Medicine & Health
| Health Insurance | Consumer Health Info | Medicine | Finding a Physician | Finding a Dentist | Clinical Trials | Drugs/RX | Herbal Remedies | Immunizations | Nursing Homes / Long Term Care | Aging Resources | Hospitals | Medical/Nursing Schools | Medicare / Medicaid | Living Wills | Hospice | Cancer | Tobacco | Drug Abuse | Anabolic Steroids | Mental Illness | Exercise / Fitness | Nutrition | Teen Pregnancy | Hearing/Decibels/Noise Pollution | Disabilities | Animal / Pet Health | History of Medicine |
Health Insurance
| Affordable Care Act [aka Obamacare] | Medicaid | CHIP [aka Children's Health Insurance Program] | Medicare | Employer Provided Health Insurance |
Affordable Care Act [aka Obamacare]
  • Annual Enrollment Period (Nov. 1 to Dec. 15)
  • Get help applying & more: Get Local Help in-person, over the phone, or by email (Healthcare.gov)
  • Renew, change, update, or cancel your health plan for the next year

  • Medicaid | Medicaid & CHIP [aka Children's Health Insurance Program] in Texas | CHIP [aka Children's Health Insurance Program] nationally |
    Medicare
    Job-based insurance
  • Employer Sponsored Health Coverage Explained (TurboTax)
    Consumer Health Information
  • Health Literacy (Medlineplus.gov)
  • Understanding Medical Words Tutorial (Natl. Library of Medicine)
  • Health Literacy (National Institutes of Health)
    | Where to Go Get Vaccinated (Vaccines.gov) | Pandemic Influenza (CDC) |

    Coronavirus [COVID-19]


    Paxlovid


  • YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS RIGHT AWAY: "Have symptoms that started less than 5 days ago"

  • Paxlovid FAQ (Yes, it is now FDA-approved)
    WHERE TO GET PAXLOVID
  • CVS pharmacists can now prescribe Paxlovid to treat COVID-19

  • Walgreens Launches Free Paxlovid Delivery Services with DoorDash and Uber


    HOW MUCH DOES PAXLOVID COST? The US GOVT was paying for COVID-19 treatment.

    Fact Sheet: End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency [ENDED May 11, 2023]

    "Access to COVID-19 vaccinations and certain treatments, such as Paxlovid and Lagevrio, will generally not be affected. To help keep communities safe from COVID-19, HHS remains committed to maximizing continued access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments."

    "When that transition to the traditional health care market occurs, to protect families, the Administration has facilitated access to COVID-19 vaccines with no out-of-pocket costs for nearly all individuals and will continue to ensure that effective COVID-19 treatments, such as Paxlovid, are widely accessible."

    "After the transition to the traditional health care market, out-of-pocket expenses for certain treatments, such as Paxlovid and Lagevrio, may change, depending on an individual’s health care coverage, similar to costs that one may experience for other covered drugs."


    Good RX


    DRUG INTERACTIONS
    "Paxlovid interacts with many common medications. Be sure to discuss these possible interactions with your pharmacist before starting this COVID treatment."


    For information about COVID Vaccines, Boosters, Omicron variant, Vaccines for Children, etc., see: COVID-19 (CDC) | COVID-19 (FDA) |


  • Updated COVID-19 booster shots are now available. Here’s what you need to know
    PBS.org | Sep 6, 2022 4:50 PM EDT Updated on Sep 7, 2022 12:21 PM EDT |

  • CDC Recommends the First Updated COVID-19 Booster
    CDC.gov | September 1, 2022 |

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines for Use as a Booster Dose
    FDA.gov | August 31, 2022 |


    PAXLOVID REBOUND


  • COVID-19 Rebound After Paxlovid Treatment (CDC) | Paxlovid [Generic name is Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir.] (MedlinePlus.gov) |

  • U.S. doctors reconsider Pfizer's Paxlovid for lower-risk COVID patients
    By Deena Beasley, Reuters.com | May 28, 2022 7:23 AM CDT |

  • CDC warns of 'Covid-19 rebound' after taking Paxlovid antiviral pills Some people who take Paxlovid could see symptoms reappear two to eight days after finishing the treatment and testing negative, the CDC said.
    By Aria Bendix, NBCnews.com | May 24, 2022, 4:15 PM CDT |

