bundle--and tasted better to boot. 2. Buy heads ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2724801 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:30:00 +0100 2724801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2715908&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F08%2Fhealth-care-for-illegal-immigrants-the-myth-that-will-not-die-health-reform-myths-about-immigrants-.html You can depend on it. Whenever we write an article or a blog about the woes of the U.S. health care system, at least one person writes back to complain about how illegal immigrants get free health care. Some recent examples: One of the biggest costs in Healthcare is not even mentioned in Obama's plan.....Illegal Aliens get free healthcare!! It just boggles my mind that we take care of ILLEGALS and their families and the unemployed but offer no assistance to a hard-working, tax-paying AMERICAN CITIZEN.And an anti-reform chain email that’s circulating in various versions on the Internet ups the ante by claiming that the House health care bill* says that "HC will be provided to all non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise, will be provided with health care services." To ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2715908 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:30:12 +0100 2715908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2674223&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F08%2Famenable-mortality-us-health-care-system-versus-other-countries-.html As we noted previously, comparing different countries’ health care systems is tough because of the many variables involved, such as the fact that the U.S. has both the highest rate of overweight and obesity and the lowest smoking rate of the eight industrialized countries we’ve been looking at. And let’s not even get into matters like diet: how to compare Japanese who live on rice, fish, and vegetables to the wine-and-cheese-loving French to the fast-food-eating Americans? Enter the concept of "amenable mortality." Invented years ago in the United States and used worldwide by researchers ever since, it’s basically a body count of people who die for want of "timely and effective health care." A higher rate is bad, because it means the country’s health care sy... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2674223 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:55:59 +0100 2674223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2653671&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FqluhO8I2kB0%2F It’s not often that I can transition from my education beat to other hot topics, but an Inside Higher Ed story on colleges’ health-care benefits includes this little nugget: One trend documented in the survey that may concern many employees is the increase in “consumer driven” health insurance plans by colleges. These typically involve employees setting up tax-free accounts to pay for some care, and then high deductibles for major medical expenses. This year, 17 percent of colleges were offering the plans, up from 11 percent two years ago. So what’s so terrible about “consumer driven” health care, which from the article sounds like health savings accounts ? The story doesn’t say — nor does it give any details on who puts the money into... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2653671 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:31:12 +0100 2653671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2645264&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fx4Uq-hxjADo%2F In a recent article Ralph Nader attacks several critics of Obama’s health care reform proposal, including Cato: Now enters the well-insured libertarian Cato Institute with full-page ads in the Washington Post and The New York Times charging Obama with pursuing government-run health care. A picture of Uncle Sam pointing under the headline “Your New Doctor.” Nonsense. The well-insured people at Cato should know better than to declare that this “government takeover” would “reduce health care quality.” I agree that Cato employees are “well-insured” – a description so appropriate that Nader used it twice in a single paragraph. At Cato we have Health Savings Accounts, which are probably the closest thing to free market health insurance allowed by law. It’s nice to see Nad... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2645264 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:30:47 +0100 2645264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2641276&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F07%2Famericas-health-versus-other-countries-organization-for-economic-cooperation-and-development-data-he.html We spend more per capita, both in total and in tax dollars, on health care than other major industrialized countries, according to the latest figures from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. But all that extra money doesn’t buy us extra-large helpings of doctor or hospital care. (If you want to dig into the OECD data yourself, you can download it here.) The goal of health care, of course, is better health. Does our huge monetary outlay at least buy us this? That’s a trickier question to answer than you might think, but let’s take a stab at it.* Start with the most basic comparisons, such as infant mortality. Among the eight wealthy, industrialized countries in our comparison group, ours is the highest (that’s bad). Our life expectancy at birth,... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2641276 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:55:00 +0100 2641276 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2639559&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F25I6M-p3wGc%2F There may be nothing that more scares advocates of government-controlled health care than giving patients control over their medical treatment.  