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Description: The latest information, for free, on any health care related topic.

Reviews (4):

Don't buy--borrow it from the library
Reviewer: mst3k_junkie Charlotte, NC USA 08-30-2004
As a purchase, you would be sadly disappointed in this book. We've all seen Matthew Lesko running around like a fool, hawking his books. While I don't ever recall seeing a commercial for this one, I completely understand why.

A previous reviewer made the very sound point that this book is a decent starter for resources if you have ABSOLUTELY NO experience whatsoever in dealing with doctors and the world of medical treatment. However, you could easily get all of this information from your local librarian and an hour in the reference section. A call to your county health office would net you the same thing.

I give this book one star because it is the most low-level research I have ever witnessed in a sourcebook. The tips for getting information out of people are so terribly basic it's not even funny. "A positive attitude will encourage your source to...see what information he might have..." WOW! Can someone award this man a medal for Most Obvious Sentiment of the Year?

The book sets the reader to feel as though he will truly find some unexplored pathways to solving a problem, and that just does not happen. I found nothing in the entire book that gave me an "AHA Moment," meaning that none of his suggestions were new to me, and I venture they wouldn't be new to anyone else. While this isn't the author's fault, the material in this book is extremely date-sensitive, which is why the reader is better served using a city telephone directory or the internet.

Another problem: his case studies read more like urban legends--when he tells the success stories of using these methods and contacts, he mentions the subjects as "a woman" and "a man." For reasons of privacy, I can understand not using their full names, but the generic approach makes me circumspect about the value of the stories at all.

Bottom line--any money you thought you could save in buying this book will be a waste. Go see your tax dollars in action and borrow it from your local library.

Free Health Care and Prescription Drugs by Lesko et al.
Reviewer: Joseph S Maresca Bronxville, New York USA 08-20-2004
My reviewer colleagues have a point of criticism of this book.
The criticism concerns the rapidly changing government telephone
database. Some telephone number listings have changed since the
printing; however, the basic information contained in the book
provides a good pointer to very commendable government programs.

If you know little or nothing about health care, this book is a
good starter. For instance, the National Institutes of Health
has a program to take on new patients in connection with its
ongoing work and new clinical studies. The listing provides a
telephone contact number. If you qualify for admission, the cost
of the medical care delivery including the hospital stay can
be either zero or minimal. The patient referral line
links you to the clinical center; wherein, you or the physician
in charge of your case can discuss the entry protocol and
gain admission. The National Institutes of Health would be
a good referral for an elusive disease process where the diagnosis is difficult or the treatment is limited to pain and
suffering management. This volume provides you with an index
where free medical information may be obtained for a variety
of complex medical conditions. The authors list the drug manufacturers who provide the poor with low cost or no cost
medicine. Individual state programs are referenced. For instance,
New York has the Child Health and Family Health Plus Program.
The Hill Burton Program is another low cost or no cost program
designed to forgive mortgage loans to medical facilities in
exchange for free or low cost health services to the local
community. This book is invaluable provided you utilize it
in the proper context. It opens up new areas of medical treatment options and funding of those options .

Overall, the book is a good starting point for researching ways of covering your medical expenses at no cost or low cost. Oftentimes, medical research control groups go begging for patients and it's just a matter of connecting your needs with theirs. The book is an excellent value for the price charged.
Reading its contents may save your wallet and quality of life.

read several post l999
Reviewer: Joseph S Maresca 10-03-2000
I feel the same as your previous review. Info is out dated. Found many refer's. to be non-existant. If material is not annually updated the reader has little access to current phone numbers and orginazation info. I returned my books. (Not bought here.) Totally disappointed. Unless volumes are changed yearly....they have no business being sold for even near original cost. Would take weeks to sift through the info to find even a few sources that may or not may apply. Mr. Lesko is a good salesman. Too bad.Personally, I can find more on the computer or phone book with about as much effort.

Best bet: Sign up for health insurance..
Reviewer: Dr Eric H North Carolina 03-24-2000
Mr. Lesko has dooped the Medical community and his readers yet again..many sources are obsolete at its publication, many sources are just that: basic information listings such as the address and phone number for free and low-cost informational readings on common diseases for patients and their families...ie. The American Medical Association, the American Cancer Society...yet what I find most bewildering Mr. Lesko is how little you think of your reader's intelligence and practical sense of the world around...We have all dealt with Medical Insurance companies at one time and we have all had the common cold..Please don't offer medical advice or leads if you aren't an M.D. or health-care specialist..Maybe writing advertisements for a used car lot would suit you better...

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