Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medical Costs Can Mount Quickly Through Surprise Bills, Long-Term Care
One in three American adults who have private health insurance coverage are hit with surprise medical bills they thought were covered by insurance, which can range from a few hundreds dollars to tens of thousands for an operation. Time Magazine's Haley Sweetland Edwards joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss.
For years, federal and state governments have shied away from the problem of providing long-term care for ailing seniors – and for good reason. While mounting costs of Social Security, prescription drugs and federal health care programs get a lot of attention, the staggering costs of providing community based social services and nursing home facilities and in-home care to seniors are draining the savings of average Americans and posing frightening long-term fiscal challenges for government officials. (Pianin, 3/13)