Health Care Helpline

Health Care Helpline

Try This When Your Doctor Says ‘Yes’ to a Preventive Test but Insurance Says ‘No’

A joint project of NPR and KFF Health News, Health Care Helpline helps you navigate the health system hurdles between you and good care. Send us your tricky questions, and we may tap a policy sleuth to puzzle them out. Here is what to do if your preventive care gets denied.

Health Care Helpline

So Your Insurance Dropped Your Doctor. Now What?

Patients sometimes find themselves scrambling for affordable care when a contract dispute causes a hospital — and most of the doctors and other clinicians who work there — to be dropped from an insurance network. Here are six things to know if that happens to you.

Headaches Over the Health System?

Health Care Helpline helps you navigate the hurdles between you and good care. Send us your tricky question and we may tap a policy sleuth to puzzle it out.

To Knock Down Health-System Hurdles Between You and HIV Prevention, Try These 6 Things

By Zach Dyer Illustrations by Oona Zenda KFF Health News Original

It’s been more than 10 years since the FDA first approved an HIV prevention drug. Today, people who could benefit from preexposure prophylaxis often struggle to access the lifesaving medicine or run into doctors without the education or empathy to offer affirming care. And those lapses can produce billing headaches.

Listen: The Surprising Power of Pushback When Health Insurance Won’t Pay

By Jackie Fortiér KFF Health News Original

Denied coverage for preventive care? You’re not powerless. In this new episode of NPR’s “Life Kit” podcast, KFF Health News reporter Jackie Fortiér explores why denials happen and how to avoid common pitfalls.