Thus, it should come as no surprise that the current versions of health care “reform” would kill off Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Explains John Fund in the Wall Street Journal: Eight million Americans, according to the Treasury Department, are covered by plans with low-cost premiums and high deductibles that are designed for large, unexpected medical costs. Money is also set aside in a savings account to cover the deductibles, and whatever isn’t spent in one year can build up tax-free. Nearly a third of new HSA users, according to Treasury figures, previously had no insurance or bought coverage on their own. These policies will ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2639559 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:01:34 +0100 2639559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2610871&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F07%2Fwhich-country-spend-the-most-public-money-on-health-care.html So here's a pop quiz: Which of the following countries spends the most public money on health care? Canada, France, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom or the United States. The answer is the United States, which may surprise those who consider our nation to be the apotheosis of private-enterprise health care. It is true that, as a percentage of health care spending, the U.S. is more “private” than these other countries. Taxpayers pick up only 45 percent of our national health care tab, compared to 59 percent for the next-most-private system, Switzerland, or 82 percent for the most public system, the United Kingdom’s. (All figures are for 2007 except for Japan, which is for 2006) But health care is so hugely more expensive in the U.S. than in thes... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2610871 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:50:00 +0100 2610871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2588174&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F07%2Foverpaying-on-medical-bills-how-to-dispute-medical-bills-out-of-network-charges-senate-committee-on-.html More evidence emerged from a recent Senate investigation that the insurance industry has routinely underpaid for out-of-network care. The investigation by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation* found that health insurance companies in every region of the United States have used faulty databases from Ingenix, Inc. to underpay the insurance claims of millions of Americans. As a result, billions of dollars in bills that should have been paid by insurance companies have been shifted to consumers, the report said. The revelations build upon those from an investigation by the attorney general of New York, which found that Ingenix, a wholly owned subsidiary of one of the largest insurance companies in the country, UnitedHealth, systematically understated market rates up to... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2588174 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:12:07 +0100 2588174 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570386&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMwC1DQQHSZY%2F Economists have advanced many theories of taxation. But as usual, the one that seems to explain the policies of the Obama administration best is what I call the Mikulski Principle, the theory most clearly enunciated in 1990 by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D, Md.): Let’s go and get it from those who’ve got it. Just take a look at the myriad taxes proposed or publicly floated by President Obama and his aides and allies: Raise the top income tax rates from their current 33 percent and 35 percent rates to 36 percent and 39.6 percent in 2011 Limit itemized deductions for people paying high rates Increase capital gains and dividend taxes by 33 percent for people paying high income tax rates Impose a value-added tax (VAT) on all goods and services Raise the Social Security tax by lifting the ca... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570386 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:02:26 +0100 2570386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2477524&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F06%2Fsay-no-to-flomax-and-save-up-to-3000-a-year-try-doxazosin-for-enlarged-prostate-best-buy-drugs.html How much do men really need to spend to treat the symptoms of enlarged prostate? For most men, doxazosin—a generic alpha-blocker—works just as well and is as safe as the heavily-advertised drug Flomax (a brand-name alpha-blocker). But the kicker here is the difference in price: doxazosin can cost $10 or less a month, whereas Flomax can set you back up to $246. Our new Best Buy Drugs report is based on a systematic review of more than 60 studies, and the results clearly show that no one alpha blocker is better than another at relieving enlarged prostate symptoms. This type of research, known as comparative effectiveness, is the basis for all our Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs reports. But why doesn’t the public know that an effective, safe and cheaper drug already exists to treat t... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2477524 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:50:00 +0100 2477524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473172&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F06%2Fget-the-best-coffee-brew-health-weekender-recycle-your-leftover-coffee-shopping-tips.html I joke on a near-daily basis, “I can’t speak in full sentences until I’ve had my morning cup of coffee.” And the weekend is when coffee becomes more than functional and I have time to try out some gourmet brew. Coffee prices vary widely—and if you’re a coffee connoisseur, you’ll go far and wide and spend just about anything for the right java. But, most of us want a delicious brew, without digging too far into our wallets. Our ShopSmart editors have got some tips to help you shop: Clip some coupons. Download coupons for the brands you know you like at manufacturers’ Web sites, such as Dunkindonuts.com. Don’t stock up on bags. All ground coffee loses flavor fairly quickly, so don’t stockpile coffee, even if you get it on sale. It’ll be money down the drain. Grind y... