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Woman who was told her health insurance was accepted receives surprise doctor’s bill

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Before she went to the doctor, she asked if they accepted her insurance. They said yes. A few days later, she got a bill for the visit, and then things got worse. That’s when she called Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser.Maryanna takes good care of herself: exercise, eating right. But of course, she still gets aches and pains.Maryanna Healy: “My shoulder has been bothering me. It’s probably just an age thing, rotator cuff.”She called her primary care office, where she was told a new doctor would see her.Maryanna Healy: “They told me, ‘Yes, your insurance is going to cover this. Oh, yes.'”The appointment went well … and then she was hit with a new ache.Maryanna Healy: “About two weeks later, I get a bill for $548.”Turns out the doctor she saw had not yet been approved by her insurance. She called the office.Maryanna Healy: “‘And it’s all going to work out. And we’ll – we will redo it, and it’ll ...

Europe should be unequivocal and support Israel against Hamas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Yohan Benizri is the former president of the Belgian Federation of Jewish Organizations.When it comes to Israel, a nation grappling with a new terrifying wave of brutal terrorist acts, Europe’s moral compass needs adjusting.For too long, any defense of the Israeli population against terrorism has had to be prefaced by some form of apology or criticism of Israeli policies, as well as calls for restraint. Terrorists have been presented as combatants, their actions sometimes explained or justified.This is wrong.Israel, like any sovereign nation, must protect its citizens from terrorism, and Europe should help in any way it can — without reservation.Of course, nuance and intellectual humility are required when facing complex phenomena, including the origins of the conflicts in the Middle East, the evaluation of certain policies and the search for lasting solutions. We can legitimately engage in open debate on each of these issues, and hope that our disagreements will lead to a dee...

Westminster’s conflict of interest conundrum

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

LONDON — Back in July the fashionable English town of Bruton, in Somerset, played host to the British political wedding of the year.Britain’s former chief finance minister, George Osborne, married his former aide Thea Rogers, and the guest list was a who’s who of Westminster.Long lens photographers captured a procession of political behemoths, from former Prime Minister David Cameron to current Cabinet big-hitter Michael Gove, arriving suited and booted at the 14th century church.But it was the presence of some of Britain’s most high-profile journalists — including star presenter of the BBC’s flagship Today program, Nick Robinson, and celebrity podcasters Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel — which caused the biggest stir.“None of those people should be within a hundred miles of that event,” Mic Wright, a freelance journalist wrote on social media that evening as pictures of wedding guests started to emerge.Rogers was once a senior political producer at the BBC and had worked closely ...

The Saudi-Israel deal is in tatters

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Shyam Bhatia is an award-winning author and war reporter based in London. He is a former long-time Middle East correspondent for the London Observer.The Washington-choreographed diplomatic dance between Israel and Saudi Arabia was supposed to culminate in an exchange of ambassadors before the next United States presidential election. But due to Hamas terrorists who killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis and took another estimated 100 hostages this week, this deal is now under threat.And Israel’s love affair with Saudi Arabia hangs in the balance.A jubilant Hamas is now hoping the reaction on Arab streets in support of their surprise strike will compel other Arab states to reconsider their recent decisions to normalize relations with Israel.Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan have all seen some pro-Hamas demonstrations. But as casualties mount in Gaza, these rallies are likely to swell across the Arab world. An estimated 200,000 Palestinians in Gaza have already sought shelter at U...

Europe’s power outage: How Israel-Hamas war exposed EU’s irrelevance

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

How the Israel-Hamas war exposed the EU’s irrelevance: As global crises intensify, the ‘geopolitical’ Continent is left watching from the sidelines.By MATTHEW KARNITSCHNIG IN BERLINIllustration by Tomato Košir for POLITICOAt least Europe no longer has to endure that hackneyed Henry Kissinger quip about whom to call if you want “to call Europe.”  No one’s calling anyway. Of the myriad geostrategic illusions that have been destroyed in recent days, the most sobering realization for anyone residing on the Continent should be this: No one cares what Europe thinks. Across an array of global flashpoints, from Nagorno-Karabakh to Kosovo to Israel, Europe has been relegated to the role of a well-meaning NGO, whose humanitarian contributions are welcomed, but is otherwise ignored. The 27-member bloc has always struggled to articulate a coherent foreign policy, given the diverse national interests at play. Even so, it still mattered, mainly due to the size of its market. The EU’s global influ...

