Tag:

Health Insurance

Ridgewood
News
What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic? Bergen County Docs Explain What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic? Bergen County Docs Explain
What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic? Bergen County Docs Explain So, you've been on Ozempic or Wegovy for some time.  You're seeing the desired results, and you're ready to come off.  Will you regain the weight? Will prior risk factors return? If so, how quickly? According to Dr. Hans Schmidt, the director of the Center for Weight Loss and Metabolic Health for Hackensack Meridian Health, coming off Ozempic is much like coming off a crash diet. "Once you take away whatever medication is working so well, most people will gain the weight back," Schmidt said. "Often more than they’ve lost." Ozempic is a GLP1, a naturally occurring molecule relea…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Ocean
Obituaries
South Toms River Mom Kate Herdman Dies After Valiant Brain Cancer Battle South Toms River Mom Kate Herdman Dies After Valiant Brain Cancer Battle
South Toms River Mom Kate Herdman Dies After Valiant Brain Cancer Battle A family is mourning the death of a Monmouth County mother who died from brain cancer less than a week after her birthday. Kathryn "Kate" Herdman was diagnosed with "an aggressive terminal grade-four glioblastoma tumor" in November 2023, according to a memorial fundraiser on GoFundMe. Her obituary said the South Toms River woman died at 36 years old on Monday, Feb. 12. On the GoFundMe page, Kate's husband Jesse Hardman said the family's health insurance was "wrongfully terminated" a few weeks before her death. "Some of Kate’s healthcare providers were asking me if I was ready to pay out of…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Union
Neighbors
Support Swells For Union County's 'Queen Of Dunkin' Battling Cancer Support Swells For Union County's 'Queen Of Dunkin' Battling Cancer
Support Swells For Union County's 'Queen Of Dunkin' Battling Cancer Customers at the Dunkin' on Mountain Avenue in Springfield can always count on Maria Urmatan. She knows everyone's name and order and greets patrons with a smile and a greeting. But Urmatan is currently in the fight for his life. Diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, Urmatan, recently finished chemotherapy and will have a double mastectomy on Thursday, Feb. 15. Urmatan does not have health insurance. "Treatment for her cancer is going to ruin her family financially," Denyce Yannazzone, who organized a fundraiser for Urmatan said.  As of Monday, Feb. 12, more than $32,200 has been ra…

SHARE

by Sam Barron
Stamford
News
Stamford Woman Accused Of Ripping Off Medicaid For Thousands Stamford Woman Accused Of Ripping Off Medicaid For Thousands
Stamford Woman Accused Of Ripping Off Medicaid For Thousands A Fairfield County woman who worked as a personal care service staff was charged with billing Medicaid for personal care services while the client was incarcerated or inpatient. Latasia Robertson, age 30, of Stamford, was arrested Wednesday, Dec. 6, by Inspectors from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.  She was charged with larceny by defrauding a public community and health insurance fraud, said the Chief State's Attorney Office. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, between August 2021 and March 2022, Robertson billed for support servic…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Essex NJ
Neighbors
Newark Rallies To Help Longtime Resident Get Back On His Feet Newark Rallies To Help Longtime Resident Get Back On His Feet
Newark Rallies To Help Longtime Resident Get Back On His Feet Kenneth Pope has spent the last year and a half fighting for his health. The longtime Newark resident, who is affectionally known as Ken Love or Pope, has been dealing with health issues related to diabetes and issues with his kidneys since Dec. 2021. He has spent 28 years as a track supervisor for the MTA. Pope's health issues have forced him to have to relearn how to walk again. A fundraiser has been created to assist Pope with his medical expenses, most of which are not covered by insurance. As of Thursday, July 20, more than $10,000 has been raised. Pope is hoping to use the money to h…