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473172 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:15:00 +0100 2473172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473174&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F06%2Fsave-on-your-gym-membership-hit-the-gym-on-the-cheap-recession-fitness-tips-.html We all know that exercise can help control your weight, fight stress, help you get a good night’s sleep, and boost your immunity—but the recession has many many of us putting our health and fitness on the back burner. A quarter of Americans polled recently by the American Heart Association said they’d cut their gym memberships within the previous six months due to economic strain. If you’re juggling your finances and your fitness goals, here are some ways you can still hit the gym on the cheap: Tone down the extras. We’d all like a health club with aromatherapy oils in the bathrooms and a spa massage pool, but membership fees for boutique gyms can cause sticker shock. Instead, choose a gym that offers the amenities, equipment, and classes you need, and a membership fee that fits... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473174 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:08:32 +0100 2473174 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469416&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F06%2Fcure-sleeplessness-for-less-money-insomnia-tips-8-ways-to-get-more-sleep-for-less-money.html A good night’s sleep can cost a fortune. Sleep disorder diagnosis and sleep hygiene cost $23.7 billion in 2007, according to market research publisher, Marketdata Enterprises. That means high sales of sleeping pills, premium mattresses, high tech pillows, sleep masks, and more—and still Americans aren't getting enough sleep. What if you could skip the pills, fancy pillows, and expensive mattresses and fall asleep by cutting out some unhealthy nighttime habits? Try these tips for getting some shut-eye before you shell out: • Get off the couch. Regular exercise promotes healthy sleep—and weight loss, stress reduction, blood sugar management, and the list goes on. But allow at least 4 hours between exercise and going to bed as it will rev up your metabolism, making falling asle... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469416 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:26:34 +0100 2469416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2464076&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F06%2Fhome-medical-test-kits-5-questions-to-ask-before-you-buy-home-diagnostics-tests-.html Home medical test kits can offer convenience, cost-savings, and privacy—and there seems to be no end to what they can detect: pregnancy, menopause, fertility, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and whether you’ve had too much to drink. I even found kits that test for paternity and infidelity—move over Maury Povich. But not all kits will save you time, or money. For example, a cholesterol kit for frequent at-home testing may be unnecessary since cholesterol levels don’t change much from day to day. On the other hand, some inexpensive drugstore kits, like the ones used to detect yeast infections and pregnancy, can give you fast, accurate results without the need for follow-up lab work. The most useful home tests are those you use to monitor chronic conditions between visits to your ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2464076 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:06:27 +0100 2464076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458029&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F06%2Fhealth-care-bankruptcy-on-rise-medical-debt-medical-bills-how-to-avoid-bankruptcy.html Americans are increasingly at risk of financial ruin due to illness and medical expenses, according to a new study released yesterday by the American Journal of Medicine. The researchers found that illness or medical bills contributed to nearly two thirds, or 62 percent, of all bankruptcies in 2007—before the major impact of the housing collapse and current economic downturn. That’s a 50 percent increase over a similar survey in 2001 by the same researchers. Most of the debtors are middle aged, middle class and have a college level education, and each of them has their own story. Take Donna, from Chicago (right) who told us her bankruptcy story during our Cover America Tour. Donna’s husband had already been diagnosed with a heart condition, and when she found out she had uterin... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458029 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:58:22 +0100 2458029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452346&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F06%2Fquit-smoking-save-money-live-longer-american-cancer-society-cost-of-smoking-calculator.html It’s a no-brainer. You quit smoking, you live longer, and you save money. Smoking costs the United States approximately $97.2 billion each year in health-care costs and lost productivity. $97.2 billion? If you’re like me, you’re not convinced of the savings unless you see how the numbers directly impact you. I played around with the American Cancer Society’s cost of smoking calculator—and at one ten-dollar pack a day, I’d smoke up $280 per month and over $3,600 a year. And what if I keep that pack-a-day habit up for the next ten years? That’s over $36,000 down the drain. Factor in the higher health insurance premiums you’re sure to pay and medical bills you could see because of smoking-related illnesses such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer, and you’re c... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452346 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:44:15 +0100 2452346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452349&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F06%2Ffind-free-yoga-cheap-yoga-classes-lowcost-yoga-tips.html There are many health reasons to take up yoga—and one not to: price. If you’re taking a few classes a month, you won’t necessarily break the bank, but if you decide to become a full-time yogi, you could shell out some serious cash. The studios in my neighborhood averaged $200 a month. Tack on a fancy yoga outfit and an eco-friendly mat, and the price you end up paying to bust stress, can be downright stressful. So, I did a little research, and came up with some tips on finding free and low-cost classes. 