The hottest Medical costs Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health Politics Topics

While Cigna Saddles Patients with Increasing Out-of-Pocket Requirements, the Company Bought Back $5 Billion of Its Own Stock

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 959 implied HN points • 01 Aug 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical costs
  1. Cigna spent $5 billion buying back its own stock while customers face rising healthcare costs. This shows a focus on profits over patient care.
  2. Cigna has lost nearly 500,000 health plan members after raising premiums, indicating they prioritize shareholder gains over customer retention.
  3. President Biden wants to limit out-of-pocket drug costs to $2,000 a year, which could help many Americans afford medications better. Insurers like Cigna may resist these changes but it could reduce unfair financial burdens on patients.

South Park Tackles Prior Authorization. It Would be Funny if It Wasn't so Damn Deadly.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 699 implied HN points • 23 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical costs
  1. South Park humorously shows how hard it is to get health insurance to pay for needed treatments. This reflects the frustrating challenges many people face with their own health insurance.
  2. Prior authorization is a process where insurance companies require approval before covering treatments or medications. This can delay care and even lead people to give up on getting the help they need.
  3. Many doctors and healthcare workers are overwhelmed by the amount of time spent dealing with insurance approvals. This adds costs to the healthcare system and can negatively impact patient outcomes.

On the deep crisis in American medicine - and the broad societal anger and cynicism it is driving

Unreported Truths • 61 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical costs
  1. Healthcare costs in America are extremely high, and many people struggle to pay bills despite spending so much on health services.
  2. The quality of American healthcare outcomes is lagging behind other countries, with lower life expectancy and other health issues.
  3. Many people feel distrustful and frustrated with the healthcare system, believing it often prioritizes profit over patient care.

Millions of Americans can't afford their out-of-pocket costs. We want to tell those stories.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 99 implied HN points • 21 Sep 22
🏥 Health Politics Medical costs
  1. Many Americans struggle to afford their out-of-pocket healthcare costs, often leading them to delay necessary medical care. High-deductible health plans are making it harder for people to afford the care they need.
  2. The Affordable Care Act has a flaw, with high out-of-pocket costs causing many insured individuals to feel like they are 'functionally uninsured'. This means they have insurance but can’t afford to use it.
  3. Insurance companies continue to raise costs, which puts more financial pressure on families. Without action, more people will find themselves unable to afford their healthcare, even if they have insurance.

⛑️ Fixing Healthcare is Easy

UnfairNation by Ehsan Zaffar • 6 implied HN points • 05 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Medical costs
  1. Healthcare in the U.S. is way too expensive compared to other countries. Insulin costs $300 here, but only $3 in many places around the world.
  2. Medical bills are a major cause of bankruptcies. Simplifying these costs could help many people and boost the economy.
  3. Insurance should not be tied to your job. Everyone should have access to healthcare, regardless of their employment status.
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