Hamas hate videos make Elon Musk Europe’s digital enemy No.1

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Elon Musk has made himself Europe’s digital public enemy number one.Since Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday, the billionaire’s social network X has been flooded with gruesome images, politically-motivated lies and terrorist propaganda that authorities say appear to violate both its own policies and the European Union’s new social media law. Now Musk is facing the threat of sanctions — including potentially hefty fines — as officials in Brussels start gathering evidence in preparation for a formal investigation into whether X has broken the European Union’s rules. Authorities in the U.K. and Germany have joined the criticism.The tussle represents a critical test for all sides. Musk will be keen to fight any claim that he’s failing to be a responsible owner of the social network formerly known as Twitter — all while upholding his commitment to free speech. The EU will want to show its new regulation, known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), has teeth. Th...

Bruins legends parade down gold carpet before first game of centennial season

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Before the puck dropped on the Bruins’ 100th year of hockey Wednesday, former players showed up at TD Garden for a “gold carpet” event.The Bruins took the ice Wednesday night, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks in the first game of their centennial season. Speaking earlier in the day, recently retired former Bruins player Patrice Bergeron said “it’s always good to be back.” “To be a part of this franchise with the history behind it is pretty special,” Bergeron said. “There’s not a lot of us left and I wanted to see the guys that are,” said Phil Esposito. “But this is incredible and I’m glad I came.”Fans lined up to see some of the players who are part of the Bruins’ storied history.“That’s one of the best things,” said former Bruins player Adam Oates. “You get to see all the guys that you know or the guys you played with…[It’s] a lot of fun,”Hard to miss were Bruins legends Derek Sanderson and Bobby Orr, who both made an appearance. “It’s cool to see all the ...

Hundreds gather in Swampscott to show support for Israel as war with Hamas rages on

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Nearly 900 people came together at Congregation Shirat Hayam in Swampscott Wednesday night to show support for Israel as the country’s war with Hamas rages on. The packed synagogue honored the memory of the thousands of lives lost in the violence, which continued Wednesday after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel over the weekend. “There’s fear,” said Rabbi Michael Ragozin of Congregation Shirat Hayam. “There’s real sadness — tremendous empathy. There’s a feeling of, ‘If I were there, those would have been my kids.’”The violence has hit close to home for Yael Magen, who grew up in Israel. Magen just learned her high school friend was among the first people pronounced dead in the attack on Saturday. “What went down there was a massacre,” Magen said. “It was a slaughter of people.”“He and his wife actually saved their son,” Magen said of her friend. “They jumped on their son while the Hamas terrorists were shooting and their son was saved.”The unknown whereabou...

Celtics takeaways: Sam Hauser bounces back, Joe Mazzulla has teaching moment in preseason win over 76ers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown got some extra rest as the Celtics stars sat out their second consecutive preseason game, giving some of the team’s reserves another chance to prove themselves on Wednesday night against the 76ers.Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Al Horford all returned to the lineup and played the first half together before the backups led a 112-101 victory in Philadelphia. Payton Pritchard, once again, led the way with 17 points as his impressive preseason continued but it was a notable night for some players vying for roles on the team.Some takeaways from the Celtics’ victory:– White emerged last season as one of the best defenders in the NBA – named to the league’s All-Defensive second team – after he led all guards in blocks, and it looks like he’s picking up right where he left off. He recorded three blocks in 17 minutes in the first half and was everywhere on both ends.The most impressive sequence came in the first quarter, when he raced back t...

Bruins grind out 3-1 win in opener

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:27 GMT

After nearly half the Bruins’ roster was turned over after their 65-win season, they entered the club’s 100th season with a large element of the unknown hanging over them.And with the season opener behind them, they still are very much a work in progress. But at least they banked their first two points of the season.The B’s leaned into their strengths – goaltending and defense – and got goals from David Pastrnak (2) and Trent Frederic to beat the young Chicago Blackhawks, 3-1 at the Garden on Wednesday.They received contributions from rookies Matt Poitras (first NHL assist), John Beecher (solid fourth-line work and prodigal son Milan Lucic (assist on game-winner) in the win.It was a competitive, if inelegant, contest.The intriguing subplot to the B’s Centennial season opener was the arrival of Connor Bedard, considered by most observers to be the next great generational talent.And at 5:37 of the first period, he joined a rather elite group – he scored his fir...