As one of the nation’s largest health insurers, covering more than 50 million people, UnitedHealthcare has battled a range of complaints and investigations from patients, doctors and lawmakers for its denial of medical claims. Those practices may face new scrutiny after law enforcement officials said that the bullet casings foundContinue Reading
As climate change pushes global temperatures higher, attention has focused predominantly on the threat that heat poses to older adults, whose physiology makes them more susceptible to health complications. But a study published on Friday in the journal Science Advances found that certain types of young people — including seeminglyContinue Reading
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin testing the nation’s milk supply for the bird flu virus known as H5N1, nearly a year after the virus began circulating through dairy cattle, the department announced on Friday. Under the new strategy, officials will test samples of unpasteurized milk from large storageContinue Reading
A view outside the UnitedHealthcare corporate headquarters on Dec. 4, 2024 in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City this week triggered an outpouring of venting about the health care system on social media. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images North America/Getty Images Stephen Maturen/Getty Images NorthContinue Reading
President-elect Donald Trump picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his health secretary. Kennedy has endorsed debunked theories blaming vaccines for autism and other conditions. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images The availability of safe, effective COVID vaccines less than a year into the pandemic marked aContinue Reading
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, a major health insurer, on Thursday rolled back a policy change that would have capped payments for anesthesia for patients, and would have denied claims altogether if any given procedure exceeded a time limit. The policy, which was to be tested before a national rollout,Continue Reading
After bird flu hit the nation’s dairy farms, it spread with alarming speed. Since March, the virus has infected more than 700 herds in 15 states. It has also infected at least 58 people, nearly all of them farm workers. In recent months, cases in cows and humans have mountedContinue Reading
If you’ve long assumed that you must deprive yourself of delicious foods in order to be healthy, a new study published today in The BMJ offers encouraging news: Eating dark chocolate has been associated with a reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The research did not prove that theContinue Reading
Benzene seems to have cropped up everywhere in recent years. First, it was hand sanitizers with “unacceptable levels” of the carcinogen. Then there were recalls of antifungal foot sprays and alarming reports of tainted deodorants, dry shampoos and sunscreens. Some of these findings have driven panicked news headlines and socialContinue Reading
Winter is a season of warm sweaters, cosy evenings, and festive cheer. But as the temperature drops, our skin often bears the brunt of the cold, dry air, and lips are no exception. The delicate skin of our lips lacks oil glands, making them particularly vulnerable to the harsh effectsContinue Reading
