Category: health


Health Care Testimonials – How Much Can You Believe?

Filed Under: health
Mar.17, 2010

Ever hear the saying "don't believe everything you read"? It's especially true when your personal health is at stake.

 

A recent blog post at e-patients.net takes a critical look at the credibility and reliability of user-generated testimonials on health Web sites.

 

health-scam.jpg

One high-profile example explored is the case of Lifestyle Lift, a cosmetic company which offers a face-lift procedure purported to be safer and less invasive than traditional plastic surgery. But, as it turns out, the "buzz" surrounding the revolutionary procedure was fabricated.

 

According to the New York's attorney general Andrew Cuomo, the company distributed an internal e-mail to employees which read: "I need you to devote the day to doing more postings on the Web as a satisfied client."

 

In 2009, the New York State Attorney General's office charged the company with paying employees to fabricate "real-life" testimonials on its internet homepage. The company paid $300,000 in penalties and costs, and claims it has removed the fake testimonials from its Web site. This "astroturf marketing" strategy aimed to create a false grassroots buzz for the Lifestyle Lift procedure, fueled of course by fabricated testimonials.

 

So, how much can you really believe on a health Web site, or any site for that matter?

read more

Determining Life Insurance Rates: How It’s Done (Part I)

Filed Under: Life Insurance, agent, cost, family history, health, lifestyle, policy, rates, smoking, underwriting
Jan.19, 2010

underwritingOne of the most important factors involved when it comes to purchasing life insurance is the cost, and understandably so. After all, it is the amount of money you will be paying for a policy, and most people want to be sure they’re getting the most for their money.

So how are rates determined? By underwriting. Underwriting is a process of testing and assessing an individual applying for life insurance. Many factors affect the underwriting of a potential insured from age, build and any medications they take as well as illnesses they may have or family history.  Cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, and level of risky activity are all taken into account when underwriting. But underwriting is not a cut-and-dry science, as each life insurance company sees things differently. This is exactly where an experienced independent life insurance agent can be beneficial. An independent agent should be familiar with which companies look more favorably on these issues. This allows them to match you with a company that fits your specific health and lifestyle.

read more

New Report: Healthcare Costs Have Soared Since 1996

Filed Under: health
Dec.16, 2009

It's no surprise that healthcare costs have skyrocketed during the past decade or two. But a new report outlines exactly how much they have increased since 1996.

 

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality compared average healthcare costs in 1996 to those in 2006 for adults between 18 and 44.

 

Here's what they found:

  • The average annual cost of health care increased from $2,177 to $2,703.

  • In 2006, 17.6% of health care expenses went toward prescription drugs, compared to just 10.2% in 1996.

  • The average cost to visit a physician was $180 in 2006, up from $119 a decade earlier.

  • The cost of prescription drugs doubled over this period, from $79 to $161.

  • The charge for an emergency room visit soared from $393 to $638.

  • The cost of a dental visit in 1996, $181, pales in comparison to the $247 Americans paid in 2006.

read more
Powered by WordPress and Motion by 85ideas.