Don't Let Your HMO Kill You : How to Wake Up Your Doctor, Take Control of Your Health, and Make Managed Care Work for You [Paperback]

Dr. Jason Theodosakis (Author), David T. Feinberg (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415924820 | ISBN-13: 978-0415924825 | Publication Date: January 2000 | Edition: 1

More than 60% of Americans with medical insurance are enrolled in HMO's, but few are happy about it. Procedures are denied, doctors are rushed, patients are frustrated--it seems as if everyone has an HMO nightmare story to tell. Now two accomplished doctors, including the author of the New York Times bestseller The Arthritis Cure, offer readers an invaluable guide to understanding, dealing with, and getting the most out of their physicians and HMO's.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A realistic guide for troubled times... -- Kirkus Reviews
Don't Let Your HMO Kill You is a patient's best 'body armor' for the health care wars. -- Dr. Ronald Hoffman, author of Intelligent Medicine, host of Health Talk
A must-read for every doctor or patient associated with an HMO. -- Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD, author of Brain Longevity and The Pain Cure, president of the Alzheimer's Prevention Foundation
This book belongs in every household in America. It shows how you can improve your health by being actively in charge with your doctor as your partner. If you have only one medical self help book--this is the one! -- Herschella Horton, RN, House of Representatives (AZ)
A remarkable book and potent survival tool for navigating the uncertain and potentially adversarial waters of American health care. Every family must have a copy of this book! -- Gideon Bosker, author of Laughter Is the Best Medicine
This book guides you through the maze of acronyms and tells you how to get the most from your 10-minute doctor's visit by building a rapport with you physician, as well as doing your homework beforehand. -- Taste for Life
Theodosakis and Feinberg empower readers to gain quality care from their 10-minute doctor visit...[they] lay bare the truths of managed care while deciphering terms, clarifying billing procedures, and teaching patients to be proactive about their health. Preventative medicine, children's care and mental health services are discussed in depth. -- Publisher's Weekley

About the Author

Jason Theodosakis is a practicing MD and medical school professor with specialties in preventive medicine, public health, and exercise physiology. He is the author of the national bestseller The Arthritis Cure and Maximizing the Arthritis Cure. David T. Feinberg is an MD specializing in HMO management. He is the co-author of Emotional Blackmail and When Your Lover Is a Liar.

Product Details

• Paperback: 335 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415924820
• ISBN-13: 978-0415924825
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,996,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help with the HMO maze, March 20, 2000

By 

Judith Horstman (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don't Let Your HMO Kill You : How to Wake Up Your Doctor, Take Control of Your Health, and Make Managed Care Work for You (Paperback)

This book is full of great advice for all of us who have been frustrated by dealing with an HMO. It lays out the reasons why managed care has problems, and then explains in plain language how to get good health care from a system that isn't set up to be patient-friendly. There are really good tips on how to get the most out of your plan. Instead of focusing on what's wrong, Drs Theodosakis and Feinberg tell you what you can do to make it work. They are especially good on telling how to build good relationships with the health professionals that you have to depend on within the HMO system.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for people with health insurance, March 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Don't Let Your HMO Kill You : How to Wake Up Your Doctor, Take Control of Your Health, and Make Managed Care Work for You (Paperback)

As a physician who has dealt with many HMOs, I believe this will become the premier guide for people to get the best care out of whatever system they're using. It is about time someone put all of the secrets and resources in one place. Medicine has changed significantly in the last few years - right under the noses of most patients and doctors. It's caused frustration as quality care has diminished. This book will help you get back in charge. I think it should be given out by insurance plans as a guide to how patients should use the system. Congrats to the authors!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Care Package for Patients, March 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Don't Let Your HMO Kill You : How to Wake Up Your Doctor, Take Control of Your Health, and Make Managed Care Work for You (Paperback)

Read this before you go to the doctor! It explains how to work with your doctors, rather than against them, to get the care you need. It points out why the red tape exists, why the doctors are bound by it, and how the two of you can get around it. This book should be issued to every patient. It will benefit doctors and patients alike.