Consumer News: Could AI help you in your encounters with customer service?

Researchers say most sinus infections clear up without antibiotics

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Nearly 78% of primary care clinicians prescribed antibiotics for acute sinus infections in cases identified as inconsistent with recommended care, according to a new nationwide study.

• Antibiotic overuse varies by state, with the highest rates found in South Dakota, Utah and Washington.

• Unnecessary antibiotics can do more harm than good, increasing the risk of side effects, contributing to antibiotic resistance and driving up healthcare costs.

If you've ever visited a doctor complaining of a sinus infection, there's a good chance you left with a prescription for antibiotics. But new research suggests that prescription may not have been necessary.

A nationwide study by healthcare analytics company Motive Medical Intelligence found that 77.8% of primary care clinicians overprescribed antibiotics for acute sinusitis, a common condition that causes nasal congestion, facial pressure and headaches.

The study analyzed insurance claims involving 22,178 primary care clinicians across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The data covered January 2023 through December 2024.

Researchers found a significant disconnect between established medical guidelines and what happens in doctors' offices.

Most sinus infections are caused by viruses, not bacteria. Since antibiotics only work against bacterial infections, taking them for viral sinusitis provides no benefit.

"Prescribing an antibiotic for acute sinusitis is a particularly frustrating example of low-value care, as the evidence has been known for years," said Dr. Rich Klasco, chief medical officer of Motive Medical Intelligence.

Some states have higher overprescribing rates

Although antibiotic overuse was widespread, the researchers found significant differences among states.

Minnesota had the lowest rate, at 70.4%, followed by Louisiana at 71.3%. Both met the company's 72% performance benchmark.

At the other end of the spectrum, South Dakota recorded an overprescribing rate of 83.8%, followed by Utah at 83.7% and Washington at 83.6%.

The findings suggest that patients' likelihood of receiving unnecessary antibiotics may depend partly on where they receive medical care.

However, even the best-performing states showed substantial opportunities for improvement.

The study measured clinicians' prescribing patterns using insurance claims and the company's clinical appropriateness standards. It did not establish that every individual prescription was unnecessary.

Why doctors keep prescribing antibiotics

Sinusitis is one of the most common reasons Americans seek medical care. About one in eight adults reports having sinusitis annually, and the condition accounts for more than 30 million diagnoses each year.

Despite longstanding recommendations to avoid antibiotics for uncomplicated infections, the practice persists.

Researchers point to several possible explanations.

Some physicians worry about overlooking a serious bacterial infection. Others may believe patients expect to receive medication and will be dissatisfied if they leave without a prescription.

Patients also sometimes assume that antibiotics will help them recover faster, even when the infection is viral.

But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most uncomplicated sinus infections improve without antibiotic treatment.

Medical guidelines generally recommend considering antibiotics when symptoms persist for more than 10 days without improvement, become severe or worsen after initially getting better.

The risks of unnecessary antibiotics

Taking antibiotics when they aren't needed carries risks beyond wasting money.

Antibiotics can cause diarrhea, nausea, allergic reactions and other side effects. In some cases, they can also disrupt beneficial bacteria in the body and increase the risk of serious infections, including Clostridioides difficile, commonly called C. diff.

Unnecessary antibiotic use also contributes to antibiotic resistance, making bacterial infections more difficult to treat over time.

The CDC considers improving antibiotic prescribing an important public health priority. Its 2025 antibiotic stewardship report, published in February 2026, found that unnecessary prescribing remains a concern, particularly for respiratory illnesses.

Motive's report cites estimates that inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for acute sinusitis accounts for nearly 20% of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions and contributes to more than $11 billion in annual U.S. healthcare costs. Those are estimates cited by the company, not costs independently calculated from its new claims analysis.

What consumers should do when they have a sinus infection

The findings don't mean patients should refuse antibiotics whenever a doctor prescribes them. Bacterial sinus infections sometimes require treatment, particularly when symptoms are severe, prolonged or worsening.

