More than a 100 million people in the U.S. are burdened by medical debt. An investigation by NPR and Kaiser Health shows the painful sacrifices many are making to pay their medical and dental bills.
Category: NPR
COVID vaccines are finally here for young kids. But the logistics aren’t easy
NPR talks to Claire Hannan, who has helped navigate vaccine rollouts in all 50 states, about some of the challenges involved in quickly getting shots out to millions of young kids.
North Carolina considers new laws to ‘de-weaponize’ medical debt and protect patients
Medical debt can ruin lives, and in many states patients have few financial protections. North Carolina is considering a new law that could lead the way in shielding patients from high medical bills.
A secret abortion shaped the rest of these two sisters’ lives
Two sisters in Tennessee each got pregnant when they were young. The paths they took and the secrets they kept have shaped their lives.
The Midwest and South could see larger abortion deserts if Roe v. Wade is overturned
About a quarter of clinics that offer abortions would shut down if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Those closures would be concentrated in the Midwest and South where abortion services are already scarce.
Sick and struggling to pay, 100 million people in the U.S. live with medical debt
The U.S. health system now produces debt on a mass scale, a new investigation shows. Patients face gut-wrenching sacrifices.
Medical debt upended their lives. Here’s what it took from them
First, they were struck by illness and then by medical bills they couldn’t pay. Here are seven stories of Americans living under the shadow of health care debt.
‘1619 Project’ journalist lays bare why Black Americans ‘live sicker and die quicker’
Linda Villarosa says bias in the health care system and the “weathering” affect of living in a racist society are taking a serious toll on African Americans. Her new book is Under the Skin.
In deep-red S.C., Democrats running for governor aren’t trying to appeal to moderates
Democrats have to stop “being scared,” said one South Carolina candidate. Abortion rights, gun control, and LGBTQ rights are among the top issues for Democrats challenging GOP Gov. Henry McMaster.
CTE is rare in brains of deceased service members, study finds
Despite a high risk of brain injuries, military personnel rarely develop a disabling brain condition often found in former boxers and football players.
