Â鶹ŮÓÅ

A lot of people who don’t have health insurance worry about getting hit with huge bills if they go to the hospital. Most consumers probably don’t realize that many hospitals are supposed to let you know if you qualify for free or reduced-price care--and charge you fairly, even if you don’t have insurance. But a recent study found that less than half of nonprofit hospitals surveyed were telling patients they could be eligible for charity care. (Sun, 11/13)

Nationally, more health care providers are embracing the direct-pay, or "concierge medicine," model. A Physicians' Foundation 2014 survey found 7 percent of doctors run a direct-pay practice and another 13 percent plan to transition to some form of direct-pay model. (Rini, 11/16)

The runaway train of rising health-care costs has slowed, but you're forgiven if you haven't noticed: New research shows that employees are contributing a record amount toward their coverage, a trend that experts say is likely to continue as high-deductible plans and stingier benefits become more commonplace. (White, 11/13)

For municipal-bond buyers, the boost from Obamacare is waning. Quarterly results from U.S. hospital chains such as HCA Holdings Inc. -- which make more frequent disclosures than non-profit competitors -- suggest financial gains from the federal law are growing more limited, according to Barclays Plc. That provides an early look at a trend that may also affect non-profit hospitals, whose municipal bonds have rallied, delivering 16 percent returns in the past two years as the providers were stuck with fewer unpaid bills. (Braun, 11/13)