Noam N. Levey

ANTONIO GUILLEM/SHUTTERSTOCK

Trump vowed to end surprise medical bills. The office working on that just got slashed.

The Trump administration’s first round of sweeping staff cuts to federal agencies eliminated dozens of positions at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, which is tasked with implementing the No Surprises Act.

Mar 6

SHUTTERSTOCK

Biden administration bars medical debt from credit scores

The move, which comes less than two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office, represents a challenge to the new administration.

Jan 7

LUND REPORT ILLUSTRATION/SHUTTERSTOCK/PIXABAY

Analysis: Rage has long shadowed American health care. It’s rarely produced big change.

The outpouring of anger at health insurers following the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson continues a cycle of rage that dates back decades.

Dec 19, 2024

3D ANIMATION PRODUCTION COMPANY/PIXABAY

With Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fight

Patient and consumer advocates fear a new Trump administration will scale back federal efforts to expand financial protections for patients and shield them from debt.

Dec 5, 2024

SHUTTERSTOCK

Harris backs slashing medical debt. Trump’s ‘concepts’ worry advocates.

Advocates say the federal government could do more to address a problem that burdens 100 million Americans, forcing many to take on extra work, give up their homes, and cut spending on food and other essentials.

Oct 17, 2024

ANTONIO GUILLEM/SHUTTERSTOCK

Even political rivals agree that medical debt is an urgent issue

In red and blue states, state lawmakers from both parties are expanding protections for patients burdened by medical debt.

Oct 8, 2024

Andrew Crivilare and Heather Crivilare in the yard of their home in Jacksonville, Illinois, with their 2-year-old daughter, Rita, on April 30. | NEETA SATAM/KFF HEALTH NEWS

Their first baby came with medical debt. These Illinois parents won’t have another.

Women between 18 and 35 who have had a baby in the past year and a half are twice as likely to have medical debt as women of the same age who haven’t given birth recently. About 12% of the 100 million U.S. adults with health care debt attribute at least some of it to pregnancy or childbirth, with many having to take on extra work or make other sacrifices.

May 14, 2024

SHUTTERSTOCK

With medical debt burdening millions, a financial regulator steps in to help

In the past two years, the agency penalized debt collectors, issued stern warnings to providers and lenders, and published reports on how the health care system is undermining Americans' financial security

Mar 4, 2024

Kayce Atencio, who has been shadowed by medical debt for most of his adult life, had been unable to rent an apartment because of poor credit due to medical debt, he said. Recent reporting changes by credit rating agencies have removed many debts from consumer credit reports and lifted scores for millions, a new study finds. | RACHEL WOOLF/KFF HEALTH NEWS

Medical debt is disappearing from Americans’ credit reports, lifting scores

As of August, just 5% of adults with a credit report had a medical debt on their report, down from almost 14% two years earlier, a new analysis has found

Nov 2, 2023