If you have medical insurance, you’ve probably received a paper titled “Explanation of Benefits” or EOB. Typically, just below the title, it reads, “This is not a bill.” That said, there are dollar figures all over it. So if this is not a bill, what exactly is it? The EOB is exactly what it says...Read More
Medical bill errors, including those on hospital bills, can quickly become a nightmare for you, the patient, if you don’t keep on top of them. The longer an error goes uncorrected, the less likely it is that you will be able to successfully fix it. Hospitals, physicians, and other providers are likely to send your...Read More
Dear Sheri: I have boxes and boxes of old files cluttering my closets and I’d like to clean out but I don’t know what I’m supposed to keep. Help! — Fred Dear Fred: First of all, good for you for wanting to de-clutter your space! I know that you are not alone in wondering what...Read More
One of the more stressful parts of caregiving is the worry about how to pay for it. Planning ahead can help, as can creating a caregiving budget. Of course, once you create your budget you need to stick to it! As a rule of thumb, if you’re thinking ahead you’re making a plan while if...Read More
Certain patterns seem to emerge again and again. During a recent phone call with a new client, I began to feel like I should produce and automated recording since my initial conversation with consumers regarding the medical bill woes so often sound the same. As a result, here’s my list of the top five mistakes...Read More
A just published book for adult children and their aging parents is “The Daughter Trap: Taking Care of Mom and Dad … and You” by Laurel Kennedy. This is a valuable resource for all adult children, daughters and sons alike. Ms. Kennedy bases her work on hundreds of interviews with baby boomers in the thick...Read More
John and Jane Smith (names and some of the personal details changed to preserve the privacy of those involved) are a lovely couple in their mid-seventies who became southwest Florida snowbirds in 1996 and permanent residents in 2002. When I met them, the Smiths were both healthy and engaged in an active lifestyle. Their two...Read More
Visiting your aging parents over this holiday season provides a wonderful opportunity to create memories and to take a good look at how they are doing. Make sure you take advantage of this time to do both, especially if you live at a distance and don’t get to see them often. Perhaps the most important...Read More
Dear Sheri: My husband recently passed away and he always handled our household bills and budget. I don’t even know where to begin to get everything in order. Is there someone who can help me with this? Intimidated Irene Dear Irene: First off, please accept my condolences to you on your loss. It may help...Read More