SHARE

by Sam Barron
Essex NJ
Neighbors
Essex County Girl With Neurological Disorder Sees Community Support Essex County Girl With Neurological Disorder Sees Community Support
Essex County Girl With Neurological Disorder Sees Community Support Kayla Burrowes' life has been turned upside down as she battles the effects of Functional Neurological Disorder. The West Orange native's medical journey began when she contracted covid-19 and she soon began to have persistent dizziness, severe headaches and bouts of nausea and vomiting. After weeks of testing, Burrowes was diagnosed with the disorder and has been going to a children's hospital for treatment. She has been forced to miss school and is continuing to deal with fatigue and dizziness. The family is seeking the help of a doctor in Michigan who has successfully treated other peop…

SHARE

by Sam Barron
Middlesex MA
Lifestyle
This County Was Named The Second-Healthiest In Massachusetts This County Was Named The Second-Healthiest In Massachusetts
This County Was Named The Second-Healthiest In Massachusetts The state of Massachusetts beat the national average for many indicators of heath in a new study by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, but Middlesex is one of the counties that stood out even more.  Middlesex scored second-highest in Massachusetts on the eight composite categories measured for a healthy population, according to data released on Wednesday, March 29 by the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Nantucket scored the number one position on the list, getting high marks in th…

SHARE

by Morgan Gonzales
Warren Hunterdon
News
Support Surges For Lambertville Father, Furniture Store Owner After Series Of Strokes At 59 Support Surges For Lambertville Father, Furniture Store Owner After Series Of Strokes At 59
Support Surges For Lambertville Father, Furniture Store Owner After Series Of Strokes At 59 Support is on the rise for a 59-year-old Lambertville father and furniture store founder who suffered a series of strokes. Anthony Lukas, who founded N. Union Street’s of Iron & Oak with Mary Beth Barenborg, may be considered a “tall dude in a cowboy hat” — but he’s also a “force of nature.” At least, that’s how his many compassionate friends and supporters describe him in a GoFundMe created in early March after his heartbreaking medical episode. “Whether it’s strapping a sofa to his back and climbing a ladder to deliver it to a second story room, literally saving a man’s life, helpin…

SHARE

by Valerie Musson
Suffolk MA
News
Boston-Area Nurse Needs Helping Hand As She Recovers From Summer Stroke Boston-Area Nurse Needs Helping Hand As She Recovers From Summer Stroke
Boston-Area Nurse Needs Helping Hand As She Recovers From Summer Stroke A 58-year-old woman who has spent most of her life helping others heal needs people to return the favor as she recovers from a stroke from earlier this year, according to her family. Doreen Barker suffered a "massive, right-sided stroke" that landed her in critical care at Mass General Hospital in July, her family wrote on a GoFundMe page. Barker, who worked as a registered nurse for over a decade, is now going through rehab while under her family's care. "Doreen has a long road ahead of her," the page reads. "She has limited speech and paralysis in her right arm and leg and cannot wal…

SHARE

by David Cifarelli
New Rochelle
Lifestyle
Why The Flu Shot Is Important Why The Flu Shot Is Important
Why The Flu Shot Is Important Every year, flu vaccination prevents illness, medical visits, hospitalization, and death. Getting the flu shot is also an important preventive tool for people with chronic health conditions. So, if you haven’t had your flu shot yet this year, make an appointment today! Why get the flu shot? The seasonal flu vaccine (flu shot) is the best way to help protect against the flu. No two flu seasons are the same, and the flu can affect people in different ways. When you get the flu shot, you are lowering your risk of getting the flu and having to go to the hospital. Flu risk factors: If …

SHARE

Content Partner: Sun River Health
Alexandria
News
Good Samaritan From VA In Vegetative State After Motorcycle Accident In Peru Good Samaritan From VA In Vegetative State After Motorcycle Accident In Peru
Good Samaritan From VA In Vegetative State After Motorcycle Accident In Peru Benjamin Jung has not woken up since January. Jung and his wife, Emily Van De Ven, were on a volunteer trip in Peru, far from their life in Virginia, when Jung was in a terrible accident on his motorcycle, according to NBC4 Washington.  Ben's Condition GoFundMe Page by Emily Van De Ven Van De Ven started a GoFundMe page to pay for Jung's "astronomical" medical bills, while he remains in his vegetative state, she said.  "The doctors have not approved Ben for transfer back to the US because it is too dangerous. I am paying lawyers in Peru and in the US. The stress and pressure of being a…