  • People treated with Paxlovid who get rebound COVID should isolate again for 5 days, CDC advises
    By Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY.com | 3:01 PM ET May 25, 2022 |

  • Rebound COVID Is Just the Start of Paxlovid’s Mysteries There’s plenty more to learn about the lifesaving antiviral COVID treatment.
    By Rachel Gutman, The Atlantic.com | May 26, 2022 |


    GETTING THE NEXT BOOSTER


    Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Recommends Inclusion of Omicron BA.4/5 Component for COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses


    QUOTE FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:
    "Following a thorough discussion on June 28, 2022, an overwhelming majority of the advisory committee voted in favor of including a SARS-CoV-2 omicron component in COVID-19 vaccines that would be used for boosters in the U.S. beginning in fall 2022.

    Following the vote, and striving to use the best available scientific evidence, we have advised manufacturers seeking to update their COVID-19 vaccines that they should develop modified vaccines that add an omicron BA.4/5 spike protein component to the current vaccine composition to create a two component (bivalent) booster vaccine, so that the modified vaccines can potentially be used starting in early to mid-fall 2022."


  • Explainer: What is the COVID BA.5 variant and why is it reinfecting so many people?
    By Jennifer Rigby and Julie Steenhuysen, Reuters | July 13, 2022 8:50 AM CDT |


    Who Can Get a [COVID-19] Booster (CDC)
    Schedule vaccination appointment(s) (Walgreens Pharmacy)
    Schedule your FREE COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot (CVS Pharmacy)
    COVID-19 Hub (Harris County)
    COVID-19 News & Information (City of Houston)
    COVID-19 (Montgomery County [TX] Public Health District)

    Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program

    (Administered by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and BakerRipley)
  • Texas Rent Relief Program (Help for back & current rent plus utility & home energy expenses.) [Texas Coronavirus Relief Bill Rental Assistance Program administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.]
    Many Harris County residents need help and advice dealing with COVID-19....The best way to start any search for help is by dialing 2-1-1 or by searching their online database at 211texas.org.
    COVID DASHBOARDS
    | COVID-19 Dashboard (Johns Hopkins University) | COVID-19 Dashboard (Harris County Public Health Dept.) | Coronavirus (Houston Chronicle) |
    Vaccine Hesitancy (Wikipedia)
  • Inside the Mind of an Anti-vaxxer (The Atlantic)
  • How Vaccine Skepticism May Affect Efforts To Combat The Coronavirus Pandemic (NPR)
  • In the age of vaccine skepticism, doctors are developing a new skill: the power of persuasion (Texas Medical Center)
  • Herd immunity and COVID-19 (coronavirus): What you need to know (Mayo Clinic)
  • 5 Things to Know About Herd Immunity and the Coronavirus (AARP)
  • Vaccine Safety (MedlinePlus.gov)
    | Vaccine Hesitancy | Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (CDC) | Gr.Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund |

