A ‘Payday Loan’ From a Health Care Behemoth
Alex Shteynshlyuger, a urologist with a practice in New York City, feels surrounded by UnitedHealth Group. He has seen the company gobble up private practices and…
Browsing Tag
an arm and a leg
A $229,000 Medical Bill Goes to Court
In 2014, Lisa French had spinal surgery. Before the operation, she was told she would have to pay $1,337 in out-of-pocket costs and that her insurance would cover the rest.…
A Doctor’s Love Letter to ‘The People’s Hospital’
Could a charity hospital founded by a crusading Dutch playwright, a group of Quakers, and a judge working undercover become a model for the U.S. health care system? In this…
Wrestling With a Giant: How to Dispute a Hospital Bill
When Sandeep Swami received a $1,339 bill for a quick and uneventful emergency room visit for his 11-year-old daughter, he pushed back. The charge was a “facility fee” for…
She Sued a Hospital and Lost — But Felt She’d Won
When a patient faces an outrageous medical bill, they have two choices: Pay the balance or fight.Lauren Slemenda chose to fight. After failing to reach a consensus with the…
Can They Freaking Do That?!? (2023 Update)
The “An Arm and a Leg” podcast is back. This season, host Dan Weissmann will tell stories about patients finding creative ways to fight back against outrageous bills. This…
‘An Arm and a Leg’: Getting Insurance to Pay for Oral Surgery Is Like Pulling Teeth
Can’t see the audio player? Click here to listen.Click here for a transcript of the episode.Health coverage generally does not cover dental work. But Susan Rice of Atlanta…