SHARE

by AJ Goldbloom
Union
News
NJ Pharmacist Needed Double Lung Transplant But Insurance Denied It — Now He's Gone NJ Pharmacist Needed Double Lung Transplant But Insurance Denied It — Now He's Gone
NJ Pharmacist Needed Double Lung Transplant But Insurance Denied It — Now He's Gone John Jukić's family says he would still be alive today had his insurance company granted him the double lung transplant he needed back in April. The 46-year-old Clark dad and Colonia pharmacist suffered lung damage from COVID-19 he contracted last October, and needed a double lung transplant. His only hope was a double lung transplant, his wife Mirla said. However, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois apparently denied him the life-saving treatment, and while his family was in the process of appealing the decision, John on Monday, June 13. Blue Cross Blue Shield did not immediately resp…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Bucks
News
Bucks County Woman Left With 'Serious Injuries' After Dog Attack: GoFundMe Bucks County Woman Left With 'Serious Injuries' After Dog Attack: GoFundMe
Bucks County Woman Left With 'Serious Injuries' After Dog Attack: GoFundMe A Pennsylvania woman was seriously injured after a dog attack, loved ones said. Now, she needs help covering unexpected medical bills. Jordan Wilson, of Bucks County, was bitten by a mastiff dog and suffered facial injuries that will necessitate several surgeries over the next six months, including a skin graft to her nose, according to a GoFundMe. Wilson, on the other hand, is unable to cover medical costs because she turned 26 in early April and is no longer covered by her parents' health insurance, her mom, Melissa Wilson said. According to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Penns…

SHARE

by Nicole Acosta
Saddle Brook-Elmwood Park
News
Efforts To Find Kidney For North Jersey Grandma Intensify Efforts To Find Kidney For North Jersey Grandma Intensify
Efforts To Find Kidney For North Jersey Grandma Intensify Several years have passed since a North Jersey man began a tireless campaign to find a kidney donor for his grandmother. But TJ Sullivan isn't giving up. Theresa Labarck, 69, of Wayne "is one of the strongest women I know," said Sullivan, of Saddle Brook. "Her positive attitude and determination to stick around for her family has kept her alive this long." It's also kept Sullivan pursuing all avenues to keep the spotlight on LaBarck -- aka "Mommom" -- who for the past three decades has lived with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). His efforts include a recently-launched GoFundMe campaign to…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
Morris
News
Morris County Cyclist Thrown 30 Feet In Brutal Crash Suffers Traumatic Brain Injury Morris County Cyclist Thrown 30 Feet In Brutal Crash Suffers Traumatic Brain Injury
Morris County Cyclist Thrown 30 Feet In Brutal Crash Suffers Traumatic Brain Injury A Morris County cyclist suffered a traumatic brain injury and several broken bones after he was struck by a car. Jim Rooney, of Mendham, was out taking a 30-mile bike ride on Dec. 26 when he was hit by a car despite having the right of way, according to a GoFundMe launched for his medical expenses. Rooney was thrown 30 feet during the crash, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury and serious orthopedic injuries, including several broken bones, the fundraiser says. Rooney was taken to Morristown Medical Center, where he remained in the ICU for about two weeks before being transferred to …

