Archive: health care
Trying to catch the vaccine
By J.W. Evans Arlington Rejection seems to be the theme of my week when it comes to locating the swine flu vaccine, and it’s turning me into a stressed-out, neurotic mother. Clinics are disorganized, the guidelines differ, and no matter...
By Michael Larabee | October 30, 2009; 10:07 AM ET | Comments (3)
My Health-Care Story: Paging Dr. Popular
By Adam Ross If my primary-care physician was in high school, he’d be voted prom king. I called his office last week hoping to set up an appointment for a physical and to get something that had been worrying me...
By Michael Larabee | October 22, 2009; 02:39 PM ET | Comments (3)
D.C. health reform in one simple step
By Walter Smith Washington Many insurance companies are using their influence on Capitol Hill to oppose the health-care reform proposals before Congress. However that congressional battle plays out, here in the District we have an opportunity right now to compel...
By Michael Larabee | October 21, 2009; 12:06 PM ET | Comments (3)
My Health-Care Story: Over 50 and Out of Luck
By John Hewko Washington I am a Republican who did not vote for President Obama, but I support his health-care initiative because I have just experienced first-hand our system's dysfunctional wrath -- and it isn't pretty. Recently, I left my...
By Michael Larabee | October 13, 2009; 09:54 AM ET | Comments (19)
My Health-Care Story: What 'Cadillac' Really Means
By Jacqueline Iannuzzi Annapolis I have a great comprehensive health-care plan through my employer. I am not subject to time-consuming pre-authorizations and coverage denials based on technicalities, as with some other plans I’ve had. With a co-payment, I can go...
By Michael Larabee | September 24, 2009; 09:59 AM ET | Comments (9)
My Health-Care Story: Penny-Wise and Flu-Foolish
By Joe Mistrett Chevy Chase Let me give you an example of how ridiculous health care has become in this country, and I have good insurance. (Although not as good, I’m sure, as that of the self-aggrandizing members of Congress...
By Michael Larabee | September 23, 2009; 09:53 AM ET | Comments (1)
The New Walter Reed: Less Than 'World Class'?
By Stephen Schimpff Columbia We Americans owe our servicemen and women, especially our wounded warriors, the very best in medical care. With the construction of a “new Walter Reed” in Bethesda, we have a unique opportunity to ensure that they...
By Michael Larabee | September 11, 2009; 11:45 AM ET | Comments (3)
My Health-Care Story: The Right Kind of Rationing
By Elizabeth Hofmeister Bethesda In 2007, my mother died at 85 of renal poisoning stemming from kidney failure. My brothers and I were told by her doctor that she was not a candidate for kidney dialysis. Was this health-care rationing?...
By Michael Larabee | September 8, 2009; 04:59 PM ET | Comments (1)
My Health-Care Story: A Controlled Experiment
By Tom Smerling Chevy Chase When my father died last year, I inherited a 15-inch stack of medical bills. I sorted it into two piles: Medicare vs. private supplemental insurance. The Medicare statements, I quickly discovered, required zero work. They...
By Michael Larabee | September 2, 2009; 06:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
My Health-Care Story: Just Don't Get Sick
By Frank Hoerster Woodbridge Your insurance is fine — until you get sick. In 2003, my wife was diagnosed with lung cancer at 53. My first experience with our health insurer was the rejection of a claim because her biopsy...
By Michael Larabee | August 25, 2009; 10:26 AM ET | Comments (1)
My Health-Care Story: I'll Take the Public Option
By Elizabeth Keyes Silver Spring The White House’s apparent shift on a public option is devastating to someone like me. With my rheumatoid arthritis, I depend on medication to help me to walk, to pick up my child, to raise...
By Michael Larabee | August 25, 2009; 10:17 AM ET | Comments (2)
My Health-Care Story: Well Served by the System
By Hannah Boyle Reston President Obama tells lots of frightening medical stories, but many people can testify to being well served by the system. In the 18 months our daughter battled cancer, my husband and I never had to call...
By Michael Larabee | August 24, 2009; 05:28 PM ET | Comments (2)
My Health-Care Story: Refuse a Test, Pay a Price
By S. Ann Robinson Leesburg Here’s a true story that illustrates one way insurers limit choices and drive up costs. Getting ready for bed one night, I experienced shortness of breath. Remembering an allergic reaction that began that way a...
By Michael Larabee | August 24, 2009; 05:23 PM ET | Comments (0)
Ribbon-Cutting for a Health-Care Redundancy
By M. Stephen Mandell Jr. Bowling Green On July 27, first lady Michelle Obama cut a ribbon to herald the opening of a community health clinic in rural Bowling Green, Va., about 40 miles north of Richmond. Her appearance was...
By Michael Larabee | August 18, 2009; 11:20 AM ET | Comments (0)
Mixing With the Crowd at a Health-Care Town Hall
By Jack Kinstlinger Sparks On Monday, I arrived at Towson University at 6:15 p.m. to attend Sen. Ben Cardin’s town hall meeting on health-care reform. It was a stiflingly hot and humid evening, so I expected a rather small crowd....
By Michael Larabee | August 13, 2009; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (4)
