Why Black Americans are more likely to be saddled with medical debt
2 years, 1 month ago

Why Black Americans are more likely to be saddled with medical debt

NPR  

Why Black Americans are more likely to be saddled with medical debt Enlarge this image toggle caption Jamar Coach for KHN and NPR Jamar Coach for KHN and NPR When Dr. H.M. Green opened his new medical office building on East Vine Avenue in 1922, Black Knoxville residents could be seen only in the basement of Knoxville General Hospital. "African Americans don't seek health care until we are really, really sick, and then it costs more," said Tabace Burns, a former emergency room nurse in Knoxville. In 'The Bottom' The story of how Knoxville's Black residents came to be its primary victims of medical debt is written in the city's changing landscape. toggle caption Beck Cultural Exchange Center in Knoxville, Tenn. and Jamar Coach for KHN and NPR It was here that Black physicians like Green opened medical offices alongside grocers, pool halls, and funeral homes.

Health Medical Health Care Patients Health Insurance Burns Green White Residents Likely Medicaid Npr Sponsor Message Kff Black Americans Reed Black Adults Medical Bills Medical Debt Black Patients Khn White Adults Credit Bureau Black Knoxville Jamar Coach Care Debt Beck Cultural Exchange Center  medical  white  americans  reed  saddled  care  debt  health  patients  likely  residents  black  knoxville

History of this topic

A growing wave of local governments are erasing billions in medical debts
11 months ago

A growing wave of local governments are erasing billions in medical debts

NPR  

A growing wave of local governments are erasing billions in medical debts Enlarge this image toggle caption Cook County, Ill. Cook County, Ill. Sponsor Message The result: In 2022, Cook County became the first local government to partner with RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit group that uses private donor funds to buy up and pay off health care debts. Preckwinkle …

Opinion: Crushing medical debt is turning Americans against their doctors
1 year, 5 months ago

Opinion: Crushing medical debt is turning Americans against their doctors

LA Times  

Debra Smith of Spring Hill, Tenn., racked up more bills from medical providers and hospitals than she could pay, landing about $10,000 in debt. “This is a place that’s supposed to be looking after you.” The experience offered a stark lesson, he said: “Don’t trust the system.” Reporting on medical debt over the past two years, I’ve spent hundreds of …

Medical debt affects millions, and advocates push IRS, consumer agency for relief
1 year, 9 months ago

Medical debt affects millions, and advocates push IRS, consumer agency for relief

NPR  

Medical debt affects millions, and advocates push IRS, consumer agency for relief Enlarge this image toggle caption Taylor Glascock for KHN and NPR Taylor Glascock for KHN and NPR Dozens of advocates for patients and consumers, citing widespread harm caused by medical debt, are pushing the Biden administration to take more aggressive steps to protect Americans from medical bills and …

What Germany’s coal miners can teach America about medical debt
2 years ago

What Germany’s coal miners can teach America about medical debt

Salon  

PÜTTLINGEN, Germany — Almost every day, Dr. Eckart Rolshoven sees the long shadow of coal mining in his clinic near the big brownstone church that dominates this small town in Germany's Saarland. "It's a huge problem here," said Jessica Ice, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care. "Access to medical care with minimal costs for patients has been …

Some medical debt is being removed from US credit reports
2 years, 5 months ago

Some medical debt is being removed from US credit reports

Associated Press  

Help is coming for many people with medical debt on their credit reports. Starting Friday, the three major U.S. credit reporting companies will stop counting paid medical debt on the reports that banks, potential landlords and others use to judge creditworthiness. Credit reporting companies also are considering whether medical debt should remain on the reports, said Justin Hakes, a vice …

‘Now we have nothing.’ Soaring medical debt causes gut-wrenching sacrifices for patients
2 years, 6 months ago

‘Now we have nothing.’ Soaring medical debt causes gut-wrenching sacrifices for patients

LA Times  

Elizabeth Woodruff drained her retirement account and took on three jobs after she and her husband were sued for nearly $10,000 by the New York hospital where his infected leg was amputated. More than half of U.S. adults report that in the last five years they’ve gone into debt because of medical or dental bills, the KFF poll found. America’s …

A startling number of people in America are saddled with health care debt
2 years, 6 months ago

A startling number of people in America are saddled with health care debt

Raw Story  

Elizabeth Woodruff drained her retirement account and took on three jobs after she and her husband were sued for nearly $10,000 by the New York hospital where his infected leg was amputated. In the past five years, more than half of U.S. adults report they’ve gone into debt because of medical or dental bills, the KFF poll found. “It seems …

TWO-THIRDS of Americans are putting off medical care they need
2 years, 6 months ago

TWO-THIRDS of Americans are putting off medical care they need

Daily Mail  

Two-thirds of Americans are putting off medical care they need because of the cost while half are struggling to meet existing debts, a survey revealed. Overall, Wyoming had the biggest medical debt per person while Massachusetts had the lowest 'They took the joy of my twins birth': Mother vents anguish at hospitals over crippling healthcare costs A Chicago mother has …

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