Lerner's Consumer Guide to Health Care - Softcover

Lerner, Paul; Lerner, Julie

9780966999921: Lerner's Consumer Guide to Health Care

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0966999924 ISBN 13: 9780966999921

Publisher: Lerner Communication, 2000

Authors reveal how to obtain quality medical care while getting around the bureaucracy of the health care system. They recommend that patients become assertive consumers, even "difficult patients," and give practical advice on negotiating costs, saving on prescriptions, and getting referrals to specialists. Includes sample letters, scripts for phone calls, key terms, and appendices of health and insurance departments in all 50 states. Paul Lerner conducted award-winning work for AIDS advocacy organizations; Julie Lerner is a cancer survivor and experienced health care consumer. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Paul Lerner was an AIDS care advocate and communications director for AIDS Project Los Angeles. Julie Lerner is a cancer survivor who learned about being an assertive consumer of health care firsthand. They are the authors of Lerner Survey of Health Care in New York. Paul lives in Seattle, Washington. Julie works in New York City.

From Library Journal:

In the United States, the term health care system is a misnomer. We do not have a coherent system of treating illness and injury, just a patchwork of insurance plans that meshDnot necessarily successfullyDwith doctors' and hospitals' routines. The Lerners have been through the millDJulie with cancer and her brother Paul as an AIDS patients' advocateDand they have learned how to monitor the "system." Their program of Individual Health Advocacy requires you to research your illness, watch your healthcare providers, and, when denied care, appealDagain and again, if necessary. You'll need to know the ombudsmen of various agencies and the local community organizations that can help you, and you should enlist someone to keep an eye on your interests when you are too ill and/or drugged to do so yourself. This invaluable guide points you toward the best insurance plans, the best hospitals, and the best doctors while also providing tips for small businesses and the self-employed. Doing this kind of research before you need it can save money and stress and possibly your life. Highly recommended.DSusan B. Hagloch, Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.