1) Lots of classes? Try a monthly pass: If you’re taking one class per week, you won’t see a cost-benefit from a monthly class pass. But if you plan to commit to several classes a week, it may be your best bet. These unlimited passes can cut your price-per-class substantia... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452349 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:13:11 +0100 2452349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452353&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F06%2Favoiding-checkout-line-snacks-supermarket-savings-selfcheckout-cut-calories-and-costs-.html Potato chips are my weakness, and if I’m honest, chocolate is too. So, when I’m in the supermarket checkout line, I have to apply every ounce of willpower to avoid stocking up on sugary, fatty snacks—and the snacks often win. But that means that I lose—money. Picking up a chocolate candy bar and a 12-ounce cola in the checkout line adds over 700 calories to your cart, and several extra dollars to your grocery tab. A recent Consumer Reports survey found that a chilled 20-ounce Coke was $1.49 at the register of Stop & Shop, while in the grocery aisle, a six-pack of slightly smaller bottles cost $3.33 on sale. Save money and avoid temptation altogether by heading straight for the self check-out line. You’ll find fewer snacks, if any, and because of the shorter wait time, you�... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452353 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:51:53 +0100 2452353 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447444&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F06%2Fgeneric-drugs-not-as-effective-as-brands-today-show-generic-drugs-as-good-at-brand-names.html Consumer Reports has long advocated the use of generic drugs because they are not only as effective and safe as their branded counterparts but cost less too. So when a segment aired last week on the Today Show that warned about the use of generic drugs to treat epilepsy and other disorders, based on a feature story from the June issue of SELF magazine, we took note. There have been many anecdotal reports of epilepsy patients who noted an increased numbers of seizures after switching to a generic drug from a branded drug (or even from one generic to another). That is not a new story. But anecdotes don’t prove cause and effect. However, this issue has been observed by neurologists for many years, despite the available scientific evidence that finds generic drugs have the same effect in th... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447444 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:32:41 +0100 2447444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441105&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fsave-on-drug-costs-patient-assistance-programs-prescription-assistance-programs.html If you’re among the growing number of uninsured or underinsured Americans, you could probably use some help paying for your medications. A patient assistance program* (PAP) might be able to help you pay for your prescriptions. Also called indigent drug programs, charitable drug programs, or medication assistance programs, PAPs are set up by drug companies, and you can find one relevant to you by searching the Web, or via online directories like RxAssist. I’m a firm believer that if it sounds too good to be true, there must be a catch. So I checked out RxAssist, and to my surprise, not only was it easy to find several programs that could cover my specific medications, there wasn’t loads of confusing paperwork (many forms are one-pagers). You just click on the patient secti... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441105 Fri, 29 May 2009 19:13:43 +0100 2441105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441110&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Feat-at-home-cut-costs-and-pounds-health-savings-tip-save-money-on-your-health-costs.html I’m always on the go, so eating out is a convenient, and often, the only, solution to the "what’s for dinner" dilemma. But this weekend I got a fiscal wake-up call when I took a close look at how much I’ve spent on restaurant and delivery meals in the past month. Twenty bucks here, another $30 there, and before I knew it, I’d spent over $500 on dine-out meals in a month’s time. But you can easily cut costs and lose weight by trading a couple of those dine-out days for your own home-cooked meals. And if saving money isn’t an incentive enough, a recent Consumer Reports National Research Center survey showed that restaurant and take-out meals can really pile on the pounds. And since many restaurant meals are drenched in salt, eating at home can cut your sodium intake and... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441110 Wed, 27 May 2009 20:54:42 +0100 2441110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441114&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fcut-costs-question-medical-tests-and-treatments-unnecessary-treatments-.html You’ve likely heard it said that more isn’t better when it comes to health care. And when it comes to unnecessary and overused tests and treatments, more can cost you a bundle that you could spend on essential preventive care. According to a Progressive Policy Institute report, $700 billion per year goes to unnecessary tests and procedures. And in a 2007 Consumer Reports National Research Center survey, thirty-four percent of a national sample of 300 primary-care physicians said their patients "very frequently" or "quite often" requested unnecessary or duplicative medical tests. And 66 percent said they had acceded to at least one such request within the previous month. What can you do to make sure you’re only getting the essential tests? Designate one doctor, typ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441114 Tue, 26 May 2009 15:35:09 +0100 2441114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424005&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fsafe-patient-project-report-costly-medical-errors-hospital-infections-prevail-in-health-care-system.html Ten years ago, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reported that as many as 98,000 Americans die every year from preventable medical errors. The startling number prompted a rush of congressional hearings and promises of reform. In a report released this week, Consumers Union’s Safe Patient Project highlights the lack of progress made since the IOM’s 1999 report and criticized the lack of progress in implementing measures to eliminate medical errors. In the new report, Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, says that reducing medical errors and hospital infections would not only improve patient care and outcomes, but would also save significant health-care costs. "There is little evidence to suggest that the number of people dying from medical harm has dropped si... