Kelli McCourt

Stamford

Editor In Chief, Bottom Line Personal at Bottom Line Inc.

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Articles

It's Virus Season | Bottom Line Inc

Oct 24, 2024 | bottomlineinc.com | Kelli McCourt

It started with a sniffle …then a bit of a scratchy throat. I didn’t think much of it at first, certain that it was just my allergies flaring up. Before I knew it, though, I was down for the count…with COVID. This bout—only my second since the start of COVID—and all its coughing, sniffling, aches, pains and fatigue lingered for about 10 days. We may not be talking as much about COVID these days as we did a few years ago—but it is still out there, along with flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Looking for a New Doctor?

Sep 26, 2024 | bottomlineinc.com | Kelli McCourt

I love all my doctors—all but one. She is probably a great doctor…just not the one for me. So I am going to break up with her. But since it is not easy to find a new doctor these days, I asked our esteemed expert David Sherer, MD, for his guidance. Here’s what he said…Ask around. Ask friends and family members if they have a doctor they’d recommend. After you have picked one or two, call the doctors’ offices to find out whether they’re accepting new patients and if they take your insurance.
Going Monthly | Bottom Line Inc

May 15, 2024 | bottomlineinc.com | Kelli McCourt |Tom Cioffi

I take pride in being honest with my family, my friends and with you, our Bottom Line subscribers. And I am guessing that the news I am about to share will not surprise many of you, but I hope you will hear me out…Starting with the June issue, Bottom Line Personal will be monthly—32 pages once a month, instead of two 16-page issues. Knowing how astute you are, you may have seen this coming after we started producing four 32-page issues last year.
Military Honors | Bottom Line Inc

May 1, 2024 | bottomlineinc.com | Kelli McCourt |Tom Cioffi

My father recently passed away after a brief illness. He was 87 and lived a wonderful life…and my mother, sister and I were fortunate to have him for so long. Of course, planning the funeral services was very difficult. We wanted to honor him in all ways possible…and the military helped us do just that. My father was in the US Marine Corps from 1953 to 1956, stationed in Korea. He was proud of that service, as were we. When it came time to make the burial arrangements, the military stepped in.
Our Moral Dilemma

Apr 15, 2024 | bottomlineinc.com | Kelli McCourt |Tom Cioffi

I recently received an e-mail from a subscriber who objected to our inclusion of a property-and-casualty insurer in one of our investment articles. She was concerned that we were encouraging our readers to benefit from the hardships of others. This is not the first time a reader has reached out about this type of thing. Over the years, subscribers have objected when we mentioned tobacco, liquor and firearms companies because they felt we were promoting unhealthy and unsafe behaviors.
Protect Your Best Friend

Apr 1, 2024 | bottomlineinc.com | Kelli McCourt |Tom Cioffi

We came close to losing a beloved member of our family recently. My stepdaughter’s indoor cat, Healey, made a run for it one night, when Shannon opened the door. She spent days looking for Healey…posted his photo on social media…contacted local animal shelters…and enlisted the help of family and friends to find him. She was devastated. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending. After nine very cold days and nights, Healey was found under a deck about 30 yards from Shannon’s front door.
Do Insurers Rule the World?

Mar 1, 2024 | bottomlineinc.com | Kelli McCourt |Tom Cioffi

I am confused about insurance—as are many of you, I’m sure. You pay premiums for cars, homes, jewelry and more for years and years…and then when you need that insurance, you are denied. Case in point…My husband and I are moving to another state. I have spent hours on the phone with mortgage lenders, real estate agents, lawyers and more. Each day brings a new challenge. But the biggest surprise has been insurance.
Surprise! Yet Another Fee

Feb 15, 2024 | bottomlineinc.com | Kelli McCourt |Tom Cioffi

I received a letter from my doctor’s office—an internist my husband and I have been seeing for more than 25 years—asking me to pay an “annual administrative fee” of $249 to cover his office costs for authorizations, precertifications, etc. I will have to pay this fee out-of-pocket because my employer-provided insurance won’t cover it. Of course, I did my research, and according to the American Health Law Association, this is becoming quite common.
Small...But Mighty | Bottom Line Inc

Feb 1, 2024 | bottomlineinc.com | Kelli McCourt |Tom Cioffi

I recently made our favorite slow-cooker beef stew recipe. The result was good…but not great. I realized later that it was my own fault—I had forgotten the dash of Worcestershire sauce that the recipe called for. It seems such a small thing, but it made all the difference between a delicious winter meal and, well, a dud. This is a bit similar to the recipe for each issue of Bottom Line Personal. The big stories are the meat and potatoes.
When Are You "Safe"?

Jan 15, 2024 | bottomlineinc.com | Kelli McCourt |Tom Cioffi

The bridal shower my cousin had planned for her future daughter-in-law was nearly cancelled because her son had COVID, and the couple did not want any of the guests to be compromised. Fortunately, they got the all clear from their doctors several days before. Then yesterday I met friends for lunch. The conversation started with all the illnesses we were getting over—colds, stomach bugs, strep throat. I myself was just coming off a sinus infection.