Insurance, Cost & Coverage
Broker Websites Expand Health Plan Shopping Options While Glossing Over Details
By Julie Appleby
These direct-enrollment broker websites are “under-policed” and can steer consumers toward plans that may not be the best option for them, a new report concludes.
New Health Plans Expose The Insured To More Risk
By Julie Appleby
Well-known insurers are offering plans with lower premiums. But they could leave patients on the hook for unexpected costs.
This Time When My Water Breaks, Take Me To A Hospital Without Surprise Bills
By Rachel Bluth
New research shows how an experience with surprise medical bills can guide patients’ future decision-making.
Meow-ch! The $48,512 Cat Bite
By Julie Appleby
An animal lover stopped to feed a hungry-looking stray cat outside Everglades National Park in Florida. First, the cat bit her finger — then the hospital billed her close to $50,000 for a treatment that typically costs about $3,000.
Cancer’s Complications: Confusing Bills, Maddening Errors And Endless Phone Calls
By Anna Gorman
Carol Marley has pancreatic cancer — and dealing with its financial toll has become her full-time job.
The High Cost Of Sex: Insurers Often Don’t Pay For Drugs To Treat Problems
By Michelle Andrews
Medicare and many private insurers view prescribing drugs to improve sexual function as a lifestyle issue that’s not medically necessary to pay for.
Texans Can Appeal Surprise Medical Bills, But The Process Can Be Draining
By Ashley Lopez, KUT
In Texas, many people have a right to mediation of medical bills. But the concept can be off-putting, and patients often think they need a lawyer, which isn't the case.
Ideas To Curb Surprise Medical Bills Percolate With Rare Bipartisan Push
By Shefali Luthra and Emmarie Huetteman
The recent declaration by President Donald Trump that taming unexpected medical bills would be a top priority for his administration echoed through the halls of Congress.
Patients Suffer When Health Care Behemoths Quarrel Over Contracts
By Barbara Feder Ostrov
The latest example is Sutter Health and Anthem Blue Cross, whose failure to seal a deal is causing Anthem members to worry they may not have access to one of the dominant hospital chains in Northern California. Across the U.S., the stakes in such contract fights have risen, as health systems and insurers battle to increase their market share.
Nonprofit Dental Insurer Under Scrutiny For ‘Flagrant’ Spending
By Anna Maria Barry-Jester
Delta Dental of California, with more than 36 million enrollees across the country, is looking to buy a stake in a for-profit insurance company based in Oregon. Consumer advocates are calling on regulators to scrutinize the transaction, arguing that it is just the latest questionable move by the nonprofit dental insurer whose corporate practices may be out of step with its tax-exempt status.
Hope You’re Sitting Down: Hospital Charges $4,700 For A Fainting Spell
By Phil Galewitz
A 39-year-old man fainted after getting a flu shot at work, and a colleague called 911. He turned out to be fine, but the trip to the ER cost him his whole deductible.
GoFundMe CEO: ‘Gigantic Gaps’ In Health System Showing Up In Crowdfunding
By Rachel Bluth
Fundraising for medical expenses leads this crowdfunding website and, according to its chief executive, highlights a deep national need to address the high costs of health care.
As Hospitals Post Sticker Prices Online, Most Patients Will Remain Befuddled
By Julie Appleby and Barbara Feder Ostrov
The new rule took effect Jan. 1 but, for consumers seeking hospital price information, using it to find answers may be like searching for a needle in a haystack.