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424005 Wed, 20 May 2009 14:14:43 +0100 2424005 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424006&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fpillsplitting-can-cut-costsbut-ask-your-doctor-first-how-to-safely-split-pills-cut-prescription-drug.html If you knew a low-cost pill-splitting device could cut your prescription drug costs in half, you’d run out and buy one. But not so fast. It’s a fact that pill splitting can be a powerful way to lower your health-care costs, but it can be dangerous. In our recent drug survey, of those who took measures to lower their drug costs, 1 in 10 respondents cut their pills in half, some without their doctor’s permission. Such a risky behavior could mean that you’re not getting a safe or effective dose of your medication. Keep in mind that some pills should not be split; most importantly, those include: long-acting, extended- or continued-release tablets or capsules, any capsules that contain powders or gels, birth control pills and chemotherapy drugs. Take a look at our Best Buy Drugs ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424006 Tue, 19 May 2009 21:20:00 +0100 2424006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2416779&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fcut-future-health-costs-iwth-fruit-and-vegetables-reduces-heart-disease-risks.html Forty-two percent of Americans plan to take measures that may impact their health, such as buying fewer fruits and vegetables, according to a recent study by the American Heart Association. This is troubling news, since skimping on fruits and vegetables can mean putting your health at risk. A high-fiber diet that includes fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, and vegetables can reduce your risk of heart disease. One study found that people who consumed a rigorously heart-healthy diet—low in saturated fat and rich in fruits and vegetables—for one month lowered their "bad" LDL cholesterol nearly as much on average as those who took a statin drug. We know that a grocery cart full of fruits and vegetables can be expensive, but if you know how to shop for produce, you can save mone... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2416779 Tue, 19 May 2009 00:09:13 +0100 2416779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414729&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fhealthy-weekend-weekender-asparagus-spring-produce-greenmarket-farmers-market.html Spring is in full swing, and for me that means that my local farmer’s market is coming alive with the best seasonal vegetables. I live in Brooklyn, NY, and we have a great Greenmarket that brings locally-grown produce to the neighborhood. I’m not an absolutist locavore. When I need a tomato in the winter, I get one from the grocery store that is likely shipped from California or Mexico. But when the vegetables are in season locally, I can’t get enough of them. They’re the freshest you’re likely to get, and buying in season often costs less. Buying locally cuts down on packaging and fuel used for shipping, and supporting the farmers in your area is a good way to promote your local economy, too. One vegetable that is currently peaking in most places and is loaded with nutri... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414729 Fri, 15 May 2009 22:00:00 +0100 2414729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414731&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fphizer-free-drugs-drug-samples-celebrex-lipitor-viagra-drug-safety-best-buy-drugs.html Yesterday, Pfizer announced it would give a year’s worth of drugs to people unemployed since January 1, and who have taken Pfizer drugs for at least three months. The rational: the company likely wants to keep its market share while helping those in need. Doesn’t sound like a bad idea on the surface, until you consider a few of the drugs that are up for the taking including the top-selling drugs Lipitor, Viagra and Celebrex. Lipitor is the most-prescribed drug in the U.S., but it’s also one of the more costly drugs to treat high cholesterol at $101 to $145 for a month’s supply. For those with mild to moderate high cholesterol (people who need to lower their "bad" LDL cholesterol by less than 30 percent), Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs has long-recommended generic Lovasta... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414731 Fri, 15 May 2009 17:05:07 +0100 2414731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2404986&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fsave-money-with-a-home-gym.html If times are lean, there's no need to buy into the latest infomercial exercise product. By simply buying a few key pieces of equipment, you can get a gym-worthy workout at home and for less than $100. Get started with a mat, dumbbells, and elastic bands, then add a stability ball and an exercise DVD for a good cardio workout. Use these tips for getting more out of your workout, and you'll be well on your way to bargain fitness. If a gym is really what you're looking for, know your options and check out our health club Ratings (subscribers). Read more of our exercise coverage including 10 health perks of exercise and product ratings like running shoes and pedometers. (Source: Consumer Reports Health Blog) Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2404986 Thu, 14 May 2009 21:35:11 +0100 2404986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2404987&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fdont-pay-for-mistakes-check-your-medical-bills-carefully.html Mistake happen, but now more than ever you can’t afford to pay for errors on your medical bills. And overcharging is more common than you might think. According to the Medical Billing Advocates of America, 80 percent of medical bills from hospitals and providers contain errors. Spotting medical mistakes can save you a bundle, so make sure to check your bill for unexpected fees or any services you didn’t get. Ask for an itemized bill and check it for accuracy. If you have insurance, compare the bill to your plan's explanation of benefits (EOB) or Medicare summary notice before you respond to any hospital or doctor bills. Determine what care was covered by insurance and what your insurer claims you owe. If you spot an error, don’t ignore it—dispute it as soon as possible. And be... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2404987 Thu, 14 May 2009 13:36:44 +0100 2404987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2404993&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Ffree-drug-samples-could-cost-you-more-in-the-long-run-starter-packs-free-prescription-drugs-.html Everyone likes freebies. Eighty percent of respondents in our recent drug survey said they had accepted free drug samples from their doctors. But while those freebies might sound like a great deal, particularly if you’re having a hard time affording your prescriptions, they could cost you more in the long run. According to a study published this week in PLoS Medicine, free samples, also referred to as “starter packs,” actually increase the cost of health care, and do little to promote safe, rational prescription drug use. So what questions should you ask before taking free drug samples from your doctor? Watch our video with Dr. John Santa, director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center, to find out. —Ginger Skinner We’d like to hear from you: Have you accepted free drug... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2404993 Tue, 12 May 2009 21:14:39 +0100 2404993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2404995&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fquick-ways-to-destress-for-free-economic-stress-jobless-health-problems-related-to-stress.html Losing a job can lead to health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, heart attack and stroke, reports USA Today on research by on research by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health and Society scholar. The report showed that even when workers found new jobs, they still had an increased risk of new stress-related health problems. No surprises there. Stress is to blame for numerous health problems, including heart attack, stroke, depression, sleeplessness, and alcohol abuse. And with joblessness on the rise, it’s likely that stress-related health problems will follow suit. Don’t ignore the warning signs—and if stress is making you sick, try these coping strategies: • Don’t just sit there—take a 20-minute walk, do some yard work, or go dancing... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2404995 Tue, 12 May 2009 01:04:27 +0100 2404995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398563&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fcut-costs-and-your-carbon-footprint-at-your-coffee-shop-coffee-save-money-nonrecyclable-coffee-cups.html Did you know that your paper coffee cup might be non-recyclable? Billions of paper coffee cups are thrown in the garbage each year, and many are lined with polyethylene plastic. The liner helps keep beverages hot and your coffee from leaking through the cup. So, the next time you head to your local coffee shop, bring your own reusable coffee mug or thermos. Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, you could rack up savings, since many coffee companies offer a discount if you bring your own mug. My coffee shop takes twenty-cents off per cup when I use my own thermos. At two cups a day, that’s a savings of around $60 a month, and can add up to over $700 a year! Do you save by bringing your own? How much? —Ginger Skinner (Source: Consumer Reports Health Blog) Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398563 Fri, 08 May 2009 20:04:02 +0100 2398563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389616&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fprevent-skin-cancer-with-a-free-screening-skin-cancer-awareness-month-melanoma-prevention.html May is Skin Cancer Awareness month, so consider taking advantage of free nationwide screening offered by organizations like the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation. These screenings can be a good way to spot skin cancer—while cutting back on costs. Before you go, though, note that a free skin-cancer screening is not a substitute for an exam by your physician. If you have any risk-factors or are particularly concerned about something on your skin, you should see your doctor immediately. But for a general check-up, particularly if you don’t have health insurance, consider a free screening. Be sure to inform the person doing the examination about all of your medical problems, medication, and allergies, or adverse drug reactions. During a screening, which lasts ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389616 Thu, 07 May 2009 00:03:38 +0100 2389616 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389623&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Ftips-for-saving-on-outofnetwork-costs-health-insurance-costs-save-money-health-savings-.html I made an appointment with a chiropractor the other day to try and help the back pain I’ve been living with for several months. This chiropractor came highly recommended by a close friend, but when I checked with my health plan, I couldn’t find him listed there. So that left me with a decision to make: Go to this chiropractor for treatment and take on potentially high out-of-network costs, or cross my fingers, choose a chiropractor from my plan, and hope for the best. It’s a tough decision, and one many of us have had to make at one point or another when it comes to in-network versus out-of-network care. We’re all interested in avoiding unnecessary costs, so if you are considering going out of network, follow these tips to help keep your out-of-pocket costs to a minimum: Get cos... