‘Preparing For The Apocalypse’: Californians Hoard Medication Over Insurance Uncertainty
Patients with chronic diseases are worried about losing coverage under the new Republican health care plan.
KPCC:
Worried About Losing Insurance, People Stockpile Medications
With President Trump and the Republican-led Congress working to repeal the Affordable Care Act, some Californians with chronic diseases say they're stockpiling medications and supplies in case they lose their health insurance or access to critical treatments. It's difficult to determine how common this phenomenon is, since no agency tracks it. But advocates from two other chronic disease communities also say that the political fight over health care in Washington has convinced a lot of people to take matters into their own hands. (Plevin, 3/20)
And in other news —
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Why Our Health Care Costs So Much — And Why Fixes Aren't Likely
Need a knee replacement? That will cost you a different price depending on where you go in the United States. A California website shows that hospitals in San Diego County charged anywhere from $52,010 to $98,327 for the procedure in 2014, but that’s just the list price. Each hospital brokers its own deal with each insurance company. The public never really gets a full picture of what insurance companies pay behind the scenes, though the amount of information available is gradually increasing. (Sisson, 3/18)
Modesto Bee:
In Stanislaus County, Lower-Income Residents Would Lose, Wealthier Families Win, Under GOP Plan To Replace Obamacare, Figures Show
In Stanislaus County, lower-income residents and older working adults who rely on Obamacare for insurance against crushing medical bills are worried about their prospects under the Republicans’ replacement plan. They should be. A preliminary analysis last week showed the GOP plan will reduce government subsidies for lower income and older residents, causing dramatic increases in their health insurance premiums. (Carlson, 3/18)