Experts: ACA changes to hurt consumers in 2018
Consumers will be hurt by the Trump administration’s moves to change the Affordable Care Act (ACA), experts tell us.
Forty recommendations across 13 categories.
See our Best Buys in auto receivers, nav systems and more.
Manufacturers are producing more variations of existing models, and safety technology has been added.
Jan. 15, 2018—Automakers rolled out a bevy of updated models at the North American International Auto Show, as always.
Jan. 11, 2018—Perhaps the third time will be the charm for Honda Motor’s dedicated hybrid.
Today’s marketplace features microwaves that deliver connectivity and can be placed somewhere besides on your countertop.
Corded and cordless performance gaps narrowed.
No scientific evidence proves manufacturer's claims that extracted juices are better for you than is eating whole fruits and vegetables.
Aug. 31, 2017—Nest Labs is taking aim at a wider audience with its first new smart thermostat in 6 years.
Jan. 5, 2017—Two washers, two dryers, one laundry pair. Huh?
Manufacturers introduced two technologies that produce a wider range of brightness and color than ever before.
The hot new trend is mounts that tilt in all directions and move up and down, while costing consumers less than ever before.
Cellphone-service providers dangled a familiar term to describe their 2017 data plans. Consumers should proceed with caution.
Jan. 10, 2018—After covering the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for at least a decade, we’ve become a bit jaded with regard to the news that’s generated at the event.
Jan. 2, 2018—After a wave of criticism that included accusations of forcing customers to upgrade their cellphones, Apple lowered the price of replacement batteries on most of its iPhone models.
Consumers soon might see a Wi-Fi standard.
Gas fireplaces are more expensive than they were before because of the now-required safety barriers that prevent injury.
More storage options exist than ever before, so consumers can get even the most difficult items out of the way.
Oct. 25, 2017—If you’re concerned that “porch pirates” will steal delivered packages from your doorstep, Amazon.com has a solution—let its couriers enter your home to deliver the packages while you’re away.
Jan. 5, 2017—Typically, to buy a Craftsman product, you have to go to a Sears store. Soon, you’ll be able to buy Craftsman-branded products anywhere.
New medical devices provide innovative treatments for diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
A lack of clinical evidence exists.
Manufacturers add connectivity options to their products.
Nov. 14, 2017—Food and Drug Administration approved the first medication that tracks whether you took it.
Oct. 17, 2017—Consumers will be hurt by the Trump administration’s moves to change the Affordable Care Act (ACA), experts tell us. The only questions are by how much and whether that will change in the years ahead.
The cost for you to go on a cruise getaway remained relatively stable, but the industry still has strides that it must make in safety.
We evaluated 252 total models to identify 12 Best Buys.
New adventure bikes have extra-wide tires.
May 3, 2017—To our complete lack of surprise, airlines continue to stick it to consumers—even as Congress threatens to act if airlines don’t improve their customer service.
Nov. 17, 2016—Further evidence that no matter how bad that it gets when it comes to air travel, it always could get worse comes to us through United Airlines’ announcement of a reduced-fare class that comes with restrictions attached—the biggest being a limit on the size of carry-on luggage.
Experts say you should get your pet covered early in its life to ensure that it’s eligible for insurance at all.
More research is necessary to determine the long-term health effects of toxic chemicals that are in today’s pet toys.
Several factors might curtail the financial benefits that retiring abroad can provide.
March 6, 2017—We don’t doubt that a lack of online pricing information by funeral homes hurts consumers. Now we know just how much that it does.
Aug. 4, 2016—Mars Petcare, which makes Eukanuba brand dog food, has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges of false advertising.
Snowthrower technology has stormed in like a lion, but snowthrower prices have reacted like a lamb.
A new gas grill lets you use a mobile app to control mechanical gas valves. Also, digital grill thermometers are extended.
You’ll want more space and you’ll spend more money to add horizontal climbing bars to your playset.
April 12, 2017—It’s a debut that’s nearly 5 years in the making.
Jan. 5, 2017—Typically, to buy a Craftsman product, you have to go to a Sears store. Soon, you’ll be able to buy Craftsman-branded products anywhere.
Experts believe that Lyft and Uber will have to raise their fees and fares in the next year.
You should steer clear of many extended warranties.
Generous sign-up bonuses are prevalent.
Oct. 25, 2017—If you’re concerned that “porch pirates” will steal delivered packages from your doorstep, Amazon.com has a solution—let its couriers enter your home to deliver the packages while you’re away.
Sept. 8, 2017—After it revealed that a major breach of its records took place, credit bureau Equifax is offering to help you to protect yourself from the potential of identification theft.
Retailers and websites often tout a wine’s score to entice you, but experts disagree on the usefulness of these scores.
Consumers don’t know whether their food contains genetically modified ingredients, but almost all scientists say GMOs are safe.
As business slides, funeral homes look to make up for lost revenue by increasing the costs of cremations, among other strategies.
