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Health News Results - 43

Out-of-Pocket Costs for Cancer Care Keep Climbing

Cancer patients already have a lot to deal with emotionally and physically. But research shows that insured patients under 65 are also paying more for their treatments out-of-pocket than ever before.

The study highlights the "growing financial burden for non-elderly patients with cancer with pri...

Texas Court Case Could Threaten Americans' Health Care Nationwide

A federal lawsuit out of Texas could end access to free lifesaving preventive health care services for nearly 168 million people in the United States with private insurance, a new report suggests.

Kelley v. Becerra seeks to overturn the

  • By Robin Foster and Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporters
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  • July 27, 2022
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  • Health Care Plans Keep Allergy Rescue Injectors Pricey for Some

    Despite now having more choices for lifesaving emergency allergy injectors like EpiPens, the cost is still proving prohibitively expensive for some, new research shows.

    Even though most people are saving money with lower-priced alternatives...

    Crowdfunding for Medical Costs Almost Always Fails

    You have almost certainly seen the pleas while scrolling through social media: Called crowdfunding, folks try to raise money to pay for their sick loved one's mounting medical bills.

    But new research shows these grassroots campaigns rarely raise enough money to make a difference.

    According to GoFundMe, which corner...

    Calif. Universal Health Care System Bill Faces Monday Deadline

    California lawmakers must vote by Monday on whether to keep a bill to create a universal health care system moving forward.

    Monday, Jan. 31, is the last chance for California Democrats in the Assembly to keep the

  • Robert Preidt and Robin Foster
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  • January 31, 2022
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  • Colonoscopy Surprise Bills Should Be Thing of the Past, Experts Say

    Big surprise bills for any colonoscopy done after a positive result from a stool-based screening test will be prevented under new federal rules, a group of U.S. medical organizations say.

    On Jan. 10, the Biden administration issued guidance requiring private insurers to cover such colonoscopies.

    The guidance exp...

    Here's How to Get Your Free Home COVID Test Kits

    Home COVID tests are now available at no cost to most Americans, as part of the Biden administration's effort to increase testing around the United States.

    Folks can buy home tests online or in stores and be

  • Dennis Thompson
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  • January 18, 2022
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  • Full Page
  • Insurance Often Covers Ivermectin for COVID, Even Though Drug Doesn't Work

    U.S. insurers are paying millions of dollars a year to cover the cost of ivermectin for COVID-19 patients despite a lack of proof the anti-parasitic drug is effective against the virus, a new study finds.

    Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization say ivermectin pills -- typically used to treat parasitic infections like worms -- should not be used for COV...

    1 in 3 U.S. Children Lack Adequate Health Insurance

    Though they live in one of the world's richest nations, a growing number of young Americans are without ample health insurance.

    A new study reports that 34% of U.S. kids age 17 and under were "...

    Almost 13 Million Americans Per Year Skip Meds Due to Cost

    Nearly 13 million U.S. adults a year skip or delay filling needed prescriptions due to high price tags, new research shows.

    This figure includes more than 2.3 million Medicare beneficiaries and 3.8 million privately insured working-age adults who didn't get needed medications each year in 2018 and 2019 because of cost, according to a nationally representative survey of U.S. households.

    Workers' Share of Annual Premium for Employer Health Plans Nears $6,000

    Health insurance has gotten slightly more expensive during the pandemic: A new survey shows that annual family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 4%, to an average of $22,221 this year.

    Of that amount, employees paid an average of nearly $6,000 toward the cost of coverage, while employers paid the remainder of the premium.

    But there was some good news: The Kaiser ...

    Out-of-Pocket Medical Bills for COVID-19 May Average $3,800 in 2021: Study

    Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 could now face thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket medical costs, according to a new report.

    In 2020, most health insurance companies waived co-pays, deductibles and other cost-sharing for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, but many stopped doing that early this year, the University of Michigan researchers noted.

    "Many insurers claim that it is ju...

    Health Savings Accounts Used Least by People Who Need Them Most: Poll

    Tax-free health savings accounts can make it easier for Americans to pay for future health expenses, but most older adults aren't using them.

    A new poll by Michigan Medicine-University of Michigan found that while nearly 1 in 5 people weren't confident that they could afford their health costs, only about 12% of people had a flexible spending account (FSA). And just 45% of people who qual...

    When Deductibles Rise, More Diabetes Patients Skip Their Meds

    As many Americans know, today's health insurance plans often come with high deductibles. Those out-of-pocket costs could cause harm: New research shows that 20% of people who have diabetes and high-deductible health plans regularly skip their medications.

    Not keeping up with your diabetes medications comes with the potential risk of an emergency room visit or a hospitalization.

    Many Patients Billed for Preventive Care That Should Be Free: Study

    Many Americans are being charged for preventive -- and supposedly free -- health care, new research shows, and those bills may keep them from booking appointments in the future.

    Out-of-pocket charges for preventive care that should be free under the Affordable Care Act can discourage patients from receiving recommended care, said study lead author Alexander Hoagland, a Ph.D. student in ec...