But patients can ask whether antibiotics are necessary and whether it would be reasonable to wait.

For uncomplicated sinus infections, physicians may recommend treatments aimed at relieving symptoms while the body's immune system clears the infection.

These can include saline nasal rinses, nasal steroid sprays when appropriate, rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain relievers.

"But patients don't need to leave empty-handed, and doctors don't need to fear patient dissatisfaction," Klasco said. He recommends symptom-relief measures and a clear plan for follow-up.

Patients should seek medical attention for severe symptoms, including significant facial pain, persistent high fever, swelling around the eyes or symptoms that worsen after initially improving.

The researchers say healthcare systems could reduce unnecessary prescriptions by monitoring individual clinicians' prescribing patterns and comparing them with evidence-based treatment guidelines.

For consumers, the message is straightforward: An antibiotic prescription isn't always the best treatment for a sinus infection. Sometimes, allowing the infection to run its course, while managing symptoms and monitoring for complications, is the safer choice.

The airline and Citi are betting that extra benefits will persuade customers to pay an additional $51 a year.

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Higher annual fees: American Airlines and Citi are increasing annual fees on two popular AAdvantage credit cards from $99 to $150, a 52% increase.

• New benefits: Cardholders will receive additional travel protections, more opportunities to earn miles, and new statement credits intended to offset the higher cost.

• Changes begin in January: The new fees and benefits take effect January 24, 2027, giving existing cardholders time to decide whether the cards are still worth keeping.

Airfares arent the only thing going up for travelers. American Airlines is raising the annual fees on two of its popular rewards credit cards, joining a growing number of airlines and financial institutions that are charging consumers more for premium travel benefits.

The airline and its credit card partner, Citi, announced that the annual fee for the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard and Citi/AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard will increase from $99 to $150 beginning January 24, 2027.

That's an additional $51 a year, or an increase of approximately 52%.

The cards will continue to waive the annual fee for the first 12 months for new cardholders. Existing customers will generally encounter the higher fee at their next renewal after the changes take effect.

In exchange, American and Citi are introducing several new benefits, including expanded mileage rewards, travel protections and statement credits.

"We're continuing to evolve the Citi/AAdvantage portfolio to better reflect how our members live, spend and travel today," said Scott Long, American's senior vice president of AAdvantage.

What's changing for cardholders?

The Platinum Select card, which is marketed primarily to occasional travelers, is getting several new features.

Cardholders will earn three AAdvantage miles for every dollar spent on eligible hotel and rental car reservations booked through American's designated websites

The card will also award two miles per dollar on purchases at electric vehicle charging stations, select streaming services, and eligible rideshare and public transportation purchases.

Other new benefits include:

• Up to $100 annually in statement credits for eligible inflight purchases.

• Up to $120 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years.

• A complimentary Walmart+ membership, valued at $98 annually.

• A 50% discount on an annual FOX One streaming subscription.

• New travel protections covering trip delays, cancellations, interruptions, lost baggage and rental cars.

The annual American Airlines flight discount is also increasing from $125 to $150. However, qualifying for that benefit requires spending at least $20,000 on the card during the membership year and renewing it.

The Business Mastercard is receiving similar travel credits and protections, along with expanded rewards for certain business purchases and a discount on a Melio business payments subscription.

Both cards will retain existing benefits, including a free first checked bag on eligible domestic American Airlines flights for the primary cardholder and up to four companions on the same reservation.

One existing benefit is disappearing. The cards' 25% discount on eligible inflight purchases is being replaced with the new annual statement credit of up to $100.

Are the new benefits worth another $51?

That depends largely on how frequently cardholders travel and whether they actually use the additional benefits.

For example, a customer who already pays $98 annually for Walmart+ could potentially offset the entire $51 fee increase through the complimentary membership alone.

Someone who regularly purchases food or beverages aboard American Airlines flights might also benefit from the new inflight statement credits.

However, consumers who rarely fly American Airlines or don't use the additional services could find themselves paying more for benefits they don't need.

The Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credits may be attractive, but they're available only once every four years. Consumers who already receive those benefits through another credit card may see little additional value.

Similarly, the increased flight discount requires substantial annual spending, making it less useful to occasional travelers.

Airline credit cards are becoming more expensive

American's announcement reflects a broader trend in the credit card industry, where issuers are increasing annual fees while adding perks intended to justify the additional expense.

Several competing airline credit cards have also become more expensive, while premium general-purpose travel cards have seen particularly large fee increases.

For card issuers, the strategy is to offer additional benefits that encourage customers to use their cards more frequently, potentially generating more revenue from purchases.

For consumers, however, the growing number of benefits can make it harder to determine whether they're actually getting their money's worth.

A credit card offering hundreds of dollars in potential savings isn't necessarily a bargain if those savings require purchases or subscriptions the consumer wouldn't otherwise make.

What cardholders should do before January

Consumers who currently carry either of the affected American Airlines credit cards should review their spending and travel habits before their next annual fee is charged. Start by calculating how much money the card saved over the past year through free checked bags, travel discounts and other benefits.

Then compare those savings with the new $150 annual fee. Consumers should also determine whether the new benefits duplicate rewards already available through other credit cards.

For example, travelers who already have a credit card offering TSA PreCheck reimbursement or rental car coverage may gain little from having those features added to their American Airlines card.

Cardholders who decide the increased fee isn't worthwhile can ask Citi whether a product change to a lower-cost or no-annual-fee card is available.

Closing an account is another option, although consumers should consider the potential impact on their credit scores, particularly if the account has a long history or a large available credit limit.

Early assessments suggest older Mac owners stand to benefit most.

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Apples new iMac adds the M6 chip, faster storage and upgraded wireless connections while retaining its familiar 24-inch design.

• Prices start at $1,499, with preorders opening October 28 and availability beginning November 6.

• Early coverage highlights the internal upgrades, but independent testing is still needed to determine whether current iMac owners should upgrade.

Apple has introduced a new iMac, updating its colorful desktop computer with an M6 processor, faster storage and improved connectivity as it heads into the holiday shopping season.

The computer retains the thin, all-in-one design that combines the display and computing hardware in a single enclosure. Apple is emphasizing improvements inside the machine, particularly for photo editing, multitasking and artificial intelligence applications.

The M6 offers configurations with up to a 12-core central processor and 12-core graphics processor. Apple says selected productivity tasks run up to 1.5 times faster than on the M4 iMac, while certain graphics workloads can perform up to twice as fast. Selected on-device AI tasks can run up to five times faster, according to the company.

Those are Apples performance claims, with results dependent on the application and configuration. They should not be interpreted as equivalent speed increases across every task.

Other upgrades include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, optional 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet and storage that Apple says delivers up to twice the previous models performance. The computer runs macOS 27 and supports Apple Intelligence and Siri AI.

The iMac continues to offer a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display and color-matched accessories. Buyers can choose blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange or silver. Apple lists support for up to 32GB of unified memory, which the processor and graphics system share.

For consumers considering the entry-level model, configuration differences deserve attention. MacRumors reports that the $1,499 version includes a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU and two Thunderbolt 4 ports.

What reviewers are saying so far

At announcement time, the available coverage is primarily launch reporting and early analysis, rather than a completed round of independent reviews.

AppleInsiders William Gallagher questioned whether the improvement over the M4 model would be substantial enough to justify replacing it, saying testing would help settle that question. His assessment identified owners of Intel-based iMacs, and potentially the original M1 version, as the more likely upgrade audience.

Reviews of the previous model help explain the appeal of the design Apple is keeping. Toms Guide praised the M4 iMacs display, webcam, speakers and suitability as a family computer. Its reservations included the stands lack of height adjustment. Those findings concern the older model and do not establish how the new M6 performs.

