National Health Care

Bad Medicine and Out-of-Control Health-Care Fraud

Phony patients, podiatry bills for footless amputees, and zombie doctors. Health-care fraud is costing us billions.

If a doctor orders too many tests and treatments, it can be easy to blame greed, or the fear of a malpractice suit. But blogging physician Jeffrey Parks argues that the problem has deeper roots.

Socialized Medicine: A Brief Look at Misconceptions

What does socialized medicine really mean?

Health Care: Fixing What's Wrong, Preserving What's Right

Can it be done? John Calfee says yes, just watch the incentives.

ResourcesFrom our Advertisers

The Latest in National Health Care
See All
1How to Talk Hospital
The Essential Hospital Handbook, by Patrick Conlon (Yale University Press, $18), covers every aspect of a visit: from the ER and surgery to intensive care and recovery.
2Cancer Screening: Doing More Harm than Good?
Screening tests can find cancer early -- so why do some experts say they can do more harm than good? Read this before your next mammogram, PSA test, or colonoscopy.
3Universal Health Care: The Diagnosis
Massachusetts put into practice the health care solution everyone is arguing about. Here's how it works and what it means for the rest of us.
418 Big Ideas to Fix Health Care Now
Our team interviewed dozens of experts dedicated to making America (and its health care system) healthier. Here, the best examples and how to make it happen.
5In Their Own Words
To gauge how today's youth will shape our upcoming election, Reader's Digest commissioned a poll that posed a broad range of questions about the political and personal views of young adults between the ages of 19 and 29.
6About Our Survey
Find out more about how we conducted our poll of young voters in the 2008 election.
7Prescription Drug Precautions
After a trend in recalled drugs, people are losing faith in the FDA. Find out how to ensure the safety of your prescriptions.
8Strong Medicine: What's Ailing the FDA?
Is America's consumer watchdog understaffed, overburdened, ethically challenged or merely misunderstood?
9One Drug, Many Tragedies
A doctor blows the whistle on a dangerous new drug that wrongfully received FDA approval.

25 Ways to Stop Smoking Cigarettes
25 Ways to stop smoking cigarettes and ways to quit smoking for good can help you towards a healthier, smoke-free life.
The Ultimate Sex Guide for Newlyweds
Every married couple faces concerns that can cool the hottest love life. Here's how to keep sex fun and fulfilling.
29 Ways to Slip in More Fiber
How to plant more "good carbs" into your diet.
How To Apply Epoxy Floor Paint To Your Garage
Step-by-step instructions for applying durable epoxy paint to your concrete garage floor.
911 Calls Gone Tragically Wrong
Wrong addresses, dismissive dispatchers, and crossed signals. Our police response system is in crisis, and the cost can be measured in lives.

See More Polls

Would you ever consider giving up your health insurance to save money?

See All
1 Do You Have a Good Relationship With Your Doctor?
Last post 09/27/2009, 2:55 PM EDT, 11 posts.
2 Ask Our Expert Your Heart Health Questions
Last post 09/27/2009, 12:01 PM EDT, 20 posts.
3 Have You Ever Had a Problem With a Prescription Drug?
Last post 09/27/2009, 1:27 AM EDT, 11 posts.
4 What Do You Want the Reader's Digest Version Of?
Last post 07/14/2009, 2:11 PM EDT, 9 posts.

Learn more about health care and health insurance.

See other topics in Issues and Ideas

Reader's Digest Around the World