DEAR HARRIETTE: Every time I go to the doctor’s office, they find something else wrong with me, and I have to get a battery of tests. I know that my doctor is trying to be thorough, but I can’t afford all of the tests. I do have insurance, but honestly it doesn’t cover everything, and I now have a pile of medical bills on top of my regular bills. I want to get my health in check, but I don’t know what to do. -- Health Scare, Boston
DEAR HEALTH SCARE: Check with your insurance to see if there are other medical care providers that are directly covered by them. The fees may be lower in that case. Look into getting supplemental insurance that will pay the percentage that your insurance may not cover. Request a payment plan for debt that you cannot manage.
(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)