high medical bills

McAlester Regional Health Center's administrative offices in McAlester, Oklahoma.

In this Oklahoma town, almost everyone knows someone who's been sued by the hospital

5:00am January 19, 2024

U.S. hospitals face growing scrutiny over aggressive debt collection tactics. At one community hospital, few patients get financial aid when they can't afford to pay. Many more are taken to court.

An analysis of court records by the state treasurer and Duke researchers finds Atrium Health in Charlotte, N.C., accounted for almost a third of the legal actions against North Carolina patients over roughly five years.

Hospitals sued thousands of patients in North Carolina for unpaid bills, report finds

5:00am August 16, 2023

by Noam Levey

The suits pursued patients and their families, sometimes putting liens on homes. "I know my house will never be mine. It is going to be the hospital's," said Donna Lindabury, 70, who lost her case.

Bridget Narsh at her home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Narsh's son has autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, and ADHD. In 2020, he spent more than 100 days at Central Regional Hospital, a state-run mental health facility. The state billed the family nearly $102,000 for the hospitalizations.

Health & Safety

A mom owed nearly $102,000 for her son's stay in a state mental health hospital

5:00am July 19, 2023

by Fred Clasen-Kelly

One North Carolina family's six-figure medical bill came from a state hospital. The attorney general, who is running for governor and says he's against high medical costs, tried to collect the debt.

Investigation: Many U.S. hospitals sue patients for debts or threaten their credit

10:31am December 21, 2022

by Noam Levey

An examination of billing policies and practices at more than 500 hospitals across the country shows widespread reliance on aggressive collection tactics.

Bennett Markow looks to his big brother, Eli (right), during a family visit at UC Davis Children's Hospital in Sacramento. Bennett was born four months early, in November 2020.

The heartbreak and cost of losing a baby in America

9:50am September 22, 2022

by Lauren Weber

Even after their babies died, hospital bills kept coming. These parents of fragile, very sick infants faced exorbitant bills — though they had insurance. "The process was just so heartless," one says.

Jeni Rae Peters and daughter embrace at their home in Rapid City, S.D. In 2020, Peters was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. After treatment, Peters estimates that her medical bills exceeded $30,000.

She was already battling cancer. Then she had to fight the bill collectors

5:00am July 09, 2022

by Noam Levey

For one South Dakota mom, cancer treatment saved her life, but left her $30,000 in debt. The cost of care in the U.S. can make patients drain savings, declare bankruptcy, or lose their homes.

Danilo Manimtim and his wife, Marilou, had identical cataract surgeries, but the charges were drastically different — even though the Fresno, California, couple were covered by the same health plan.

Health & Safety

He and his wife both got cataract surgery. His bill was 20 times higher than hers

5:07am June 27, 2022

by Angela Hart / Kaiser Health News

Whether a simple operation is performed under the auspices of a hospital or at an independent surgery center can make a huge difference in cost.

Even when IVF is covered by insurance, high bills, surprises and hassles abound

5:00am May 04, 2022

by Phil Galewitz

Only 15 states require insurance to cover in vitro fertilization, a pricey path to parenthood. But expensive procedures and drugs can lead to unexpected bills even for the fortunate who are insured.

Baby Dorian Bennett arrived two months early and needed neonatal intensive care. Despite having insurance, mom Bisi Bennett and her husband faced a bill of more than $550,000 and were offered an installment payment plan of $45,843 per month for 12 months.

Health & Safety

A hospital offered a payment plan for baby's NICU stay — $45,843 a month for a year

12:24pm December 21, 2021

by Victoria Knight

After baby Dorian Bennett arrived two months early and spent more than 50 days in the neonatal ICU, his parents received a bill of more than $550,000 — despite having health insurance.