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News Articles: health care costs

Baby Dorian Bennett arrived two months early and needed neonatal intensive care. Despite having insurance, mom Bisi Bennett and her husband faced a bill of more than $550,000 and were offered an installment payment plan of $45,843 per month for 12 months.

A hospital offered a payment plan for baby's NICU stay — $45,843 a month for a year

After baby Dorian Bennett arrived two months early and spent more than 50 days in the neonatal ICU, his parents received a bill of more than $550,000 — despite having health insurance.

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By:
  • Victoria Knight
Hofstra University student Divya Singh found herself beset by a double whammy of bills from two of the costliest kinds of institutions in America — colleges and hospitals. After experiencing anxiety when her family had trouble coming up with the money for her tuition, she sought counseling and ended up with a weeklong stay in a psychiatric hospital — and a resulting $3,413 bill.

College Tuition Sparked A Mental Health Crisis. Then The Hefty Hospital Bill Arrived

A student sought counseling help after panicking over a tuition bill. A weeklong stay in a psychiatric hospital followed — along with a $3,413 bill. The hospital soft-pedaled its charity care policy.

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By:
  • Jordan Rau
One rule announced by the Trump administration Friday puts pressure on hospitals to reveal what they charge insurers for procedures and services. Critics say the penalty for not following the rule isn't stiff enough to be a an effective deterrent.

The New Year Will Bring More Transparency In Hospital Prices

A new federal health care rule requires hospitals to publicly post prices for every service they offer and break down those prices by component and procedure.

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By:
  • Scott Simon
Health care costs — including for things such as an insulin kit, for instance — can be catastrophically high for millions of Americans, even those with health insurance, a study finds.

Despite ACA Coverage Gains, Millions Still Suffer 'Catastrophic' Health Care Costs

The president-elect has vowed to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, which gave millions of Americans health insurance. But many insured people still struggle to pay for health care, research finds.

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By:
  • Kristen Kendrick
When Tiffany Qiu found herself on the hook for her usual 30% Blue Shield of California coinsurance after the hospital quoted 20%, she pushed back.

Hit With An Unexpectedly High Medical Bill, Here's How A Savvy Patient Fought Back

When the hospital tried to bill her for more than what she'd been quoted, Tiffany Qiu refused to pay the extra amount and the bill went to collections. She still didn't back down.

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By:
  • Anna Almendrala
Matthew Fentress was diagnosed with heart disease that developed after a bout of the flu in 2014. His condition worsened three years later, and he had to declare bankruptcy when he couldn't afford his medical bills, despite having insurance.

Heart Disease Bankrupted Him Once. Now He Faces Another $10,000 Medical Bill

A cook at a senior center, Matthew Fentress is one of millions of Americans whose skimpy health insurance plans leave them vulnerable to huge out-of-pocket costs when they get sick.

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By:
  • Laura Ungar
Biomarin Pharmaceutical, a California company that makes what could become the first gene therapy for hemophilia, says its drug's price tag might be $3 million per patient.

Gene Therapy Shows Promise For Hemophilia, But Could Be Most Expensive U.S. Drug Ever

The first gene therapy for hemophilia could be approved by the FDA within six months, according to the drugmaker, raising hopes among families. But the drug's price could be $3 million per patient.

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By:
  • Rob Stein