News
Cheaper, alternative health plans are having a moment, but critics urge caution
3+ hour, 1+ min ago (783+ words) Melanie Miller, a retired teacher who lives in Michigan, looked outside the Affordable Care Act marketplace for health insurance because her premium payment was set to nearly triple. She now has two plans, one for routine and urgent care and…...
Bill of the Month: He needs an expensive drug. A copay card helped " until it didn't
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (1497+ words) Jayant Mishra of Mission Viejo, California, was concerned about cost when his doctor diagnosed him with an autoimmune disease and recommended an expensive, brand-name drug. He enrolled in the drugmaker's copay assistance program, but the assistance ran out in less…...
Unemployed and uninsured: The gamble of going without health insurance to save money
3+ mon, 3+ week ago (1807+ words) Losing a job can feel like a one-two punch: the loss of both income and health insurance. (Dreamstime/TNS) Sixty percent of Americans under age 65 " that's about 164. 7 million people " receive their health insurance through their employer, according to a Kaiser…...
Medical bills can be vexing and perplexing. Here's important advice for patients
4+ mon, 3+ week ago (514+ words) A Texas boy's second dose of the MMRV vaccine cost over $1, 400. A Pennsylvania woman's long-acting birth control cost more than $14, 000. Treatment for a Florida Medicaid enrollee's heart attack cost nearly $78, 000 " about as much as surgery for an uninsured Montana woman's…...
Health Care Helpline: Try this when your doctor says "yes" to a preventive test but insurance says "no"
9+ mon, 5+ day ago (839+ words) A small number of insurance plans are "grandfathered in" which means you may not have the same rights and protections as the ACA provides. (KFF Health News/TNS) "My son was diagnosed with congenital CMV, a virus that can cause…...
Protect your health and your wealth: 5 tips to beat medical debt
7+ mon, 1+ week ago (1155+ words) Medical debt is one of the sneakiest ways financial stress shows up in people's lives. According to Kaiser Family Foundation's (KFF) analysis of government data, Americans owe at least US $220 billion in medical debt. Approximately 14 million adults owe more than…...
Insurance company repeatedly denied her medical claim, then AI delivered victory
8+ mon, 2+ week ago (963+ words) Lauren Gonzalves, a cancer care social worker, is seen at her home in Concord, Calif. , on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. Gonzalves uses the Counterforce website, which works with AI to help individuals dispute medical bills. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Health…...
Medicaid cuts are coming: 4 ways Americans with disabilities can start protecting their finances
8+ mon, 2+ week ago (729+ words) If you receive disability benefits, understanding your financial options can help you navigate your personal finances with confidence. (Dreamstime/TNS) Alexis Leone, a 34-year-old mother of five in rural Mississippi, initially tried her best to juggle her full-time job with…...