Lerner's Consumer Guide to Health Care [Paperback]

Paul Lerner (Author), Julie Lerner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2000

Filled with tips and hints from experienced health-care activists, this guide advocates a new consumer revolution in medical care. This book includes sample letters, forms, checklists, and phrases that help patients beat the health-care bureaucracy. It teaches how to be a savvy consumer and reduce costs while still receiving high-quality care. Avoiding medical mistakes, getting referrals to the best specialists, and saving money on prescription drugs are common concerns that are addressed. Included are lists of health-related organizations, hotlines and help lines, state health and insurance departments, and a glossary of health-care terms.

Editorial Reviews

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.

Review

"A helpful, detailed book to help consumers confronting a health care system that often seems complicated, confusing, and uncaring." -- The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Lerner's Consumer Guide to Health Care is an invaluable tool." -- Barry Mitzman,

"This is a great book." -- Tom Pope, The Tom Pope Radio Show

"Well-conceived and finely executed...The writing style is clean and clear, and the appendices add almost forty pages of specific resources." -- FearlessBooks.com

"a 'must' for anyone having to deal with any aspect of the medical establishment in American health care today!" -- Internet Bookwatch

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Lerner Communications; 1st Edition, 1st Printing edition (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966999924
• ISBN-13: 978-0966999921
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,929,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive work and a great resource, July 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Lerner's Consumer Guide to Health Care (Paperback)

I saw the Lerners on The Today Show talking to Katie Couric and was impressed by what they said. I read their book and was even more impressed. I'll echo what a previous reviewer said -- this is a great resource.

5.0 out of 5 stars A guide to saving money and time, February 16, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lerner's Consumer Guide to Health Care (Paperback)

In today's every increasingly expensive and complex health care system, the consumer needs all the information possible to insure adequate medical care at an affordable price. Lerner's Consumer Guide To Health Care is just such a guide to saving money and time (as well as minimizing frustration and anxiety) when dealing with doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, and health care management (HMO) systems. By carefully reading what Paul and Julie Lerner have presented within these pages, anyone can save money on their medical care and prescription drugs regardless of their malady or situation; obtain the best treatment medicine has to offer even within a managed care system; avoid medical mistakes from happening within the context of their own treatment; acquire referrals to the right specialists; and profit from knowing what health care system managers never want you to learn. Lerner's Consumer Guide To Health Care is a "must" for anyone having to deal with any aspect of the medical establishment in American health care today!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource!, November 9, 2000

By 

kb6 "kb6" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lerner's Consumer Guide to Health Care (Paperback)

I was impressed with this book that allowed me to access, quickly and easily, information that might have taken me quite some time to track down. It's well organized and gives great referral information--for example, on 'risk pools' that was invaluable. Highly recommended.