    | Coronavirus.gov | Opening America | Open TX | Harris County Public Health | HC COVID-19 Threat Level | Holidays 2020 (CDC) |
  • MedlinePlus.gov (Natl. Library of Medicine) | Understanding Medical Words Tutorial (MedlinePlus.gov) |
  • Health Information for the Public | Health Check Tools (MedlinePlus,gov) | Lab Tests Online |
    Family / Single Adults / Everyone
  • Familydoctor.org | Search by Symptom (American Academy of Family Physicians) |
  • NOAH | My Healthfinder | Mayo Clinic |
    Children
  • The AAP Parenting Website (American Academy of Pediatrics)
  • KidsHealth.org (Nemours Foundation)
    Teens
  • Teen Health (MedlinePlus) | Teens Health (Nemours Foundation) |
  • Drug Abuse Prevention Starts with Parents (American Academy of Pediatrics) | Above the Influence (Partnership for Drug-Free Kids) | Suicide Prevention (Natl. Institutes of Health) | GirlsHealth.gov |
    Seniors | Women |
    Special Subjects
  • Genetics Home Reference | Household Products Database (HealthData.gov) |
    Research Resources
  • PubMed
    Prescription Drugs / RX
  • Drug Information Portal | Pill Identification Wizard (by shape & color & markings) |
  • Drug Information (Medline Plus) | Medicare.gov |
  • Orange Book (Search for generic drugs) [FDA]
  • Drug Interaction Tool (Drugs.com) | Drug Safety Initiative (FDA) |
    FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
    Help for persons without prescription drug health insurance
  • Partnership for Prescription Assistance (...[H]elps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need through the program that is right for them." Free of charge PPA Partners
  • Pfizer Helpful Answers (For those [without insurance] taking Pfizer medications who need help paying for their prescriptions)
  • Together RX Access (...[I]ndividuals and families without prescription drug coverage can gain access to immediate savings on hundreds of brand-name and generic prescription products right at their neighborhood pharmacies.)
  • GoodRX.com (find the lowest price from pharmacies in your area)
  • Atlas of the Body (AMA) | eMedicine.com |
  • Consumer & Patient Health Information (Medical Library Association)
  • Texas Dept. of State Health Services
    Medicine
  • PubMed | TMC Library (Texas Medical Center Library) |
  • Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
  • Merck | ICD-9-CM Intl.Classification of Diseases | CPT |
  • Medpedia.com (Collaborative resource)
  • WebMedLit | JAMA |
  • National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. (NORD) | Genetic & Rare Conditions |
  • Genetics Home Reference (Natl. Library of Medicine)
  • Genetic Disorders & Birth Defects Information Center (Indiana Univ. School of Medicine)
  • FamilyDoctor.org (Amer.Academy of Family Physicians)
  • Complete Home Medical Guide (Columbia University)
  • Hepatitis C Education & Support Network | Dyslexia Online |
  • Organ Donation | Marrow Donation | Diabetes | United Cerebral Palsy | Heart | Multiple Sclerosis | Sleep | Mesothelioma (Asbestos exposure) |
    Finding a Physician
  • ABMS.org | Texas Medical Board |
  • MEDLINEPlus Directories | DocFinder | Doc Info |
    Finding a Dentist
  • TX State Board of Dental Examiners
  • Find-A-Dentist (Am.Dental Assn) | Find an ADA Dentist (Greater Houston Dental Society) |
  • Orthodontist Locator (American Board of Orthodontics)
  • Dental Health (MedlinePlus.gov) | Children’s Dental Health (CDC) |
  • Career in Dentistry (ADA)
    Finding a Hospital
  • Hospital Compare (US Dept. of Health & Human Services)
  • MEDLINEPlus Directories
  • Directory of America's Hospitals (AHA/US News & World Report)
  • Best Hospitals Finder (U.S. News & World Report annual ranking)
  • CiteHealth.com
  • Houston Northwest Medical Center
  • Tomball Regional Hospital
  • Methodist Willowbrook Hospital
  • M.D.Anderson Cancer Center (Texas Medical Center)
  • Harris County Hospital District (Ben Taub General Hospital, LBJ General Hospital, etc.)
  • Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center - Houston, TX (US Veterans Administration)
  • Virtual Hospital
    Medical / Nursing Schools in the Houston/Galveston area
  • Baylor College of Medicine
  • University of Texas Medical School at Houston
  • University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston)
  • University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston
  • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) (to locate accreditated programs for other health fields)
    Clinical Trials
    | ClinicalTrials.gov | CenterWatch Clinical Trials Listing Service |

    Diagnostic Tests (Harvard)


    Mental Health/Mental Illness/Depression/Suicide
  • National Mental Health Information Center (US DHHS Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration)
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) | About Medications (NAMI) | Support Groups (NAMI) | Take Action (NAMI) |
  • Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 (NAMI)
  • Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
  • Mental Health (NOAH)
  • Daily Strength (Online Support Groups)
  • Healthy Minds.org (American Psychiatric Assn. Consumer Site)
  • American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Facts for Families (AACAP) |
  • National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (VA)
  • NoStigma.com | Public Information (National Institute of Mental Health) |
  • National Mental Illness Screening Project
  • Mental Health Resources | Mental Health Resources in the Houston area |
  • Disorders/Medications (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)
  • Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance | BPSO BiPolar Public Pages |
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention | Youth Suicide |
  • Psychiatric Medications (American Psychiatric Association)
  • Autism Society of America | Autism Treatment Center of America (Son-Rise) |
  • Natl Council on Problem Gambling | Gamblers Anonymous |
  • Eating Disorders
  • Caring for the Mind Workshop
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    Perpetual Beta
    Last Modified: 9/11/2022 AND 6/28/2023