Think twice before you take your computer to the nearest repair specialist. Many people are scammed by technicians who are moved more by profit than principle.
You might face more than the grief of the loss of a loved one: grave desecration and double-sold plots.
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New medical devices provide innovative treatments for diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Read MoreManufacturers add connectivity options to their products.
Read MoreConsumers will be hurt by the Trump administration’s moves to change the Affordable Care Act (ACA), experts tell us.
Experts say we must work together to combat the problem, but big hurdles exist.
No standards exist, and experts say the majority of hair that’s sold for extensions is prone to fraying and tangling.
Forty states now allow for treatment that derives from the marijuana plant, but the federal government still considers it to be illegal.
Consumers don’t know whether their food contains genetically modified ingredients, but almost all scientists say GMOs are safe.
Severe side effects can cause pain and loss of sight.
New tests for diseases make it likely that a treatment will be right for you.
There's little to no benefit in treating moderate depression.
Experts disagree on what constitutes success.
The safety of long-term testosterone use is unclear.
This standard examination has come under fire.
Regulation of the industry has stagnated.
Accuracy and how information is used are concerns.
Many experts say e-cigs are less harmful than tobacco cigarettes are, but no independent research has studied the issue.
Food allergies should be taken seriously, even if few people are affected.
In the midst of more incentives, choose carefully.
More often than not, new genetic tests for sick children leave parents with few answers and hefty out-of-pocket expenses.
Will the Affordable Care Act work, or is it doomed to fail?
Consumers ought to be wary of the possible misdiagnoses that are associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Innovations in massage-chair technology are bound to hit the spot for consumers.
Don't rely on marketing claims that the facilities tout.
It’s difficult to know what you might face in a hospital.
Medicare beneficiaries might not have access to the latest technological advancements.
Drugmakers want more freedom to market the use of so-called off-label prescriptions.
Consumers aren’t any closer to understanding what exactly is in energy drinks.
Some medical mobile applications do what they claim to do, but others just siphon bucks from your pocket.
As technologies change in hearing-aids, consumers still must navigate a maze of confusion when it’s purchase time.
No independent research indicates whether artificial sweeteners are better for your health.
You can negotiate with health-care providers and debt collectors to reduce your debt or develop a payment plan for medical bills.
Innovations that are saving lives.
Although the Supreme Court upheld nearly all provisions of the landmark Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the law’s goal to dramatically increase health-care access for uninsured individuals still might suffer.
Equipment said to minimize incidents is being criticized.
The jury is still out on effectiveness.
How Doctors Are Courted By Drugmakers
Performance-apparel companies claim that their garments will improve your performance, but no independent data back that up.
Dental services and alternatives: alluring but suspicious.
False promises of “miracle” arthritis cures persist.
No one regulates what goes into hair-care products.
The shortage of primary-care doctors is growing worse.
Evidence doesn't support claims that because premium infant formula includes supplements, it's an improved product.
The government and others question weight-loss drugs’ efficacy and their potential side effects.
As retail clinics expand services, many doctors cry foul.
It’s increasingly difficult to get financial help to cover the cost of mobility products.
The number of unnecessary surgeries is rising.
Storing information electronically is a double-edged sword.
Doctors’ new claims of safety are questionable.
Expensive treatments provide only temporary solutions.
Changes bring higher prices that might not be obvious.
The lack of regulation and transparency on ingredients means that you could be applying dangerous materials to your face.
Breakfast cereal has too much sugar and far fewer nutritional benefits than what cereal companies brazenly imply.
When you combine elusive manufacturer claims with no government regulation, it’s easy to see that you might get burned.
Over-the-counter treatments are not your best options.
It’s easy to go online to find free medical advice, but many sites use outdated information or use sources that contradict each other.
New guidelines from FDA and FTC for dietary supplements will do little to remove the uncertainty about ingredients and efficacy.
There is no link between autism and vaccines. Harmful preservatives are no longer used. But some groups still propagate parents’ fears.
Many medical spas and day spas that perform cosmetic medical procedures operate with little regulation. Don’t take the qualifications of people treating you for granted.
Caesarean section surgeries are at an all-time high. Why?
Increased awareness about celiac disease has the gluten-free marketplace soaring, but misconceptions about the general benefits of steering clear of gluten abound.
Researchers are devising ways to make rehabilitation more affordable and accessible, and doctors and therapists are striving to prove it saves money and lives.
More consumers must shop for health care, but unfortunately, resources to help you make sound decisions are limited.
Influence by frame makers decreases the medical focus for this product.
More Americans are turning to joint replacement as a pain remedy, but it’s uncertain whether the latest procedures are worth braving the surgeon’s knife.
New methods for treating drug and alcohol abusers have created confusion and sometimes flawed choices for consumers.
While the number of nail salons grew tremendously in the last few years, the incidence of infection and disease related to their use rose as well.
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