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New Netflix Horror Flick “The Deliverance” Tackles Medicaid Troubles, Medical Debt

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 599 implied HN points • 05 Sep 24
🏥 Health Politics Medicaid Medical Debt Health care Insurance Patient rights
  1. The movie 'The Deliverance' highlights the struggles of a family facing both a demonic presence and real-life issues with the U.S. healthcare system. It shows how complicated and scary healthcare can feel for many families.
  2. Many healthcare providers are dropping Medicaid patients, making it harder for those in need to find care. The film illustrates the true horror of loved ones having to pay medical bills out-of-pocket when Medicaid support is unavailable.
  3. Medical debt is a serious problem in the U.S., affecting countless families. The film ends with the family battling real financial burdens, reminding viewers that there's no easy fix for medical bills.

Governor Tim Walz's Track Record on Medical Debt, Public Option, UnitedHealth Group

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 1059 implied HN points • 07 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy Elections Medical Debt Insurance
  1. Governor Tim Walz has worked to make healthcare more accessible in Minnesota, leading to a drop in the uninsured rate. This means more people are getting the healthcare they need.
  2. Walz supports a public option for healthcare which aims to provide more choices and better coverage for citizens. This effort shows his commitment to improving the healthcare system.
  3. He is focused on reducing medical debt and drug costs, making healthcare fairer for everyone. His efforts include laws that help ensure people can access necessary care without financial worry.

Addressing Medical Debt Is Important. Addressing Its Root Causes Is Just As Essential.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 679 implied HN points • 26 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical Debt Health care Policy Reform Political Advocacy Insurance Issues
  1. Medical debt is a serious issue affecting millions of Americans, even those with health insurance. It's important to address the immediate effects of this debt but also look at what causes it.
  2. Many families face the risk of losing their homes and filing for bankruptcy because of medical debt. This situation can have a lasting impact on future generations.
  3. There are calls for reforms, like capping out-of-pocket costs for medical expenses. It's crucial for leaders to support these changes to help reduce the burden of medical debt.

Secrets From a Hospital CEO: How Big Hospital Chains Suck Money Out of Your Local Community

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 779 implied HN points • 15 May 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare system Medical Debt Corporate Practices Community Impact Health Insurance
  1. Big hospital chains often prioritize profits over patient care, leading to high salaries for executives while many people struggle with medical debt. This focus on money can hurt local communities by draining resources that could have been used for patient care.
  2. Health insurance companies have complicated systems that sometimes make it hard for patients to get the care they need. Instead of focusing on helping people, they often get caught up in making profits and managing money.
  3. Employers and patients should educate themselves about the healthcare system. Understanding how it works can help them make better choices and potentially reduce costs in healthcare.

Commonwealth Fund: The U.S. Health Care System Is an International Embarrassment

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 3 HN points • 25 Sep 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare access Medical Debt Insurance Coverage Policy Reform Public Health
  1. The U.S. spends a lot more on healthcare than other rich countries but still has many people in medical debt. This shows that high costs are a big issue for Americans, even for those with insurance.
  2. Many Americans, even those with jobs, are underinsured because of high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. This leads to people avoiding necessary medical care.
  3. The government is trying to reduce medical debt and propose solutions like capping out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. This would help many people afford their medications and healthcare services more easily.
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She was the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal in Olympic gymnastics. Now she's buried in medical debt.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 679 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare access Insurance Market Medical Debt Policy Reform Profit Margins
  1. Mary Lou Retton, a celebrated Olympic gymnast, is struggling with large medical bills and has had to ask for help through crowdfunding. Despite her fame, she's one of millions of Americans facing healthcare debt.
  2. UnitedHealth, a major health insurer, is making huge profits while many people struggle to pay for their medical expenses. The company is focusing on profits instead of lowering costs for its customers.
  3. Many insured Americans are also facing high out-of-pocket costs and can't afford healthcare, even with insurance. This situation reveals serious flaws in the healthcare system that need attention from lawmakers.

Without health insurance, poverty is just a medical bill away

American Inequality • 609 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🏥 Health Politics Insurance Medicaid Medical Debt Healthcare system
  1. Lack of health insurance leads to inequalities and higher child mortality rates.
  2. High costs hinder insurance enrollment, with many uninsured Americans being from low-income households.
  3. Employer-based health insurance in the U.S. has roots in historical events and presents challenges like 'job-lock' and lack of coverage for gig-workers.

The LOOP NOW Coalition sent a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to introduce bipartisan legislation to begin reducing Americans’ exposure to absurdly high out-of-pocket requirements.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 719 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy Medical Debt Legislation Insurance Economic Impact
  1. Many Americans, even those with health insurance, are struggling with high medical debt. This situation affects around 100 million people.
  2. The LOOP NOW Coalition is urging Congress to pass laws that lower out-of-pocket costs for healthcare. They want to limit annual expenses for medications and treatments.
  3. Currently, out-of-pocket health costs can reach over $9,000 for individuals, which makes it tough for families to afford necessary care. The coalition is working with lawmakers from both parties to tackle this issue.

