Medicine Minus Insurance Equals Cheaper, Better Care
An old-fashioned model of medicine is making a comeback: You go to a doctor, get treated, and pay a reasonable fee for the services, with no health insurance company involved.
HealthCare
Slowdown in Health Spending Extends Medicare's Life
A greater-than-expected slowdown in health spending has helped buy Medicare more time before it will no longer be able to pay out full benefits.
Finally, an Easy Way to Compare Hospital Costs
A new online tool lets you easily compare the cost of procedures at different hospitals so you don't get ripped off.
Americans' Rx Drug Spending Shows Rare Drop in 2012
Spending on prescription medicines in the U.S. fell for the first time in decades last year, as cash-strapped consumers continued to cut back on use of health-care services.
Report: Fees Vary Wildly Among Hospitals for Same Procedure
Hospitals within the same city sometimes charge tens of thousands of dollars more for the same procedures, according to government figures released for the first time.
Walgreen Clinics Target Chronic Illnesses in Care Expansion
Walgreen expands the reach of its drugstore clinics beyond treating ankle sprains and sinus infections to handling chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
The Best U.S. Cities for Retirees
When choosing where to retire, there are lots of factors to consider beyond fun in the sun. Good health care, cost of living, low crime rates, and a host of cultural aspects come into play. So where should you set your sights? Kiplinger and the Martin Prosperity Institute pick out some winners.
Health Care Options for Young, Healthy and Broke
They're young, healthy and flat broke -- and now the government says they have to buy thousands of dollars' worth of medical insurance. What should tapped-out twentysomethings do?
The 10 Happiest Countries in the World
Once again, 24/7 Wall St. has examined the OECD's report on life satisfaction. And once again, the United States fails to make the top 10 happiest nations in the world. Which countries do? Some may surprise you.
Retired Couples May Need $240,000 for Health Care
Couples retiring this year can expect their medical bills throughout retirement to cost 4 percent more than those who retired a year ago, according to an annual projection released Wednesday by Fidelity Investments.
5 Companies Americans Can Be Proud Of
Call it conscious capitalism or just good business, but these five companies have all prospered in every measure over the last decade by doing good for their employees, suppliers, customers or the general public.
Concierge Doctors: They're Not Just for the Super-Rich Anymore
Reading certain media reports, one might think that concierge medical care is a service solely for the very wealthy. But the concierge model actually is spreading more broadly through the health care system to people who are far from being among the 1%.
How to 'Cheat' on Your Taxes ... Legally!
Nobody likes paying the IRS, and we all wish there were just a few more deductions we could swing without arousing the taxman's ire. And there are: Here are a few deductions that, while they might seem to be a little out of bounds, are totally legal.
American Airlines' Flight Out of Bankruptcy Gets Bumpier
American Airlines executives hoping to bring the deficit-riddled carrier out of bankruptcy want to trim about 13,000 jobs. They left their unions' counteroffer sitting on the tarmac. Will the two sides ever be able to meet in the middle?
GOP Senators Unveil New Medicare Overhaul Plan
Two Republican senators unveiled a Medicare overhaul Thursday that features an accelerated transition to private health insurance for many seniors, a gradual increase in the eligibility age, and higher premiums for middle-class and upper-income retirees.
5 Signs You're Getting Robbed at the Hospital
High hospital costs seem to be a fact of life that most Americans have reluctantly come to accept. What most people don't realize, however, is that not all of those charges are legit: Many medical bills contain fraudulent charges.
Surprise! Your Tax Burden Is Lighter Than You Think
With all the talk about taxes and whether we should lower them, you'd think that the citizens and corporations of the United States face steep tax rates. You'd be wrong, though. When it comes to taxes, things are not as they appear.
Obama's Health Overhaul Lags in Many States
Here's a reality check for President Barack Obama's health overhaul: Three out of four uninsured Americans live in states that have yet to figure out how to deliver on its promise of affordable medical care. This is the year that will make or break the health care law. States were supposed to be partners in carrying out the biggest safety net expansion since Medicare and Medicaid, and the White House claims they're making steady progress.
The 10 Best U.S. Cities for Raising a Family
Choosing where to raise your kids can be a deeply personal decision, but some things are universally desired, like good schools, health care and recreation. 24/7 Wall St. looked at these factors and more to identify the 10 best U.S. cities in which to raise a family.
America Hits the Brakes on Health Care Spending
Health spending stabilized as a share of the nation's economy in 2010 after two back-to-back years of historically low growth, the government reported Monday. Experts debated whether it's a fleeting consequence of the sluggish economy, or a real sign that cost controls by private employers and government at all levels are starting to work.
7 Financial New Year's Resolutions to Keep
Every January, we plan to make changes, and we often don't succeed. Let's make this New Year's different: Here are seven fairly simple resolutions recommended by the financial experts for getting you on a firmer fiscal footing in 2012.
Social Security Going Bust? That's the Small Problem
The woes Social Security faces have generated plenty of worried talk lately, but even if nothing changes, it'll be solvent until 2036. But Medicare, the other major government program that retirees rely on, is on course for financial disaster years sooner. That program, of course, is Medicare, and the funding situation for the portion of its benefits that retirees receive looks even scarier than Social Security's prospects right now.
What You Don't Know About Health Insurance May Cost You
When it comes to health care, it sometimes feels like nothing is simple. And that can be a real problem: According to a recent survey, some health care basics are going right over the heads of the majority of Americans.
High Health Care Costs Drag Down Economic Growth
Nearly everyone is feeling the pain of high health care costs. Between 2003 and 2010, the cost employers paid for family coverage rose 50% and employees' share of the tab increased 63%. That's money siphoned away from the rest of the economy.
Tough Economy Takes a Surprising Toll on Babies
A rocky economy could adversely affect newborns, according to new research published in the journal Epidemiology. And the impacts on their health and well-being could last a lifetime.
Poor Sick People: U.S. Offers Raw Deal for the Unhealthy
If you're very sick and not very wealthy in America, your best move may be to flee the country -- because you'd be better off in any other first world nation. Otherwise, expect to pay through the nose and possibly wind up deep in debt, according to a new report from The Commonwealth Fund.
What Not to Do When Filling a Prescription
Cold and flu season is upon us. Americans spend $400 million on prescription drugs to relieve the symptoms, according to one study, and some of them spend too much. DailyFinance's Laura Rowley looks at what not to do when filling a prescription.
Surprise! Here's Where Your Tax Dollars Go
Taxes. We resent paying them, yet, for the most part, they fund things we'd rather not do without. But exactly how much of our money is going to each service? The White House has made it easy to answer that question. So here's a receipt for where your tax dollars are spent.
Breast Cancer's Financial Toll: Where to Go for Help
A breast cancer diagnosis can be like an earthquake in the life of the patient and her family, but the medical community is there to help guide them. What's often hard to find is a monetary lifeline for those in danger of getting washed away by the financial tidal wave that can follow.