SHARE

by Valerie Musson
Englewood
Business
Englewood Health Opens Urgent Care Center Englewood Health Opens Urgent Care Center
Englewood Health Opens Urgent Care Center Englewood Health has opened a new urgent care center. Located at 35 Nathaniel Pl., in Englewood, Englewood Health Urgent Care at Englewood provides adult and pediatric urgent and non-urgent medical care seven days a week, with extended weekday and weekend hours available.  At Englewood Health Urgent Care at Englewood, healthcare providers are available to assist with illnesses and injuries; pre-employment, school, and camp physicals; lab tests; X-rays; vaccinations; and other urgent and routine care. The center, located at 35 Nathaniel Place in Englewood, is open Monday through Friday …

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Hudson
News
Community Rallies For Injured North Bergen Police Officer As Fiancé Battles Brain Tumor Community Rallies For Injured North Bergen Police Officer As Fiancé Battles Brain Tumor
Community Rallies For Injured North Bergen Police Officer As Fiancé Battles Brain Tumor The migraines, seizures and dizziness Isabel Cucalon thought were symptoms of stress turned out to be something much worse: A brain tumor. The Ridgefield Park mom has had three surgeries this year to correct damage endured during the birth of her second child with fiancé Nelson Roman, since early 2021. Isabel Cucalon and Nelson Roman with their kids.GoFundMe photo Meanwhile, Roman injured his shoulder while on duty as a police officer in North Bergen. So when doctors told Cucalon that what she was experiencing was simply from stress, she believed it. But last month, when she was refer…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Orangetown
Politics
Rockland Democrats Decide On County Executive Candidate Rockland Democrats Decide On County Executive Candidate
Rockland Democrats Decide On County Executive Candidate A longtime lawyer and activist announced that she will be throwing her hat in the ring to challenge Rockland County Executive Ed Day, becoming the first - and possibly only - Democrat to do so. Attorney L'Tanya Watkins, a Spring Valley resident, announced that she plans to run against Day, a two-term Republican, after submitting a petition with nearly 1,500 signatures to qualify to run on the Democratic and Working Families lines. The number of signatures Watkins secured was more than double what's required to run for county executive in Rockland. “We need a County Executive here in Rockla…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Worcester
News
Audit: $800K Suspiciously Spent By County Retirement Board On Raises, Travel, Scams, More Audit: $800K Suspiciously Spent By County Retirement Board On Raises, Travel, Scams, More
Audit: $800K Suspiciously Spent By County Retirement Board On Raises, Travel, Scams, More Some people are calling for the Chairman of the regional retirement board to resign after an audit found hundreds of thousands of dollars in suspicious expenditures - including $250,000 for “search engine optimization” on a state-run website. Other details that emerged from the audit include: Suspicious travel expenses on Cape Cod, Spending about $450,000 on health insurance and wages for two part-time attorneys who did not qualify for the benefit, and a raise for the chairman that no one seems to have authorized. The issue has been reported to enforcement agencies, said the audit’s auth…

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini
Hampden
Police & Fire
Bargain Ambulance Rides For $40 Via Unique Subscription Bargain Ambulance Rides For $40 Via Unique Subscription
Bargain Ambulance Rides For $40 Via Unique Subscription Ludlow is offering a unique deal on future emergency ambulance rides. For a $40 per year subscription, a household can be assured that they won’t have to pay anything out-of-pocket for using the town's emergency ambulance services. Ludlow’s offer stands out amid an uncertain emergency services landscape where a person cannot be assured ahead of time whether their health insurance - if they have any - will be accepted by an ambulance provider. Surprise emergency medical bills have become a problem for many Americans.  In almost 80 percent of scenarios, an emergency ambulance ride lead…

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini
Hartford
News
COVID-19: No Barriers To Free Testing In Connecticut COVID-19: No Barriers To Free Testing In Connecticut
Covid-19: No Barriers To Free Testing In Connecticut Connecticut is offering completely free COVID-19 testing to anyone showing symptoms of having the virus. While many health insurance providers are covering testing and states have established programs to offset out-of-pocket costs for many people, Connecticut is guaranteeing free testing regardless of the ability to pay or immigration status if you show symptoms. Connecticut’s health insurance program, HUSKY Health, is covering the costs of testing for anyone not covered through normal health insurance. While free testing is available to all Connecticut residents, it isn’t available at ev…

