Category: Health Insurance and Managed Care

FSA vs. HSA: What to Know About the Accounts to Pay Medical Costs

Flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts both have tax benefits, but both may also have drawbacks, two reports found.
U.S. Labor Market Strength Steadies Social Security and Medicare Funds

The social safety net programs continue to face long-term shortfalls as lawmakers wrestle over reforms.
The Anti-Met Gala Raises Funds for Medical Debt

The red carpet featured noncelebrity guests in homemade costumes. “This is a better function, with a better message,” one guest said.
Medical Debt Shows Up Less Often on Credit Reports

But the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said 15 million people still had medical bills in their files, which can make it hard to qualify for loans.
Klobuchar Asks Regulators to Investigate MultiPlan Over Health Care Pricing

A data analytics firm has helped big health insurers cut payments to doctors, raising concerns about possible price fixing.
UnitedHealth’s CEO Slammed Over Cyberattack

Several lawmakers questioned whether the company had become so large — with tentacles in every aspect of the nation’s medical care — that the effects of the hack were outsize.
In Reversal, Expert Panel Recommends Breast Cancer Screening at 40

Some researchers said the advice did not go far enough. The panel also declined to recommend extra scans for women with dense breast tissue.
Walmart Is Shutting Health Centers After Plan to Expand

The 51 locations, next to Supercenters, proved too costly to be profitable, the retailer said.
Taking Account of Rising Health Care Costs

Have your out-of-network insurance bills skyrocketed? Chris Hamby, an investigative reporter for The Times, may have an explanation.
Paying Off People’s Medical Debt Has Little Impact on Their Lives, Study Finds

A nonprofit group called R.I.P. Medical Debt has relieved Americans of $11 billion in hospital bills. But that did not improve their mental health or their credit scores, a study found.
Health Insurers’ Lucrative Alliance That Drives Up Patient Bills: 5 Takeaways

A private-equity-backed firm has helped drive down payments to medical providers, drive up patients’ bills and earn billions for insurers.
Insurance Companies Reap Hidden Fees as Patients Get Unexpected Bills

A little-known data firm helps health insurers make more when less of an out-of-network claim gets paid. Patients can be on the hook for the difference.