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389623 Tue, 05 May 2009 21:40:05 +0100 2389623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389628&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fgardening-can-put-green-back-in-your-wallet-save-money-plant-your-own-garden-healthful-foods-vegetab.html If you’re looking for more ways to stay healthy, and save money, look no further than your own backyard. Growing a simple vegetable garden can save hundreds of dollars in food costs—and more Americans are catching on. According to a recent National Gardening Association (NGA) study, 43 million U.S. households plan to grow their own garden this year, up 19 percent from last year. And gardening is appealing to an increasingly broad group—21 percent are new to gardening. Over half (54 percent) of gardeners say their main reason for growing their own food is to save money on food bills, and 34 percent say the current recession is motivating them to garden. And in case saving money isn’t reason enough to get your hands in the dirt, gardening can provide exercise, and it can aid your soc... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389628 Mon, 04 May 2009 22:18:42 +0100 2389628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2380703&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F04%2Fhealth-insurance-savingscheck-up-before-you-buy-bad-health-insurance-.html Health-care costs are a serious concern for many Americans and according to our latest health poll, nearly two-thirds worry about going bankrupt from medical costs due to an illness or accident. But having insufficient health insurance it can be financially devastating too. So, take the time to investigate an insurance company before you buy a policy. One way to check up on health insurance companies? Do some Web research. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners posts complaint information online. Also, enter the name of the company and policy in a search engine like Google. You might find something that raises your eyebrows such as law suits or customer reviews. You might even find a perfectly sound insurance company. —Ginger Skinner Read our full report on junk health ins... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2380703 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:40:26 +0100 2380703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2375807&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F04%2Fdo-your-choresget-a-free-workout-save-money-fitness-tips-lowcost-workouts.html Did you know that cleaning your house can help you lose weight? Gives new meaning to the term “home gym,” doesn’t it? There are many different activities that you can do on most days of the week that count as exercise. And what’s more, they’re totally free. This is how many calories you can burn per 30 minutes activity, approximately: Ironing: 69 calories Cleaning and dusting: 75 calories Painting and decorating: 90 calories Vacuuming: 105 calories Mowing the lawn: 165 calories Get more ways to be healthy on a budget, and take a look at the 10 health perks of exercise. (Source: Consumer Reports Health Blog) Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2375807 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:44:57 +0100 2375807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2375815&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F04%2Fsave-your-lunch-moneybrown-bag-it.html I admit it, I rarely pack my lunch. My number-one excuse is “I don’t have time.” But turns out I’m missing out on big savings and also bucking a growing trend. Americans are brown-bagging weekday lunches more and more to cut costs and get healthy. According to a study by market research firm NPD Group, some 8.5 billion people brown-bagged lunches last year. The majority of brown-baggers said they bring lunch from home to save money, followed by health and nutrition. So I played with the numbers: I typically spend $8 a workday on lunch, that’s $40 a week. Multiply that by 52 weeks and that’s around $2,000 a year. Okay, I’m nearly convinced, but then there’s my other excuse, “brown-bag lunches are boring.” If this is your gripe, our friends at ShopSmart have some tips on ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2375815 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:19:49 +0100 2375815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2364883&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F04%2Fsave-money-with-doityourself-allergy-relief-cheap-treatments-for-hay-fever-allergies-sinuses-.html The first warm, sunny days of spring are a welcome change after the long winter months. But if you’re like me, the warm weather brings hay fever and sinus congestion. I’ve tried dozens of over-the-counter and prescription drugs and have seen first hand that getting sinus relief is expensive, but there are some inexpensive remedies to try before hitting the pharmacy counter. Nasal saline irrigation—a saltwater rinse for the nasal passages—is a safe, cheap, and effective way to ease chronic nose and sinus inflammation. Irrigation kits cost about $15 to $40, and you can pick up one from your local drugstore. One pushes saline into the nostrils with pressure from a squeeze bottle, bulb syringe, or water pic. The other—sometimes called a Neti Pot—uses gravity to deliver the saline.... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2364883 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:07:18 +0100 2364883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2364889&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F04%2Fstill-cant-afford-your-prescription-drugs-find-out-how-to-save-kaiser-survey-six-in-ten-put-off-medi.html Six in ten Americans say they or a family member delayed or skipped health care in the past year, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation health poll. The most common things people did to cut costs were substituting home remedies or over-the-counter drugs for doctor’s visits and skipping dental care or check ups. More troubling, though, is that three in ten did not fill a prescription for medicine and two in ten cut pills in half or skipped doses. These troubling findings mirror the results from our recent drug survey. Twenty-eight percent of survey respondents—without their doctor's or pharmacist's knowledge—resorted to at least one potentially dangerous measure to afford their prescription drugs, including failing to fill a prescription, skipping doses, and cutting pill... