�鶹Ů��

It’s often pitched as an insurance policy for your health insurance policy.The product, known as critical illness insurance, promises to pay a lump sum, anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000, after someone receives some sort of dreaded diagnosis, like cancer, a heart attack or a stroke. And the coverage is not terribly expensive; if you are in your 40s, it might cost $25 to $50 a month. These policies have become increasingly popular, partly because they are being marketed as a way to provide another layer of financial support now that consumers are shouldering an ever-rising share of medical expenses out of pocket. ... But some consumer advocates and health policy analysts have questioned whether these policies are worth the expense, partly because they are so narrowly focused. (Bernard, 3/19)

Cancer is a health crisis that for many sets off a financial crisis. In a study done by Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy researchers, nearly one-third of cancer survivors reported that their illness had caused financial problems. The patients who reported the most financial problems also reported more physical and mental health problems. Having health insurance was not a guarantee that a person would not face money problems. (Smith, 3/18)

Because patients get billed by individual providers, a patient can go in-network but still get hit with an out-of-network charge. ... The inadvertent out-of-network bills are called “balance billing” because patients pay the difference between the insurance plan's out-of-network benefits and the provider's rack-rate charge, which is often considerably higher than the negotiated amount with an insurer. Some insurance plans offer little to no out-of-network coverage. Hospitals encourage the doctors to accept the same insurance plans and networks as the hospital — but it’s not required. (Fletcher, 3/18)