For prospective buyers, the unresolved question is how much the faster hardware improves everyday use. Independent reviews will be needed to assess real-world speed, value and whether the new model offers a compelling reason to replace a recent iMac.

Amazon is selling a popular NeeDoh toy by invitation, and other hot holiday gifts could be next

• Amazon is making shoppers request invitations: The hard-to-find NeeDoh Teenie 10-Pack is available through an invitation-only purchasing system.

• Getting selected isn't guaranteed: Shoppers must request an invitation, watch their email, and complete their purchase within 72 hours if chosen.

• Other hot Christmas toys could be next: While no expansion is confirmed, shoppers should know regular retail prices and avoid overpriced resale listings.

Remember the days when buying a hot Christmas toy meant getting up early, standing in line, and hoping the store hadn't sold out?

Amazon is now using a different approach: You might have to request permission to buy one.

The latest example is the NeeDoh Teenie 10-Pack, a collection of colorful, squishy sensory toys that has become very difficult to find as the holiday shopping season heats up.

Instead of simply clicking "Add to Cart," shoppers must request an invitation and wait to see whether Amazon offers them a chance to buy. It's a system worth understanding now, especially if you have a child or grandchild asking for one of this year's hottest toys.

How Amazon's invitation-only shopping works

The process is fairly straightforward:

• Find the eligible product on Amazon. Instead of a normal purchase button, youll see a "Request Invite" option.

• Request an invitation. This doesn't mean you've purchased the item or secured a reservation.

• Watch your email. If youre lucky enough to be selected, Amazon will send you a link via email with instructions to complete your purchase.

• Don't miss the deadline. If you get the email, youll have exactly 72 hours to purchase the toy.

Amazon doesn't disclose exactly how it chooses which shoppers receive invitations. The process isn't necessarily first-come, first-served, and requesting an invitation doesn't guarantee you'll get a chance to buy.

Interestingly, Amazon says theyre doing it to ensure that genuine customers get the opportunity to buy them and so they dont all go to resellers looking to make a quick profit.

Why NeeDoh toys are suddenly so difficult to find

NeeDoh isn't a new toy. The squishy sensory products have been around for years, but social media has helped turn them into one of 2026's biggest toy crazes.

Some stores have experienced rapid sellouts, purchase limits, and customers lining up for restocks. The shortage has also attracted resellers charging substantially more than regular retail prices.

That makes invitation-only sales appealing to shoppers who would rather wait for a legitimate opportunity to buy than pay an inflated price on a resale marketplace.

Other hot toys that have gone invite only on Amazon recently include:

• Pokmon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $59.99

• NeeDoh Squishmas Advent Calendar $29.99

• NeeDoh Nice Cube Swirl $9.99

Could other popular Christmas toys get the same treatment?

Possibly, although there's no confirmation that Amazon plans to expand invitation-only purchasing to specific additional toys this holiday season.

The conditions that make these products attractive are already developing as Target's 2026 holiday toy list emphasizes sensory toys, collectibles, surprise-unboxing products, and popular licensed characters.

And retailers are seeing particularly strong interest in squishy toys and other inexpensive collectibles that can become overnight sensations on social media.

If another toy suddenly becomes impossible to find, an invitation-based sale is how retailers could manage their limited inventory. But dont assume every popular toy will be sold this way.

Four ways to avoid overpaying for a hot Christmas toy

1. Check the regular retail price first. Don't assume a higher price means a product is more valuable. Look at the manufacturer's website or established retailers to understand what it normally costs.

2. Check smaller local stores. Independent toy shops sometimes receive inventory that isn't available at major online retailers. Call ahead and ask about upcoming shipments or waiting lists.

3. Be skeptical of resale listings. Scammers often take advantage of toy shortages by advertising products they don't actually have. Avoid sellers demanding gift cards, wire transfers, or payment outside a marketplace's checkout system.

4. Have a backup gift ready. If your child's must-have toy is unavailable, consider a similar product rather than paying several times its regular price. For sensory toys, alternative squishies or thinking putty may deliver much of the same appeal.