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Endometriosis Awareness: Faster Diagnosis and Better Care with Advocates
March is here, marking Endometriosis Awareness Month—a crucial time to raise awareness about a condition that affects more than 11% of women and people assigned female at birth. Endometriosis occurs...
From $7,000 to $770: How One Patient Advocate Fought Back Against a Surprise Medical Bill
What seemed like a simple medical procedure quickly turned into a financial nightmare for Tim Winard. A routine colonoscopy—one he thought his insurance would cover—had left him on the hook...
Healthcare Costs: Where does your state rank?
Healthcare costs vary widely across the U.S., with some states spending nearly twice as much per person as others. A recent analysis by Steno Health, using data from the Bureau...
How to Choose the Best Elder Care Facility for Your Loved Ones: 5 Expert Tips
Finding the best elder care facility for your loved ones can be a challenging task. Whether you're exploring in-home senior care, assisted living, or skilled nursing facilities, it’s important to...
Medical Billing Errors Are Common—Don’t Pay That Medical Bill Just Yet!
You check your mail and there it is—a medical bill you weren’t expecting or that seems way too high. Are you a victim of medical billing errors? Maybe you thought...
The Loneliness Epidemic: Build Connections for Better Health
Loneliness: A Growing Health Crisis As Valentine's Day approaches—a holiday centered on love and connection—it’s important to recognize a growing public health crisis: loneliness. While the day often highlights romantic...
Confused About Medicaid? 12 Facts You Need to Know
Medicaid has been in the news recently, amidst leadership changes in Washington, D.C. The Medicaid program is an important part of the U.S. healthcare system, but many people don’t know...
Heart Health: How Patient Advocates Can Help
February is American Heart Month, a time to spotlight the importance of heart health and take steps to reduce the risks of heart disease—the leading cause of death in the...
Wildfire Smoke: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Health
When wildfires raged through Los Angeles in 2025, the property destruction looked like something out of a disaster movie. But the lingering health effects from wildfires can be all too...
5 Expert Tips for Managing Your Elderly Parent’s Healthcare
Your parents raised you. They changed your diapers, loved you, and supported you when you tried everything from soccer to dance. As an adult child, you want to take care...
Health Insurance Claim Denial? Get Help to Fight and Win
If you’ve been watching the news, you probably know that the CEO of UnitedHealthcare—the giant health insurance company that covers more than 50 million people—was murdered in cold blood on...
Get to know our advocates: Spotlight on Stephen Young, MD
Welcome to the Umbra Member Q&A series, where we bring you insights from our community of healthcare experts and enthusiasts. In this post, we are thrilled to introduce you to...