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini
Hackensack
Police & Fire
‘Patient Brokers' Admit Bribing, Flying NJ Drug Addicts To Cali Rehab Clinics ‘Patient Brokers' Admit Bribing, Flying NJ Drug Addicts To Cali Rehab Clinics
‘Patient Brokers' Admit Bribing, Flying NJ Drug Addicts To Cali Rehab Clinics UPDATE: Two out-of-state men admitted paying “recruiters” to bribe drug addicts in New Jersey to go to rehab centers that they got business from -- some of which were as far as California. Seth Logan Welsh, 26, of Forest Hill, MD, and John C. Devlin, 33, of Baltimore told a U.S. District judge in Trenton via teleconference that they hired a Red Bank bank man, among others, to carry out the scheme so they could collect referral fees from the rehab centers. That man, Peter Costas, paid addicts several thousand dollars to use specific rehab centers in New Jersey and other states -- whether th…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
Hudson
News
North Bergen Mom In Coma More Than Month After Emergency C-Section, Heart Attack North Bergen Mom In Coma More Than Month After Emergency C-Section, Heart Attack
North Bergen Mom In Coma More Than Month After Emergency C-Section, Heart Attack A North Bergen baby has yet to meet her mom, who remains in a coma more than a month after an emergency C-section and heart attack that left her in a coma. More than $53,900 had been raised on a GoFundMe as of Wednesday morning for Estefania Mesa and her partner Eduardo Argueta, who welcomed baby Emma into the world July 20. Mesa went in for an emergency C-section after feeling contractions, and soon after went into cardiac arrest, according to the GoFundMe, launched by Jennifer Romero. "The lack of oxygen to her brain has now placed her in a coma," Romero wrote. "The doctors believe …

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Hampshire Franklin MA
News
COVID-19: Where To Get Tested In Hampshire County COVID-19: Where To Get Tested In Hampshire County
Covid-19: Where To Get Tested In Hampshire County The number of places providing COVID-19 testing has expanded over the last week as Massachusetts and surrounding states pass travel restrictions for people coming in from out of state. A lot of testing places will provide free tests to people with no health care insurance, according to the Massachusetts COVID-19 online resource center. Some places require an appointment to take a test; it’s best to call ahead. Depending on the kind of test a person gets - SARS Antigen, PCR or anti-body - makes a difference as to whether a health care insurance provider will cover the cost or not. It also m…

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini
Worcester
Business
MassHealth Initiates Plan To Cut Off Worcester Nursing Home Due To Poor Care MassHealth Initiates Plan To Cut Off Worcester Nursing Home Due To Poor Care
MassHealth Initiates Plan To Cut Off Worcester Nursing Home Due To Poor Care A Worcester nursing home is among three facilities MassHealth is threatening to cut off due to alleged poor performance. Hermitage Healthcare in Worcester, as well as Town and Country in Lowell, and Wareham Healthcare in Wareham, were issued initial termination notices Monday, Aug. 3, according to the Boston Business Journal. The notice is the first step in the process to close a facility off from the state health insurance program for low-income families and those with disabilities. If MassHealth would cut off the facilities, it means that MassHealth would not pay for any of its clients to…

