Publishers Weekly
08/15/2016
Journalist Lalli was diagnosed in 2008 with multiple myeloma. His medication cost $571 daily and his insurance was inadequate, but as related in his New York Times op-ed “A Health Insurance Detective Story,” his research skills enabled him to get the drug for $2 a day. In this practical guide, organized into 20 chapters, Lalli reveals “who to ask, what to ask, and what to do” while navigating the endlessly confounding U.S. health-care maze. Excellent explanations of the Affordable Care Act appear in Chapters 3 and 4, while Chapter 7 warns of 10 common Medicare mistakes. Shopping for health insurance is addressed in Chapter 5, and there is priceless insider information on a range of specific topics, including billing codes, health-care savings accounts, dental coverage, and beating “sneaky” unexpected fees. Everything is negotiable, Lalli notes repeatedly, so patients are always wise to ask for a lower price, request a cash discount, and access free preventive services. Appendixes feature a glossary of necessary and helpful health-care terms and a resources list. With facts and advisories from patients’ rights organizations and think tanks, plus the author’s personal experience and clear directions, this handbook is a must-have for everyone needing health care. Agent: Nat Sobel, Sobel Weber. (Sept.)
Richard Reeves
Like many Americans,I have gone through a long family medical crisis. I only wish that there had been a Health Care Detective at my side in those terrible years. Keep this book at your side."
Tom Brokaw
Frank Lalli is a world-class journalist who used his own cancer diagnosis to explore what the rest of us need to know about the best way to navigate the complex health-care system. His advice has been invaluable to me and I am confident it will become that for so many others.”
Dr. Kenneth Anderson
Prize-winning journalist Frank Lalli uses his journey with bone marrow cancer multiple myeloma, coupled with the experiences of many other patients, to create a treasured resource to get cutting-edge care at affordable prices. He both identifies obstacles and then provides real world examples of how to overcome them. He provides critical lessons not only for patients and their families, but also for caregivers and health care administrators, as we together assure that patients can benefit from today’s most exciting treatment advances.
Dr. Richard Levine
Frank Lalli has written a ‘GPS’ to help patients navigate the twists, turns, and surprises of healthcare, including insurance benefits. For example, don’t miss the chapters on managing the cost of prescription drugs.
Jeff Greenfield
Frank Lalli, one of America's best business journalists, has produced the single most indispensable guide to helping people get the best health care possible at the best price As someone who quakes at the thought of confronting distant bureaucracies, I found this eminently readable book – jammed with specific case studies, phone numbers and web sites – hugely comforting. You need this book.
Jill Goodman
This highly accessible and well-organized guide to getting through the maze known as our health care system is chock-full of useful clues for getting the care that you and your family need – and deserve!
From the Publisher
Like many Americans, I have gone through a long family medical crisis. I only wish that there had been a Health Care Detective at my side in those terrible years. Keep this book at your side." ---Richard Reeves, Senior Lecturer at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California
From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY
Like many Americans, I have gone through a long family medical crisis. I only wish that there had been a Health Care Detective at my side in those terrible years. Keep this book at your side." —Richard Reeves, Senior Lecturer at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California
