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As more and more of us begin to use health savings accounts, there is a new website that’s coming online which will let you check to see how much a medical procedure truly costs. HealthGrades Incorporated Vice President Scott Shapiro says lots of people have been asking for this type of service.
Scott Shapira: “It's not the health plans money any more, very often with high deductible plans people are spend(ing) their own money first, and so they have a heightened interest in finding not only a high quality healthcare provider, but one that is reasonably tight-priced as well.”
This site has cost from everything for cataract surgery to gastric bypass operations.
More competition for Apple's iPod and Sony's PSP, Microsoft says it's working on a handheld gaming device that will also play music and movies. The software giant’s new device will probably not hit the market for at least a year or possibly two, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
The major airlines appear(appears) to be taking a hint from discount carriers by taking away some standards and according to CNN’s Alina Cho, they’ve been charging for more traditional forms of ticket purchases.
Alina Cho: When you call and ticket by phone, uh it's a ten dollar extra charge and then when you do it at the airport, they charge you 15 dollars more. So there really are real benefits. And the airlines say that what that allows them to do is divert their workers so that they can deal with more complicated issues.
Part of the cuts from the six big airlines include no pillows, headphones or food.
Home furniture and craft stores are making some moves of their own.
Jane King: Wall Street Journal reports Michael’s Craft Stores is exploring a sale. The retailer could command up to five and a half billion dollars. And William-Sonoma’s net income is up more than 6 percent in the recent quarter. The retailer also initiated a dividend of 10 cents a share. Jane King CNN, on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
Phillips Electronics is recalling eleven thousand eight hundred plasma TVs due to faulty capacitors which can spark. The ambient light TVs were sold in the US from June 2005 to January 2006.
With CNN Radio Market Place, I'm Michelle Wright.
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WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
deductible :A clause in an insurance policy that exempts the insurer from paying an initial specified amount in the event that the insured sustains a loss.
plasma TV: 等离子电视
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