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini
Litchfield
Business
COVID-19: Retail Workers Across Country Stage 'Sickout' COVID-19: Retail Workers Across Country Stage 'Sickout'
Covid-19: Retail Workers Across Country Stage 'Sickout' Employees at some of the nation’s largest retailers are staging a one-day “sickout” strike on International Workers Day to protest conditions during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Hundreds of workers at Amazon warehouses, Target, Whole Foods, and employee shoppers at Instacart and Shipt called in sick on Friday, May 1 in protest of what they described as inadequate safety precautions during the pandemic. According to Target Workers Unite!, which organized the sickout, “foot traffic and guest behavior have been atrocious, putting us at needless risk when greater safety measures are…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Fort Lee
News
MTA Agrees To $500,000 Coronavirus Death Benefit MTA Agrees To $500,000 Coronavirus Death Benefit
MTA Agrees To $500,000 Coronavirus Death Benefit The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Transport Workers Union Local 100 and the Transport Workers Union of America announced an agreement Tuesday establishing a COVID-19 death benefit for TWU members who died after being infected.  Under the agreement, the MTA will pay $500,000 in a lump sum to the spouse, beneficiary or estate of each deceased member in active service on or after Feb. 1, 2020, Local 100 in Brooklyn reported.  "Transportation workers are the heroes moving heroes of this public health crisis, continuing to get healthcare workers, first responders and other ess…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
East Dutchess
Lifestyle
Top Five Things To Know About Virtual Visits With YOUR Doctor: An Update From CareMount Medical Top Five Things To Know About Virtual Visits With YOUR Doctor: An Update From CareMount Medical
Top Five Things To Know About Virtual Visits With Your Doctor: An Update From CareMount Medical Now, more than ever, having the option to “see” your own physician virtually instead of going into an office is key in order to practice social distancing. When deciding to do a virtual visit as opposed to an in-person visit, there are many factors to consider—from who the doctor is, to managing your health records, and more. Not all telehealth platforms are the same, so think about the following when deciding if a virtual visit is right for you.  1. Visit with Your Provider: Many telehealth companies offer virtual visits with a doctor, but not necessarily your doctor. With CareMount M…

SHARE

Content Partner: CareMount Medical
Putnam
Lifestyle
Top Five Things To Know About Virtual Visits With YOUR Doctor: An Update From CareMount Medical Top Five Things To Know About Virtual Visits With YOUR Doctor: An Update From CareMount Medical
Top Five Things To Know About Virtual Visits With Your Doctor: An Update From CareMount Medical Now, more than ever, having the option to “see” your own physician virtually instead of going into an office is key in order to practice social distancing. When deciding to do a virtual visit as opposed to an in-person visit, there are many factors to consider—from who the doctor is, to managing your health records, and more. Not all telehealth platforms are the same, so think about the following when deciding if a virtual visit is right for you.  1. Visit with Your Provider: Many telehealth companies offer virtual visits with a doctor, but not necessarily your doctor. With CareMount M…

SHARE

Content Partner: CareMount Medical
Armonk
Lifestyle
Top Five Things To Know About Virtual Visits With YOUR Doctor: An Update From CareMount Medical Top Five Things To Know About Virtual Visits With YOUR Doctor: An Update From CareMount Medical
Top Five Things To Know About Virtual Visits With Your Doctor: An Update From CareMount Medical Now, more than ever, having the option to “see” your own physician virtually instead of going into an office is key in order to practice social distancing. When deciding to do a virtual visit as opposed to an in-person visit, there are many factors to consider—from who the doctor is, to managing your health records, and more. Not all telehealth platforms are the same, so think about the following when deciding if a virtual visit is right for you.  1. Visit with Your Provider: Many telehealth companies offer virtual visits with a doctor, but not necessarily your doctor. With CareMount M…

SHARE

Content Partner: CareMount Medical
South Passaic
Police & Fire
Paterson Family Physician Charged With Illegally Prescribing Percocet Paterson Family Physician Charged With Illegally Prescribing Percocet
Paterson Family Physician Charged With Illegally Prescribing Percocet A Paterson family physician sold Percocet prescriptions without a legitimate medical purpose, authorities charged. Mahesh Mehta, 65, was named in an indictment returned by a state grand jury in Trenton charging him with illegally selling controlled dangerous substances. Deputy Attorney General Fernando D. Maldonado presented the case to the grand jury, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Wednesday. Detective Celeste Dowd coordinated the investigation, he said. Anyone with information about health insurance cheating or medical fraud can report it anonymously by calling a toll-free hotlin…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco