Health Costs | LocalHealthGuide

Get help paying for prescriptions

Many Washington residents need help paying for prescription drugs. The Washington Prescription Drug Program (WPDP) offers a state-sponsored program to provide savings to Washingtonians through the ArrayRx discount card.

Picture of a doctor standing in a hospital hallway with arms crossed holding a stethoscope

October 9, 2022 Health Costs / Health Insurance / Health Policy

Many Patients Can’t Afford Health Costs Even With Insurance

Many Americans have policies that only provide limited financial protection, to the point that many patients report forgoing needed medical care or prescriptions to avoid being hit with punishing out-of-pocket costs.

August 30, 2022 Cancer / Health Costs / Health Insurance / Health Policy

In America, Cancer Patients Endure Debt on Top of Disease

Cancer kills about 600,000 people in the U.S. every year, making it a leading cause of death. Many more survive it, because of breakthroughs in medicines and therapies. But the high costs of modern-day care have left millions with a devastating financial burden. That’s forced patients and their families to make gut-wrenching sacrifices even as they confront a grave illness.

August 24, 2022 Health Costs / Health Insurance / Health Policy

New Safeguards May Help Those Who Are Drowning in Medical Debt

Patient advocates and some state governments say hospitals must do more to help patients deal with medical bills before the debt winds up in collections.

July 2, 2022 Doctors / Health Costs / Health Insurance

Frustrated With Delays, Doctors Take Aim at Prior Authorization

Doctors have long asserted that prior authorization — the need to get approval from the patient’s insurer before proceeding with treatment — causes delays that can hurt patient care. Prior authorizations also exact a toll on doctors, who say the paperwork has gotten out of hand.

May 10, 2022 Dialysis / Drugs / Health Costs / Insulin

Nonprofit drugmaker Civica Rx is taking aim at the high insulin prices harming people with diabetes

Civica Rx, a non-profit that manufactures generic drugs, is planning to produce generic insulin for a price of no more than $30 for a month.

Kaiser Health News Bill of the Month Ely Bair

August 27, 2021 Health Costs / Health Insurance / Swedish Hospital

Jaw Surgery at Swedish takes a $27,119 bite out of Seattle man’s budget

He thought his new insurance was like his older plan but Swedish Medical Center billed him $27,119 for a second, follow-up surgery.

Bryan Keller — Surprise Billing for an Urgent Care Visit

August 3, 2021 Emergency Medicine / Health Costs / Health Insurance

At Urgent Care, He Got 5 Stitches and a Big Surprise: A Plastic Surgeon’s Bill for $1,040

Insurers often try to steer patients to urgent care and away from costly emergency rooms, but individuals could still get hit with large bills in the process.

July 29, 2021 Health Costs / Health Insurance / Hospitals

Olympic Dream Dashed After Bike Crash and Nightmare Medical Bill Over $200K

The cyclist collided with three health system threats: an out-of-state emergency, out-of-network care and gold-plated prices from both hospitals that treated him.

July 9, 2021 Health Costs / Hospitals

Reporter set out to compare hospital prices. After three months, he gave up.

Lesson: Don’t try this at home.

June 3, 2021 Drugs / Health Costs / Health Policy

Laws to Help Patients Get Pricey Drugs Fall Short, Advocates Say

Opponents say requirement that doctors use ‘step therapy’ protocols delay patients access to effective drugs.

May 27, 2021 Health Costs / Health Policy

Laws to Curb Surprise Medical Bills Might Be Inflating Health Care Costs

Doctors and other medical providers are leveraging state laws that rely on arbitration to increase in-network fees, thereby raising health care costs for everyone.