What happens if you need health care, but don’t have health insurance? Typically, you either pay the entire bill all by yourself, or you put off having the treatment that you need. Some hospitals are accepting “time credits” instead of insurance payments. This is a barter system. There is something innovative going on in Portland, Oregon. It is called The Portland Hour Exchange Program. The quickest way to explain it is to say that it works like a barter system. People do certain jobs, (like yard work), for someone else. The hours the person spends doing this work are called … Continue reading →

There seems to be a growing trend that could be seen as a positive thing, or a very negative thing, at the same time. Doctors, frustrated with dealing with health insurance companies, are opting out dealing with health insurance all together. Instead, they are providing “concierge care” for their patients, (who can afford to pay out of pocket for it). What happens to those who cannot pay those prices? Around 5,000 doctors, from all across the United States, have started providing what is being called “concierge care”. Surveys find that we can expect that number to increase, to quadruple, in … Continue reading →