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Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

Evaluator To Help Choose A Doctor

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FEATURE
For each feature, read the description.
IMPORTANCE
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Enter Plan Name

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RATE how well each plan meets your needs.
Board Certification

Is the doctor certified with respect to education and experience in the medical specialty you need by a board of peers? Even general doctors can be certified. Their specialty is known as "Internist." (Certification can be checked at www.abms.org. Click on "Consumers")
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Excellent = Board Certified in the medical speciality you need.
Average = Board Certified, but not in the specialty you need
Poor = Not Board Certified

Hospital Affiliation

A doctor's arrangement with a hospital is known as "affiliation." A doctor can only admit patients to hospitals with which he or she is affiliated. Is the doctor affiliated with a hospital thatyou would want to use if you need out patient services or to be hospitalized?
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Excellent = Hospital has a variety of Board Certified Specialists, known for excellent care, and have a low infection rate.
Medium = Hospital does not have a large breadth or depth of Board Certified Specialists, care is adequate, infection rate is average.
Poor = Hospital does not have Board Certified Specialists, care is not adequate and infection rate is high.

Medical School

Great doctors come from all kinds of schools.
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Insurance [For people with Health Insurance, Medicare or Medicaid (Medi-cal in California)]

Some health insurance plans require that you only see doctors which are affliated with the plan. Others pay less for services by doctors who are not affiliated with the plan.
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Excellent = Doctor accepts insurance payments in full
Average = Doctor accepts insurance payment and charges you a co-pay or co-insurance amount
Poor = Doctror does not accept your insurance

Payment [For people who do not have health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid (Medi-cal in California)]

Payment includes such factors as: - How much the doctor charges - Whether the doctor will negotiate the amount - Whether the doctor will accept a payment plan - Interest the doctor charges on outstanding debts
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Excellet = Lower charges than average for your location, the doctor negotiates fees and has a generous payment plan to allow payment over time
Average = Charges average for your location, negotiates fees, may or may not have a payment plan
Poor = Charges more than average for your location, doesn't negotiate, no payment plan

Uninsured

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Studies indicate that Board Certified doctors have better results.
Better hospitals have more qualified specialists in the event unexpected problems occur. They also have lower rates of life-threatening infections. If you have cancer, NCI certified Comprehensive Cancer Centers have better outcomes.
Depending on your financial situation, whether a doctor accepts your health insurance can be the determining factor in whether you can afford health care.
If you have to pay for health care from your own pocket, how much the doctor charges and whether he or she accepts payment can be Essential