An epidemic of medical debt is devastating American families as health insurers ratchet up out-of-pocket demands

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 439 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🏥 Health Politics Medical Debt Insurance Healthcare Costs Consumer Advocacy Public Health
  1. Many American families are struggling with medical debt because health insurance companies are making them pay more out of pocket before they get any help. This leaves lots of people feeling like they don't have any insurance for most of the year.
  2. The rise in medical costs is leading to serious financial problems, with a large number of people owing money due to health care expenses. This debt crisis affects millions, and many people feel they might never fully pay it off.
  3. The way healthcare is organized forces people to pay higher costs for their care, often putting them in tough situations where they can't afford necessary treatments. Despite promises of affordable care, the system still seems to favor higher spending on healthcare.

$335 million take-home: here are the 7 health insurance CEOs who made it big in 2022

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 559 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Insurance Medical Debt Government programs
  1. Seven health insurance CEOs made a whopping $335 million in 2022, which is 18% more than the previous record. Most of their earnings came from big stock buybacks by their companies.
  2. Molina's CEO earned more than half of the total amount, making $181 million, while the smallest companies made most of their money from taxpayer-funded programs like Medicaid.
  3. The increase in CEO pay is concerning, especially since it has happened while many Americans struggle with high medical costs and debts, indicating a focus on profits over patient care.

State and local governments are acting to unburden millions in medical debt but federal action is still needed

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 299 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare access Medical Debt Policy Reform Insurance Issues
  1. Many people, even with health insurance, struggle to pay medical bills. High deductibles and out-of-pocket costs can make accessing healthcare really stressful.
  2. State and local governments are starting to help by abolishing medical debt for residents, providing immediate relief. This makes a huge difference in people's lives and encourages them to seek necessary healthcare.
  3. While local actions are positive, more federal support is needed to truly tackle medical debt. There’s a call for Congress to lower out-of-pocket costs and improve insurance protections so that medical debt doesn't become a lasting issue for many families.

Cigna and CVS's CEOs pulled in $632 million while 100 million Americans are buried under medical debt

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 479 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare access Medical Debt Insurance Industry Corporate Accountability
  1. The CEOs of Cigna and CVS made a staggering $632 million while many Americans struggle with medical debt. This highlights a big gap between executive pay and the financial struggles of everyday people.
  2. One of the main issues is that many in the U.S. have extremely high deductibles, which means they take on a lot of out-of-pocket expenses before getting any help from insurance.
  3. There is a huge disparity in pay between these executives and their employees, with ratios reaching as high as 458 to 1. This raises questions about how fairly companies value their workers compared to top management.

The Big Seven health insurers spent $26.2 billion buying back their own stocks in 2022 to enrich CEOs, shareholders

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 419 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🏥 Health Politics Insurance Medical Debt Policy Corporate ethics Healthcare access
  1. The Big Seven health insurers spent $26.2 billion on buying back their stocks in just one year, which mostly benefited wealthy shareholders and CEOs.
  2. Despite making over $69 billion in profits in 2022, many Americans are struggling with high medical debt due to high-deductible insurance plans.
  3. Instead of helping patients, the focus remains on increasing share prices, leading to calls for legislation that could tax stock buybacks and support patients with their medical expenses.

16 years ago, my story was told in Michael Moore's documentary "Sicko." I still struggle for the health care I need

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 339 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
🏥 Health Politics Health care Medical Debt Insurance Issues Policy Reform Advocacy
  1. Having health insurance isn't always enough. Many people still face huge costs and hardships despite having coverage.
  2. Medical bills can lead to severe financial strain and even bankruptcy, impacting people's lives deeply.
  3. Advocacy for better healthcare systems is crucial, and personal stories highlight the struggles that many individuals endure with the current system.

Atrium Health halts lawsuits against patients for unpaid medical bills

The Charlotte Ledger • 137 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Medical Debt Patient Advocacy Hospitals
  1. Atrium Health has stopped suing patients for unpaid medical bills, a practice criticized for targeting vulnerable individuals.
  2. The change comes amidst increasing concern over medical debt burdens on Americans.
  3. Despite halting new lawsuits, Atrium still pursues payment for existing judgments, leaving some patients struggling with debt.

The American Health Care System is on the Brink of Collapse: How the Center for Health & Democracy Will Help Us Fix It

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 319 implied HN points • 31 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Health care Insurance Health Reform Medical Debt Legislation
  1. The American healthcare system is failing, with many people struggling to get the care they need while insurance companies make huge profits.
  2. The Center for Health & Democracy aims to expose issues in the insurance industry and work for meaningful reforms to help improve healthcare access and affordability.
  3. Many Americans are dealing with high medical costs and debt, and there is a growing need for significant changes to ensure everyone gets proper healthcare without financial burden.

