Max Out of Pocket

Healthcare REITs: A Case For Diversification

Max has gotten a bit reckless with the medical office building REIT portfolio. This hobby of mine has grown from a position of just a few thousand dollars to over $35,000. It is projected to put about $1,823 in dividends back in my pocket over the next 12 months. But the lack of diversification can no longer be ignored. My mom always told me not to put all my medical office buildings eggs into one...

How Much Should A Basic Metabolic Panel Cost?

After waiting for 78 days, I will finally get in to see my new doctor later in October. During this free annual exam, he will likely order a basic metabolic panel. I sometimes hear it called BMP for short. I’ve personally had this ordered for me during other physicals and have seen it ordered routinely at clinics I have worked with in the past. But what is a basic metabolic panel and how much should...

Max Out of Pocket – September

Summer is out and fall is in. It is hard to believe the Max Out of Pocket crew is heading into our third fall here in New England. This is a beautiful part of the country to be in for this time of year. The only negative is as the leaves start changing the “leaf-peeping” tourists start flooding the area. I shouldn’t complain, though. Tourists bring in money that lands in the pocket of people...

How Much Should A Lipid Panel Cost?

We now know that many of us with private health insurance plans are entitled to a free cholesterol screening. The Affordable Care Act mandates it with no out-of-pocket costs if we meet certain criteria. But what if we don’t fit into that criteria or our insurance company decides we need to pay for one? If we aren’t high risk or under the age of 35, that just might happen. But how much should a lipid...

Max Gets A Visit From The Fire Chief: Fire Pit Project

One of my favorite pastimes is having a nice bonfire on a cool summer night. There is just something about a crackling fire cutting into the cool air keeping everyone warm. Throw a beer or two into the mix, there just isn’t much else I would rather do. I thought we could all use a little sabbatical from all this healthcare talk. Sometimes, day-to-day life is a little more interesting than talking about out-of-pocket healthcare...