Daily Archives: November 15, 2012 - 5 results

My mom, who’s in her 70s and in great health, lives in New Jersey. Like many East Coast residents, she was hit hard by the recent one-two punch of Hurricane Sandy followed by a Nor’easter blizzard. Fortunately, she’s also well prepared not only for weather woes, but also for healthcare emergencies. Stuck to her refrigerator is a plastic pouch that contains several important documents, including a list of emergency contacts, basic medical information and her living will. Known as a …

Two men robbing an Open Pantry store in Madison, Wis., in October escaped, but with less money than they came with. The lead thief grabbed a handful of cash that the clerk had been counting when the pair entered. The clerk pleaded, then sternly demanded that the man give back the money. The thief thought for a moment, became remorseful, threw all the money in his pocket to the floor, and fled. The clerk told police that when she re-counted …

Many homeowners may just be starting the insurance claims process after Hurricane Sandy’s visit to the east coast that left over 100 dead and millions more displaced or without electricity. After surveying the wreckage, it’s time to get down to the business of figuring out how to navigate the complicated world of insurance. Step one is to document everything you can and call your insurers to start the process moving — make sure to know your policies in advance and …

Having already shelled out billions to cover personal injury claims based on the dangerous side effects of Vioxx, Merck & Co. Inc. is now getting nailed for consumer fraud and deceptive marketing practices in connection with the anti-inflammatory drug that was prescribed to treat arthritis. Merck and the lawyers for the plaintiffs in a Missouri class action announced on Nov. 1 that the drug maker will pay $39 million to settle claims that it promoted and sold Vioxx in violation …

The election is finally over, and President Obama’s victory and upcoming second term in office mean that his signature Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, will be fully enacted by 2014. The implementation of the law will mean big changes and potentially big savings for Medicaid, the nation’s public health insurance plan for low-income families. The biggest change is the most obvious — Medicaid rolls could be expanded by as many as 17 million people across the …