Skip to content
Breaking News

Breaking News

  • Home
  • World
  • Business
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Life Style
  • Sports
  • Toggle search form

Nearly half of insured Americans get surprise expenses in medical bills, study finds

Posted on August 1, 2024 By Admin No Comments on Nearly half of insured Americans get surprise expenses in medical bills, study finds


Nearly half of insured Americans have been smacked by surprise medical expenses in the past year, but a majority don’t contest billing errors or coverage denials, a new survey by the Commonwealth Fund finds. 

That inaction — which largely stems from an unawareness that such bills and denials can be challenged — can be a costly, as the effort frequently works, according to the study published on Thursday by the nonprofit private foundation.

Forty-five percent of 7,873 insured adults surveyed nationwide relayed being billed for a service they thought should have been covered, the Commonwealth Fund found. Nearly one in five — or 17% — reported being denied coverage for a doctor-recommended service. 

Yet fewer than half who reported billing errors or coverage denials challenged them, mostly because they did not know they have the right to do so, the poll taken last year found. 

The consequences of having coverage denials were also illustrated in the research, with nearly 60% reporting delays in care and nearly half — 47% — reporting worsened health conditions as a result.  

“It sheds light on a troubling reality — that many people with insurance are facing unexpected bills and having doctor-recommended care denied,” Sara Collins, the Commonwealth Fund’s senior scholar and vice president for health care coverage and access, told CBS MoneyWatch. “And many are at a loss as to what to do about it — people are confused about the health care process itself, both in the way things are billed and who is responsible for it,” Collins said.

There are also positive pieces of information to glean from the findings, the researcher noted. 

“What is encouraging, and people should know,” is that more than a third who disputed medical bills had their balances reduced or eliminated, and half of those who challenged coverage denials succeeded in getting some or all denied services approved, Collins, who coauthored the report, relayed. 

More from CBS News

Kate Gibson

Kate Gibson is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch in New York, where she covers business and consumer finance.



Source link

Health

Post navigation

Previous Post: How do interest rates affect inflation and mortgages?
Next Post: Harry and Meghan to tour Colombia after saying Britain ‘too dangerous’

More Related Articles

Karachi reports first confirmed mpox case; health officials on alert Health
Measles virus continues to spread as WHO says more than half the world has high risk of contracting the virus Health
Baby with fatal brain disorder ‘saved’ by anonymous $47K donation Health
PTI concerned over Imran’s health, alleges denial of medical care | The Express Tribune Health
Staying up late raises risk of type 2 diabetes by 50%, study finds | The Express Tribune Health
Supervised toothbrushing expanded to reach schools in poorest areas Health

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding invite slammed over ‘ugly’ design
  • Paige Spiranac adds new chapter in ‘case study’ about her golf game
  • From NPS To UPS: Last Date To Opt For Unified Pension Scheme Extended By 3 Months Till September 30
  • Salman Khan reveals struggle with AVM and brain aneurysm on Kapil Sharma Show: Know what AVM is, its causes, and why it’s so serious | – Times of India
  • Patrick Schwarzenegger on his breakout

Categories

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Life Style
  • Sports
  • World

Copyright © 2025 Breaking News.

Powered by PressBook Blog WordPress theme