    Many Hit Hard by Pandemic Now Swamped by Medical Debt

    The coronavirus pandemic has left plenty of Americans saddled with medical bills they can't pay, a new survey reveals.

    More than 50% of those who were infected with COVID-19 or who lost income due to the pandemic are now struggling with medical debt, according to researchers from The Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit organization that advocates a high-performing health care system.

    "T...

    Biden Administration Pushes Forward With Trump-Era Law on Surprise Medical Bills

    In a rare show of bipartisanship on health care, the Biden Administration is advancing Trump-era consumer protections aimed at curbing sometimes devastating surprise medical bills.

    It's an issue that seems to unite Americans of all political stripes: Bills that seemingly come out of nowhere after necessary medical treatments, and that can run anywhere from hundreds to tens of thousands o...

    High Deductibles Keep Folks With Chest Pain From Calling 911

    The public health message has always been loud and clear: If you are experiencing a medical emergency such as chest pain, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

    But a new study shows that a $1,000 or higher deductible on your health insurance plan may serve as a deterrent to seeking care when you experience chest pain that could signal a heart attack.

    "Plans with high out-of-...

    $10,000: What New Parents Might Pay for Childbirth, Even With Insurance

    Having a baby is expensive. The cost of diapers, a crib, a car seat and all the other infant necessities can really add up, and now a new study shows that having a child comes with its own hefty hospital price tag for many U.S. families.

    About one in six families in the Michigan Medicine study spent more than $5,000 to have a baby. For privately insured families whose babies required time...

    Why a COVID Diagnosis Could Cost You Way More Money in 2021

    COVID-19 could be a much more expensive experience for folks who fall ill this year, thanks to the return of deductibles and copays, new research suggests.

    Most folks who became gravely ill with COVID last year didn't face crushing medical bills because nearly all insurance companies agreed to waive cost-sharing for coronavirus care during the height of the pandemic, explained Dr. Kao-Pin...

    It's Still Tough to Find Prices on Most U.S. Hospital Websites

    U.S. hospitals have been required to make their prices public since 2019, but 18 months into the rule more than half weren't doing it, a new study finds.

    In 2018, the Trump administration issued a rule requiring hospitals to publish their "chargemasters" on their websites. A chargemaster is a rundown of a hospital's services, along with their list prices - something akin to the manufactur...

    When Drug Companies Raise Prices, Patients' Out-of-Pocket Costs Rise

    When prescription drug "list" prices go up, patients often take a hit in the wallet, a new study shows.

    Researchers found that while some people are buffered against drug price hikes by their health insurance plan, many are not.

    Those in plans that require co-insurance or a deductible for prescriptions typically watch their out-of-pocket expenses rise, according to the study.

    Buying Your Own Health Insurance Just Got Way Less Expensive

    Tens of millions of Americans will find it substantially more affordable to buy their own health insurance starting this month, thanks to generous financial help included in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) signed by President Joe Biden in March.

    That includes many people who've already bought a plan for this year, as well as people who don't have insurance right now.

    Health poli...

    Pandemic Has Affected Kids' Dental Health: Poll

    Could the COVID-19 pandemic be taking a toll on kids' teeth?

    A new, nationwide poll found the pandemic has made it harder for parents to get their kids regular dental care. But on the other hand, many say their youngsters are now taking better care of their teeth.

    The C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at Michigan Medicine surveyed almost 1,900 parents ...

    Support for Obamacare Grows as Biden Takes Control: Poll

    The popularity of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, continues to grow, with nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they want the law to remain as is or be improved, a new Harris/HealthDay poll shows.

    About 34% of U.S. adults think the Affordable Care Act should remain in place, and another 28% believe it should stay but have some parts changed, according to poll results taken...

    Obamacare Means 2 Million Fewer Americans Face Catastrophic Medical Bills Each Year

    Since the passage of "Obamacare," fewer Americans are facing insurmountable medical bills -- but the benefit does not seem to be reaching people with private insurance, a new study shows.

    Researchers found that after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was implemented, the number of Americans incurring "catastrophic" health care expenses each year dropped -- from 13.6 million in 2010 to 11....

    Many Americans Struggling to Afford Health Care in Pandemic

    More than two in five working-age U.S. adults didn't have stable health insurance in the first half of 2020, while more than one-third struggled with medical bills, according to a new survey.

    "The survey shows a persistent vulnerability among U.S. working-age adults in their ability to afford coverage and health care. That vulnerability could worsen if the COVID-19 pandemic and relat...

    How Insurance Plans Keep Black Patients From Cancer Care

    Health insurance plans with high deductibles may be taking a financial toll on Black patients, according to a new study of cancer survivors.

    The researchers said the findings point to yet another reason for racial health disparities in the United States: High deductibles may make it harder for Black patients, in particular, to afford medications or see a doctor.

    "Just becaus...

    Another COVID Plague: Big Surprise Medical Bills for Survivors

    Seattle resident Michael Flor's heart nearly stopped when he received a $1.1 million dollar hospital bill for months of COVID-19 treatment.

    The 181-page bill listed nearly 3,000 itemized charges -- and didn't include other items likely to make Flor's bill even higher, the 70-year-old told Time.

    But one fact provided Flor some solace: Kaiser Permanente, the health care...