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2364889 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:52:52 +0100 2364889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2364892&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F04%2Fexercise-a-lowcost-doityourself-back-pain-remedy-lowerback-pain-save-money.html When it comes to do-it-yourself health remedies, exercise was the top consumer-rated measure to help relieve lower-back pain. In the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center survey, 44 percent of the respondents who tried this lifestyle change said they found back exercises helped a lot. When focusing on regrets, a surprising 58 percent said they wished they had done more exercises to strengthen their back in the past year. That's more than twice the number who said they wished they had reduced or avoided activities that might have made the pain worse. Cost concerns were one of the key reasons our survey respondents did not seek professional care, so it’s nice to know exercise comes at fraction of the cost of some other treatments—and you can do it at home. There's no one-size-fi... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2364892 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:35:07 +0100 2364892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2353737&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F04%2Forganic-food-savings-save-money-on-organics-earth-day-savings.html When I’m in the grocery store I’m always pulled two ways. I want to load up on organics but I balk at the cost. What’s worth the extra money? Here are some tips on what to look for as well as how to shop for organics, taken from our sister site, Greener Choices: Prioritize your purchases. If your main concern is eating healthfully, you can have the biggest impact buying organic peaches, apples, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes, sweet bell peppers, celery, lettuce, spinach, and potatoes. Buying organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy can reduce your risk of exposure to the agent believed to cause mad cow disease and potential toxins in nonorganic feed. Search the Web for coupons. Many major organic brands, including Stonyfield Farm , Annie’s... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2353737 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:59:38 +0100 2353737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347706&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F04%2Fstress-spa-deals-tips-for-spa-deals-save-on-spa-treatments-massage-facials.html A day at the spa is a great way to unwind and de-stress, but a pricey spa package can easily break your budget. When I want to unwind or erase the stress of a long week, I go for a deep-tissue massage. But a massage can run $100 to $150 a pop, and add on a facial and a manicure plus tip, and you could leave the spa having spent upwards of $500. Who can afford to relax with prices like that? If you’re desperate for a spa fix, but not up for shelling out hundreds, here are some tips to help you relax—on the cheap: • Ask about specials. Call up spas and ask about off-season deals or whether certain days or times are cheaper than others. Or if you’ve never been to the spa, ask about specials for new clients. And don’t be afraid to admit up front that you’re looking for a deal. •... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347706 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:48:14 +0100 2347706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347711&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F04%2Fbrandname-drug-prices-on-the-rise-but-you-can-still-save-ask-for-generic-drugs-prescription-drug-pri.html In these tough economic times, we all need a little help keeping costs down, but according to a new report by AARP, brand-name prescription drug prices jumped nearly nine percent in 2008, the largest average increase in six years. Given how much we talk about how much you can save by switching from an expensive brand-name drug to a less expensive generic, it’ll be no surprise generic drugs are much cheaper, and just as safe and effective as their brand-name counterparts. For example, to treat allergies, you could take the brand-name drug Claritin for up to $37 a month, or its generic version, loratadine, for less than $12. Both drugs are available without a prescription. And overall, generics can save consumers an estimated $8 billion to $10 billion a year. Talk to your doctor about your... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347711 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:57:30 +0100 2347711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347713&cid=t_235462_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F04%2Fobama-dog-health-food-choices-pet-food-savings-bo-obamas-new-dog.html Since they first moved into the White House, we’ve waited in anticipation for the arrival of the First Dog. Now that Bo is settling in, the Obamas should keep in mind that food fit for a presidential dog doesn’t have to break the bank, but they shouldn’t cut corners either. A December 2008 survey found that just one in seven pet owners said they had cut spending on their pet during the past year, even as they cut other expenses. We recently asked eight experts for pet food nutrition advice and came up with some helpful tips for the First Dog, and for your pet too: Pricey doesn’t mean better. Avoid buying pet food because of the high price, pretty packaging, or fancy name. Pets can thrive on inexpensive food or become ill from pricey food. If your dog is active and healthy, you’ve... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347713 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:49:54 +0100 2347713