When insurance isn’t enough, many people turn to manufacturer copay cards to help offset some of the costs. These savings programs, which come directly from medication manufacturers, can help patients who are struggling to afford expensive brand-name medications. But they have also been met with criticism, as some say that they end up increasing total costs.
Using the ER for Non-Emergencies Is Expensive — Here Are Other Options
The average cost for an emergency room visit is $2,600 without insurance, according to UnitedHealthcare. Health System Tracker, a partnership between Peterson Center on Healthcare and Kaiser Family Foundation, recently came out with a report showing a slightly lower average of $2,453. You have other options!
7 Surprising Medical Expenses You Can Deduct on Your Tax Return
Medical costs can add up, depending on the treatments you get and how often you need medical care. Even if you have insurance, you’ll probably have expenses you need to pay for out of pocket.
The IRS allows certain taxpayers to save money on their tax return by deducting qualified medical and dental expenses, such as:
- Prescription contact lenses
- Prescription eyeglasses
- Prescription medications
- Root canals
- Teeth cleanings
- Visits to healthcare providers and dentists
It’s important to consult with a tax professional to get a better idea of what medical expenses you can deduct. It’s easy to overlook less common expenses that may also be tax deductible.
How do I claim medical expenses on my taxes?
Opposition to Medicaid Expansion Thaws in an Unexpected Place
“For more than a decade, some Southern states have resisted Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, even though data suggest it could help their residents. Today, the large majority of uninsured Americans who would gain coverage under Medicaid expansion — and who would benefit from affordable access to care — live in non-expansion states in the South.
But the politics are shifting. North Carolina expanded Medicaid in December, after a years-long lobbying campaign by the state’s Democratic governor and hospital industry persuaded the Republican-controlled legislature to pass a bill. “
‘Your Money or Your Life’: This Doctor Wrote the Book on Medical Debt
In 2019, emergency medicine physician and historian Luke Messac was working as a medical resident. He had heard about hospitals suing their own patients over unpaid medical bills, so he decided to investigate whether the hospitals where he worked were doing the same.
It turns out they were.
“The care I was delivering to patients was resulting in them showing up in court, or having their wages garnished, or signing up for a payment plan that they would be paying for the better part of a decade,” said Messac.
