Articles: Health

Dear Consumer Ed:  I live in a senior care facility. They are attempting to make me pay for services that I did not receive. What recourse do I have?

Dear Consumer Ed:  I can barely afford my monthly prescription medications. I’ve seen ads about online pharmacies that provide medications at a fraction of the price, but I don’t know how to tell if they are legitimate and safe to use. Please help.

Dear Consumer Ed:

Can a dentist retain a $4,000 deposit for services not rendered after an appointment was cancelled? I was not given prior indication that this deposit was non-refundable as they now claim.  

Dear Consumer Ed:  A medical provider recently sent me a statement for $14,850.00, with charges dating from four to six years ago. The provider never submitted the bills to my insurance company as it had done in the past. The charges are far outside my insurance company’s contracted time (60 days) for consideration. Now the medical provider is threatening to send my account to a collection agency. Am I legally required to pay the full amount of these medical costs under these circumstances?

Dear Consumer Ed:  Can a grocery store sell meat and other food without a date on it?

Dear Consumer Ed:  I need to get some more contact lenses, but my vision has changed since my last eye exam. I’ve heard about online and remote exams and thought this could be a convenient way to get a prescription while minimizing my risk of exposure to Covid-19. Are these exams accurate and legitimate?

Dear Consumer Ed:  Is it legal for pharmacies and doctors’ offices to require me to provide them with my date of birth? I’m told they can’t look up my file without it, but it seems like I’m giving out my DOB on a daily basis and I worry about identity theft. 

Dear Consumer Ed: I put a deposit down on summer camp for my kids six months ago. Now camp has been cancelled for health and safety reasons due to COVID-19, but they won’t give me a refund. What do I do?

Dear Consumer Ed:  A year ago I overpaid an ambulance service and am having a hard time getting the overpayment returned. I have called several times, but nothing has happened. What can I do?

Dear Consumer Ed:  Can grocery stores sell meat in vacuum-sealed plastic packages if the seal is broken?  I’ve noticed several big name stores that will offer manager’s specials for such products, but I thought it was illegal to sell them if the vacuum seal is broken.