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Kentucky Voices for Health 2022 Annual Meeting sponsors

Medical Debt Erased for 1,257 Kentuckians, Now Let’s Improve Patient Protections

As healthcare costs continue to rise, so does anxiety about being able to afford medical treatment. Even those with good insurance can find themselves stuck with a surprise medical bill or mounting out-of-pocket expenses. The reality is that many Kentucky families are just one medical emergency away from a financial crisis. The specter of medical debt adds massive uncertainty and stress to what are already some of the most uncertain and stressful moments in our lives. No one chooses to get sick or hurt, and no one chooses to rack up the significant expenses it can take to get well. Even with the right coverage, prices are rarely predictable… leaving people already in pain and distress to figure out what they owe (and how to pay for it) after-the-fact.  Kentucky ranks tenth in the nation for residents with medical debt. Kentucky ranks tenth in the nation for residents with medical debt. It’s the single most common cause of personal bankruptcy, even as it differs greatly from other forms of debt. These

July 24, 2024

Take Action: Forgive Medical Debt in Kentucky Today!

Medical debt is the single biggest reason for personal bankruptcy, and Kentucky is 10th in the nation for people with medical bills in collection. Even before the pandemic, more than half of Kentuckians experienced a healthcare affordability burden. When you’re paycheck-to-paycheck trying to make ends meet, there’s no extra money for unexpected medical bills or ever-increasing out of pocket costs. Many Kentucky families are just one emergency away from financial crisis and a cycle of debt collection that can feel inescapable. Kentucky Voices for Health is a nonpartisan coalition of consumer health advocates dedicated to addressing the root causes of poor health in the commonwealth. Cost is the most common reason for avoiding medical care in Kentucky. Medical debt makes people more likely to miss medical appointments, discontinue treatments, and skip prescriptions. No one should have to choose between medical treatment or meeting basic needs like food, heat, or rent. Medical debt is a systemic issue that requires policy change

November 22, 2023
stethoscope

The No Surprises Act: What Kentuckians Should Know

Have you ever had a medical emergency, routine surgery, or given birth?  If the answer is yes – then chances are, you have likely received some sort of surprise medical bill in your lifetime. But thanks to the new No Surprises Act legislation which went into effect January 1st, consumers have new relief from this common billing practice. Before the No Surprises Act, if you had health insurance and received care from an out-of-network provider or an out-of-network facility, even unknowingly, your health plan may not have covered the entire out-of-network cost, leaving you responsible for the balance of the medical bills. These bills were common when someone sought emergency care at an in-network hospital but was unknowingly treated by an out-of-network provider or had a procedure scheduled with an in-network surgeon without being told that other providers on their care team were out-of-network. Even in cases where the facility was in-network, consumers have often faced surprise bills for separate

February 4, 2022