Co-Pay Assistance: What It Is and How It Works

Co-Pay Assistance: What It Is and How It Works

What is a co-pay assistance program? What happens if a patient can’t afford to pay for their co-pay? Co-pay assistance programs provide financial help for under-insured patients with life-threatening medical conditions. When patients can’t afford to pay their co-pays, they can still get the required treatment through a non-profit program. Here is how co-pay assistance programs work.

Brené Brown’s Guidepost #7: Work, Rest, and Play

Brené Brown’s Guidepost #7:  Work, Rest, and Play

Why is it important to balance work, rest, and play? How can you overcome the pressure to be productive? In her book The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown explains that embracing rest and play is a crucial part of living Wholeheartedly. Refusing to engage in play and rest can lead to depression and has been linked to serious health conditions. Learn why you should leave “hustle culture” behind and learn to balance work, rest, and play.

Healthcare System Comparison: The U.S. vs. the World

Healthcare System Comparison: The U.S. vs. the World

How does the American healthcare system compare to other developed countries? Why is healthcare so expensive in America? Generally, healthcare systems in other countries show better quality for a lower cost compared to the United States. Despite the high amounts Americans spend on healthcare, it’s never quite clear what they are paying for—the medical outcomes are mediocre at best. This article takes a look at healthcare system comparison between the United States and several other developed countries, ranging in the degree of government intervention.

Healthcare Conglomerates and the Pricing Effect

Healthcare Conglomerates and the Pricing Effect

How do healthcare conglomerates work in America? What effect do they exert on the pricing of drugs in the United States? In the United States, healthcare systems in local regions have consolidated to provide negotiating power against employers and insurers—this has resulted in the pricing effect. Studies show that healthcare conglomerates in concentrated markets cause prices to increase by over 20%. Keep reading to learn about the rise of healthcare conglomerates and their implications for the United States healthcare market.

The U.S. Medical Device Industry: Behind the Scenes

The U.S. Medical Device Industry: Behind the Scenes

How does the medical device industry work in the United States? Who are its main players? How much market share do they have? The United States medical device industry is dominated by a few major players: Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, Stryker, and Zimmer Biomet. Like other segments of healthcare, they have consolidated over time. Here is a brief overview of the United States medical device industry.

The Disadvantages of Living Alone: Handling Solitude

The Disadvantages of Living Alone: Handling Solitude

What are the disadvantages of living alone? What are some things you can do to enjoy solitude rather than drowning in it? It can be easy to feel empty and aimless when you live alone and leisure activities such as watching television can make it feel worse. If you can learn to enjoy solitude by developing new skills and abilities, you will be much happier. Keep reading to learn how to enjoy your solitude rather than wallowing in it.

The U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry—Explained

The Three Reasons Why Antidepressants Don't Work

What is the market share of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry? How does the U.S. pharmaceuticals market compare to single-payer systems? The U.S. is the largest market for pharmaceuticals, capturing the dominant market share in the world. In the U.S., Medicare is legally prohibited from negotiating prices with pharmaceutical companies. In contrast, single-payer systems like that in the UK have more leverage to choose a subset of drugs to support and squeeze prices down.  Keep reading to learn about the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, its history, and its drug approval process.

A Look Into the History of Health Insurance in America

A Look Into the History of Health Insurance in America

What is the history of the health insurance industry in America? How did the early health insurance policies work? Health insurance as we know it today didn’t really exist until the beginning of the twentieth century. The earliest health insurance policies compensated people for income lost while they were sick. Some employers also paid for doctors to be on retainer to care for employees, since long illness absences were a problem. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of health insurance in America and how it got to where it is today.

Anxious Avoidant Relationships: The Worst Combo

Anxious Avoidant Relationships: The Worst Combo

Why should you avoid an anxious-avoidant relationship? Why do relationships between anxious and avoidant attachers often fail? What signs should you look out for? When anxious attachers and avoidant attachers get into a relationship, conflict is inevitable. In the best case, the relationship is a rollercoaster ride, and in the worst cases, the relationship leads to abuse. Keep reading to learn why anxious-avoidant relationships should be given a wide berth.