Image

PENNY WINGARD OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, HAS SURVIVED BREAST CANCER, A BRAIN ANEURYSM, AND SURGERY ON BOTH EYES. FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, SHE'S BEEN BATTLING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MEDICAL DEBT./ANERI PATTANI/KHN
Image

DAVID ZIPPRICH, A FORT WORTH FINANCIAL CONSULTANT AND GRANDFATHER, WAS FORCED OUT OF RETIREMENT AFTER HOSPITALIZATIONS LEFT HIM OWING MORE THAN $200,000./LAURA BUCKMAN FOR KHN AND NPR.
Image

CHRISTINA GREEN’S 2019 CATARACT SURGERY AT PRIVATE EQUITY-BACKED OPHTHALMOLOGY CONSULTANTS IN ST. LOUIS DIDN’T GET HER TO 20/20 VISION OR FIX HER ASTIGMATISM, SHE SAYS — DESPITE A $3,000 OUT-OF-POCKET CHARGE FOR THE ASTIGMATISM SURGICAL UPGRADE./MATT KILE/KHN