The Hidden Burden of Medical Debt

For decades, hospitals could assume that patients with jobs and health insurance would pay their medical bills. That’s no longer the case. We speak to one woman about her skyrocketing medical costs — and the aggressive new way hospitals are forcing patients to pay up.

Guest: Sarah Kliff, an investigative reporter covering health care for The New York Times, speaks with Amanda Sturgill, 41, whose health care provider took her to court in Virginia. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.

Background reading:

• One in four Americans have skipped medical treatment because of the cost, and nearly half fear bankruptcy in the event of a health emergency. Meet some of the employed and insured Americans who cannot afford health care.
• The American health care system is not the norm for developed countries. Here’s a look at how socialized and privatized systems compare internationally.
• Why doesn’t the United States have universal health care? The 1619 Project found that the answer is linked to segregation.

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