    1 in 5 Insured Hit With Surprise Bills for Surgery

    You scheduled your surgery and made sure both your doctor and hospital are in your insurer's approved network of providers. Everything went without a hitch -- until a whopper of a bill showed up in the mail for "out-of-network" care during your operation.

    The average out-of-network surprise bill tops $2,000, a new study finds. And about 20% of patients who had surgery using a doc...

    Despite Obamacare, Number in U.S. Who Can't Afford to See Doctor Keeps Rising

    Even though the Affordable Care Act expanded access to health insurance, the number of Americans who can't afford to see a doctor keeps increasing, a new study shows.

    The researchers found that compared with two decades ago, more Americans today say they have skipped a needed trip to the doctor due to costs, despite a roughly 60% increase in people with health insurance.

    Young Cancer Patients Fare Better on Private Insurance

    The odds of surviving childhood cancer may be influenced by the type of health insurance a young patient has, researchers say.

    In a new study, children and young adults covered by Medicaid or other government agencies were less likely to be alive five and 10 years after their cancer diagnosis than those with private insurance.

    "Patients with Medicaid have less access to prim...

    Heart Medicines Priced Out of Reach for Many Americans

    Many working-age Americans struggle to pay for the heart medications that protect them from heart attack, stroke and heart disease, a new study reports.

    About one in eight adults suffering from a high-risk heart problem say financial strain has caused them to skip taking their meds, delay filling a prescription, or take a lower dose than prescribed, the researchers said.

    Tho...

    Confusing Medical Bills Tied to Money Woes in Cancer Survivors

    Difficulty understanding health insurance and medical bills may cause financial hardship for cancer survivors, a new study finds.

    There is growing evidence that many American adults lack health insurance literacy, which is the knowledge, ability and confidence to obtain, evaluate and use health insurance information.

    While improving health insurance literacy could help reduc...

    Health Insurance Premiums Are Soaring for Many

    Over the last decade, Americans who get their health insurance through their employer have seen both their premiums and their deductibles rise faster than either their wages or inflation, a new survey shows.

    "The single biggest issue in health care for most Americans is that their health costs are growing much faster than their wages are," said Drew Altman, president and CEO of the Ka...

    High-Deductible Health Plans Can Harm COPD Patients: Study

    As a rule, high-deductible health plans carry lower premiums than low-deductible plans. But that might not be such a great deal for patients struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), new research suggests.

    Such plans may be impacting the quality of health care for those with the progressive lung disease, researchers report.

    The findings come from an analy...

    Most Americans Hit Hard by Medical Bills

    Nearly 6 in 10 Americans say they have suffered financial hardship due to health care costs, a new study finds.

    Researchers from the American Cancer Society looked at three different types of problems: difficulty paying medical bills, worrying about bills, and delaying or doing without care.

    "With increasing prevalence of multiple chronic conditions, higher patient cost-shar...

    MS Patients Now Pay 20 Times More for Drugs Than a Decade Ago

    Multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and Parkinson's can be physically taxing conditions, but new research shows they exact a huge financial toll as well.

    Over a 12-year period, out-of-pocket costs for Americans with these illnesses jumped, with the biggest increase seen among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Those patients paid 20 times more for their drugs in 2016 than they did in 2004...

    Uninsured Get Short Shrift on Hospital Stays

    Folks who aren't covered by private insurance are much more likely to get booted out of the hospital early, a new study finds.

    Uninsured patients were also more than twice as likely to be transferred to another hospital and 66% more likely to be discharged outright, compared with people with private insurance, the findings showed.

    People on Medicaid had nearly 20% i...

    Single Dose of Keytruda May Help Put Melanoma Into Remission

    For people with the deadly skin cancer melanoma, one dose of the drug Keytruda before surgery might stop the cancer in its tracks, according to a groundbreaking new study.

    Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is a PD-1 inhibitor, an immunotherapy drug that triggers the body's immune response to attack cancer cells. According to results of this study, the drug's effects peak as early as seven days...

    Insurers Making It Harder to Treat Opioid Addiction: Study

    Insurance rules that limit access to the addiction treatment medication buprenorphine may be worsening the U.S. opioid epidemic, a new study suggests.

    "Buprenorphine is a safe and effective treatment that decreases deaths due to opioids and stops heroin and other opioid use. People on buprenorphine are able to get their lives back together," said study co-author Dr. Todd Korthuis. He'...

    Food or Heart Meds? Many Americans Must Make a Choice

    Millions of Americans with heart disease say they face financial strain because of their medical care, with some skipping meds or cutting back on basics like groceries.

    That's the finding of a new national study of heart disease and stroke patients younger than 65 -- a group that's too young for Medicare but often lack health insurance, or "good" insurance.

    The researchers f...

    Surge in Long-Term Birth Control After Trump's 2016 Win

    Interpret the data whatever way you will, but a new study shows a jump in women getting long-term contraception in the month following the election of President Donald Trump.

    The researchers' theory?

    Study author Dr. Lydia Pace acknowledged that "there is limited concrete evidence about why this may have happened," but she stressed that the findings "strongly suggest that th...