Health Insurance

Small family farmers are often “land rich, cash poor," and nursing homes and other types of long-term care are expensive. Many worry about sacrificing their land to pay for care at the end of life.

Consumers, without their consent, are being enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans or their coverage is switched. A powerful U.S. senator has introduced legislation to curb the growing problem.

A new approach to schizophrenia involves managing early psychosis symptoms and keeping young people in school or jobs. The treatment is effective, but private insurance plans don't usually cover it.

UNC Health has notified health insurer UnitedHeathcare that it wants to renegotiate its contract. If both sides don't reach a deal by April 1, it could leave some 200,000 people with UnitedHealthcare insurance out of network for much – though not all – of the UNC Health system.

Virtual access to doctors is a huge plus for patients. But it's a lot of new work for physicians. And the health care business model hasn't caught up with this new reality.

After emergency surgery, an American expatriate now carries the baggage of a five-figure bill. Costs for medical care in the U.S. can be two to three times the rates in other developed countries.

Billing experts and lawmakers are playing catch-up as providers get around new consumer protections, leaving patients like Danielle Laskey of Washington state with big bills for emergency care.

Instead of health insurance, the Rev. Jeff King had signed up for an alternative that left members of the plan to share the costs of health care. That meant lower premiums, but a huge hospital bill.

Taxpayers footed the bill for care that should have cost far less, according to records released under the Freedom of Information Act. The U.S. government may charge insurers $650 million as a result.

Rising health care costs are a burden on many employers and employees. In Part 10 of The Price We Pay, WFAE's series examining the American health care system, we look at how a number of big and small businesses have been trying to contain those costs.