“For many years, KFF polling has found that the high cost of health care is a burden on U.S. families, and that health care costs factor into decisions about insurance coverage and care seeking. These costs and the prospect of unexpected medical bills also rank as the top financial worries for adults and their families, and recent polling shows that lowering out-of-pocket health care costs is by and large the public’s top health care priority. Health care affordability is also one of the top issues that voters want to hear presidential candidates talk about during the 2024 election. This data note summarizes recent KFF polling on the public’s experiences with health care costs. “
Patients encouraged to appeal health insurance denials
“More than two out of five working-age adults report being charged for a health service that they thought was free or covered by insurance and fewer than half challenged those bills by contacting their provider or insurer.
It’s important for patients to know they can fight back and have a good shot at winning.
The Commonwealth Fund, a nonpartisan nonprofit based in New York City, conducted the survey that led to this recent study on health insurance denials.”
Unhappy with your Medicare Advantage plan?
“If you’re steamed to discover your favorite doctor is no longer in your Medicare Advantage plan’s network, now is the time to make a change.
Medicare Advantage enrollees can switch plans or transfer to original Medicare during the open enrollment period ending March 31. You cannot, however, jump from a traditional Medicare plan to a Medicare Advantage one. You’ll have to wait for the fall enrollment period for that move.”
As prior authorization burden grows, so does momentum for change
“Through prior authorization, insurance companies create barriers to treatment—and even the sickest patients aren’t spared from this ordeal.
“Of all the patients and all the conditions that we care for, cancer patients are probably some of the ones for whom the delays and the denials and the claim of ‘that’s experimental’ has probably the greatest impact,” AMA President Bruce A. Scott, MD, said while moderating a panel discussion on prior authorization at the 2025 AMA State Advocacy Summit held last month in Carlsbad, California.”
Rise in Vaccine Exemptions, Gives Other Stories To Watch in 2025
“KFF Health News Southern correspondent Sam Whitehead discussed vaccine exemptions on WAMU’s “Health Hub” on Jan. 22. Whitehead also discussed major Georgia health stories of 2025 on WUGA’s “The Georgia Health Report” on Jan. 17.”
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