health care costs

A mom took her 3-year-old to the ER last December. While they were waiting to be seen, the toddler seemed better, so they left without seeing a doctor. Then the bill came.

Advocates stress that patients shouldn’t be intimidated by the health system. If you’ve received a surprise medical bill, here’s what you should know.

Legal maneuvering, industry lobbying and lax IRS oversight leave lots of room for “operating surpluses.”

Rising health care costs are fueling anxiety among older Americans covered by Medicare. They’re right to be concerned.

Although reducing student loan debt has been a focus for President Joe Biden, the poll found that Americans are more likely to say medical debt relief should be a government priority.

Technological advances including the widespread use of algorithms make it easier for companies to fix prices without explicitly coordinating, Lina Khan said.

Systems are increasingly stretching a velvet rope, offering “concierge physician service” to an affluent clientele who pay a yearly fee. Critics say the practice exacerbates primary care shortages.

It’s estimated that an older patient can spend three weeks of the year getting care — and that doesn’t count the time it takes to arrange appointments or deal with insurance companies.

The federal government requires every state to recover money from the assets of dead people who, in their final years, relied on Medicaid for long-term care. Critics want the practice to stop.

The presidential election is likely to turn on the simple question of whether Americans want Donald Trump back in the White House. But health care tops the list of household financial worries for adults from both parties.