4 HEALTH CARE CONSUMERISM Copy the notes only

#4: HEALTH CARE & CONSUMERISM Copy the notes (only what is typed in BLUE) in outline form as they are written on the slides.

I. Health Care A. Two types 1. general—provide routine & preventive care 2. specialized—medical doctors trained to handle certain kinds of patients or health conditions

(I. continued) B. Prepare for app’t. C. Medical histories include info. about 1. immunizations 2. health problems 3. health habits 4. health of family members D. On occasion, get a second opinion (especially when facing surgery or expensive &/or longlasting treatment) E. malpractice—failure of health prof. to meet accepted standards (gross negligence or abuse)

II. HEALTH FRAUD A. sale of worthless products/services that claim to prevent or cure health problems B. Some products particularly vulnerable --include 1. weight-loss 2. beauty 3. anti-aging

III. CONSUMERISM A. Consumers have the right to… 1. safety 2. choice 3. be informed 4. be heard 5. have problems corrected 6. consumer education

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(III. continued) B. Where to get help for problems with… 1. health prof. —American Medical Assoc. (AMA) or state licensing board 2. local merchants—Better Business Bureau (BBB) C. Other sources of help 1. consumer advocates 2. Federal Trade Commission— prevents false or misleading advertising 3. Food & Drug Administration—ensures safety of food, drugs, & cosmetics

IV. HEALTH INSURANCE A. premium=$ deducted from paycheck before taxes B. co-pay=$ paid by patient when he sees the doctor C. deductible=limit patient must pay before insurance will pay

V. FEDERAL PROGRAMS A. Medicare—for those 65+ or under 65 w/certain disabilities, such as endstate kidney disease B. Medicaid—low-income people, the blind & those w/other disabilities

WHAT I PAID THIS MONTH IN PREMIUMS RETIREMENT $326. 98 (Social Security for teachers) RETIREMENT MEDICAL $33. 21 (kicks in when I retire; goes away when I turn 65) MEDICAL INSURANCE $229. 00 (DISD pays $300 on TOP of this!) DENTAL $22. 38 Taxes Federal Tax $716. 31 Medicare $73. 33

DOL—MALPRACTICE OR FRAUD? 1. Michael Jackson’s private physician administered a medication to him at home that, according to FDA guidelines, must only be administered by an anesthesiologist in a hospital setting where a respirator and other medical equipment is available.

DOL—MALPRACTICE OR FRAUD? 2. An ad claims “Lipodissolve will melt your fat away. . . without surgery. . . without downtime. . . and with great results!” Reality Check: There are currently no FDA-approved injectible drugs to eliminate fat. Is Lipodissolve committing malpractice or fraud?

RIGHT OR NOT? 3. Joe bought an acne medication and used it according to the directions. It didn’t work for him, so he contacts the company for a refund. Does he have the legal right to a refund?

HEALTH INSURANCE INS & OUTS Each month, Hogwarts Independent School District deducts $229 from Ms. Septima Vector’s paycheck, which goes to her insurance company. Ms. Vector must pay a total of $2000 “out of her pocket” each year when she is ill and visits the doctor before the health insurance co. will pay any of her medical expenses. After that, Ms. Vector must pay $50 each time she visits the doctor, and the health ins. co. will pay the rest. 4. What is Ms. Vector’s deductible? 5. What is Ms. Vector’s copay? 6. What is Ms. Vector’s premium?

MEDICARE VS. MEDICAID 7. Moe is 45 years old and has been blind and deaf his entire life. He is unable to work a full-time job. For which government program is he most likely eligible? 8. Curley worked as a software engineer until he was 65. Because Curley is a retired person 65 years young, which government program most likely provides his health care coverage?