Welcome to HEALTH CARE un-covered (formerly Wendell Potter NOW)

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 319 implied HN points • 27 Jan 23
🏥 Health Politics Health care Insurance Policy Reform Medical Debt Patient Advocacy
  1. Many patients are struggling with high medical costs and debt, making it hard for them to get the care they need. Even those with insurance often end up underinsured and facing high out-of-pocket expenses.
  2. Big insurance companies are reporting record profits while many people still lack proper coverage or are pushed into bankruptcy due to healthcare costs. This shows a big gap in the current healthcare system.
  3. There's a push for more transparency in healthcare costs and a call for reforms to create a fairer system. The aim is to educate both the public and lawmakers about the issues and to find better solutions together.

Top U.S. “Non-Profit” Hospitals & CEOs Racked Up Huge Pandemic Profits

OpenTheBooks Substack • 343 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare system Medical Debt
  1. Top U.S. non-profit hospitals received $23 billion in Covid-aid but did not comply with price transparency rules.
  2. Hospital executives received huge compensation packages, with some CEOs making over $10 million per year.
  3. Despite receiving Covid aid, hospital net assets significantly increased while U.S. life expectancy dropped by 2.5 years.

Hospital megasystems join insurers in a pattern of mergers and acquisitions, patients pay the price.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 239 implied HN points • 27 Sep 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare system Medical Debt Health Insurance Patient rights Policy Reform
  1. Many hospital systems are merging with insurers, making healthcare more expensive for patients. This means folks often end up paying out-of-pocket costs that can be shockingly high.
  2. Patients with insurance are still struggling financially due to high deductibles. Even insured people can find themselves unable to afford medical bills, leading some to sell their homes or declare bankruptcy.
  3. There is a growing concern that hospital mergers are not improving care or lowering costs. Policymakers are being urged to look at how these changes are affecting patients and the overall healthcare system.

CVS/Aetna's $9 billion in profits paid for a lavish party and stock buybacks. Not patients' medical claims.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 239 implied HN points • 10 Aug 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare access Corporate Profits Patient Advocacy Medical Debt Insurance Industry
  1. CVS/Aetna made $9 billion in profits, which they used for parties and buying back stocks, not helping patients with their medical costs.
  2. Many patients are struggling with high out-of-pocket medical expenses, leading them to seek help through crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe.
  3. Executives at CVS/Aetna are making huge salaries, while the company is spending less on actual patient care, raising concerns about corporate priorities in healthcare.

What I'm Reading: PBM front groups, Biden on prior authorization and American's $88 billion medical debt problem

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 139 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Reform Medical Debt Insurance policies
  1. Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have a big impact on drug prices, often leading to high out-of-pocket costs for patients. Many people don't know much about PBMs, and there's a push to educate more on their role in the healthcare system.
  2. Big insurance companies are under scrutiny for using front groups to lobby against healthcare reforms. These groups aim to protect their profits, especially in areas like Medicare Advantage plans, while avoiding direct public backlash.
  3. Prior authorization is increasingly being criticized for delaying medical care due to insurance companies denying necessary treatments. Both the Biden administration and many states are looking to reform this process to improve access to care.

HOW IRONIC: Corporate health insurance consultants blame high medical costs on our "bad habits" and "overuse" of system.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 139 implied HN points • 21 Oct 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Costs Insurance Issues Medical Debt Patient Advocacy
  1. Health insurance consultants often blame people's bad habits for rising medical costs, while huge insurance companies are making record profits. This seems very unfair to the average person trying to access affordable care.
  2. Many insured Americans are still struggling with medical debt and high out-of-pocket expenses. It's tough when even people with insurance can't afford their medications or treatments.
  3. The focus should be on the greed of insurance companies rather than blaming individuals. Insurers could help lower costs, but they often choose profit over patient care, leaving many people in financial trouble.

These two helped get us into the health care mess we're in. Maybe they can help get us out.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 199 implied HN points • 18 Mar 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy Medical Debt Consumerism Public Health
  1. High-deductible health plans make people avoid necessary care because they can't afford the out-of-pocket costs. This leads many to skip doctor visits and medications.
  2. Many Americans with insurance are still facing financial struggles, often leading to medical debt and even bankruptcy. This happens because their insurance doesn't cover enough of their medical expenses.
  3. Healthcare executives need to rethink their strategies. The current focus on 'consumerism' has created serious problems for patients, pushing many to choose between essential care and basic living expenses.

The $140 billion the New York Times says Americans owe in medical debt is just the tip of the iceberg.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 99 implied HN points • 21 Jul 21
🏥 Health Politics Medical Debt Insurance Issues Patient Advocacy Healthcare Costs Public Policy
  1. Americans owe $140 billion in medical debt, but this number is likely much larger. Many people are also using credit cards to cover healthcare costs, which adds to the debt.
  2. A significant amount of medical debt comes from insured people, not just the uninsured. High deductibles make it hard for many to afford care even with insurance.
  3. High-deductible health plans can be risky, as they can lead to big out-of-pocket costs when people get sick. This situation needs more attention from lawmakers to protect individuals from financial ruin.