According to a Murfreesboro Post report, Mr. Himmelstein said the vast majority of those bankruptcies involved people who had some insurance. Because coverage is inadequate for serious illness or accidents, patients face high premiums, copayments and deductibles, as well as conditions that aren’t covered by insurance.
In a report released earlier this month, Mr. Himmelstein and his colleagues examined Massachusetts in 2009, three years after the state passed a law that mandated universal coverage. The results showed that medical bankruptcies did not decrease and, according to Mr. Himmelstein, patients only “traded uninsurance for underinsurance.”
Read the national medical bankruptcy study here and the Massachusetts medical bankruptcy study here.
Read the Murfreesboro Post report on medical bankruptcies.
Read more on medical bills:
–LA Times: Medical Bills Need Reconstructive Surgery
–Patients Want to Communicate With Their Providers Online an Opportunity for Surgery Centers
–MedDraft Announces Launch of Payment Website for Providers and Patients
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.