News

2009

July

23

• Obama: Health care reform changes treatment for the better. President Obama said Wednesday he was unable to guarantee that health care reform won't change how Americans get medical treatment, but he said any changes would be necessary and positive. In a nationally televised news…

22

• Health insurance industry spins data against public plan. The industry that helped scuttle health reform 15 years ago with its "Harry and Louise" ads is back, voicing support for a central element of the Obama administration's plans: making sure everyone is covered. That…

21

• Driven to distraction: Cellphone driving risk data witheld. In 2003, researchers at a federal agency proposed a long-term study of 10,000 drivers to assess the safety risk posed by cellphone use behind the wheel. They sought the study based on evidence that such…

16

• Going on vacation? Think before you tweet. Here’s a shout out to Spencer in California. Based on your recent tweets, it looks like the family is having an awesome vacation. As I’m writing this column, I see you’re in Colorado, far from…

15

• Organ donors risk denial of health insurance. Eight years ago, Los Angeles resident Patricia Abdullah decided to donate a kidney to an acquaintance. She calls it one of the proudest moments of her life. Last year, Abdullah, 61, lost her job with…

14

• Americans want health care bill, but not the cost. Most Americans say it's important to overhaul health care this year, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, but they are less enthusiastic about some of the proposals to pay for it. And while a majority say…

12

• Dems at odds for financing health reform. House and Senate Democrats appeared on Thursday to be on a collision course over how to pay for a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s health care system, with the House planning to propose an income…

• Jobless rate so high? So are late payments. Credit can be a lifeline after a layoff, but beware of the line becoming too long. As data from the American Bankers Association shows, consumer delinquencies — defined as payments that are 30 or more…

09

• Protecting homeowners for the unexpected. Thomas Mackey has a nice little three-bedroom house on a golf course in Carolina Beach, N.C. Last fall, when he refinanced his mortgage, Mackey, 61, had a good job as director of food services at…

• Don't add confusion to survivors' grief. The death of Michael Jackson, and the initial confusion over his will, got me to thinking: My husband and I are long overdue for updating ours. Along with the updated will, we need to attach…

07

• Health care reform: What it means for you. As President Obama and Congress try to overhaul health care, almost every American has a stake. Will you get the care you need? Can you avoid financial ruin? The potential upsides and downsides described below…

• Social Security numbers not hard to guess. Researchers have found that it is possible to guess many -- if not all -- of the nine digits in an individual's Social Security number using publicly available information, a finding they say compromises the…

06

• Familiar faces in health lobbying. The nation's largest insurers, hospitals and medical groups have hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress in hopes of influencing their old bosses and colleagues, according to an analysis…

05

• A financial to-do list saves $$. Back in high school, my friends and I used to talk fairly often about the need for a “mental health day.” It’s stressful trying to make good grades and get into college, so staying home…

03

• Is travel insurance necessary?. When planning a vacation, consumers often focus on the fun aspects of the itinerary: Where do you go, and what do you do when you get there? But what if things don't go as planned?…

02

• Protections for victims of auto bankruptcies. Consumer groups petitioned the Federal Trade Commission today, seeking warnings on approximately 30 million Chrysler vehicles produced prior to May 30, when the "New Chrysler" emerged from bankruptcy court. Under the court-approved Sale Order for…

01

• Many with insurance still bankrupted by health crises. Health insurance is supposed to offer protection — both medically and financially. But as it turns out, an estimated three-quarters of people who are pushed into personal bankruptcy by medical problems actually had insurance when…

June

30

• New GM to accept some liability. General Motors will assume responsibility for product liability claims filed after the carmaker emerges from bankruptcy protection, a concession that removes a potential obstacle to the Obama administration's plan for the company's quick restructuring. Under…

• Blood samples raise privacy questions. Matthew Brzica and his wife hardly noticed when the hospital took a few drops of blood from each of their four newborn children for routine genetic testing. But then they discovered that the state had…

29

• Insurance company schemes. Congressional committees heard a lot this month about the devious schemes used by health insurance companies to drop or shortchange sick patients. It was a damning portrait — and one Americans know from painful personal…