When Abbey Diamond, a Marion, Ohio, resident, turned 26, she lost the health insurance through her parents that she relied on. Almost overnight, she found herself facing an impossible choice. As a stay-at-home mother raising two young children, adding herself to her husband’s employer-sponsored insurance plan would have cost between $350 and $450 per week in […]
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Kelly Gunn, Virginia
Kelly Gunn, a 46-year-old Virginia resident with employer-sponsored insurance, thought having health coverage would protect her from the financial devastation that goes along with cancer. Instead, after being diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in July 2024, she found herself facing unexpected bills, upfront charges before surgery, and medical debt that followed her through recovery. […]
Meagan B., Texas
When Meagan B.’s 22-month-old son suddenly collapsed in her arms, she knew something was seriously wrong. He was dehydrated, lethargic, and needed immediate medical attention. Before going to the emergency room, Meagan contacted both a telehealth provider and her son’s pediatrician. Both advised her to take him to the emergency room immediately. Faced with a frightening medical […]
Lacy Marshall, Texas
Lacy Marshall’s journey through the health care system began the day her young daughter endured a 12-minute grand mal seizure. “She was taken by ambulance to the doctor, and we were kind of warned a little bit we should prepare ourselves for the fact that this could actually be a mass in her brain because […]
Danielle, West Virginia
Danielle, a mother in West Virginia, has always done everything she can to keep her six-year-old son healthy. Born at 29 weeks and diagnosed with multiple disabilities, her son has relied on consistent, trusted care from the same pediatrician since leaving the NICU. For years, their visits were simple: a small copay, the care he […]
Hanna Utkin, California
Accidents can happen in an instant, and for many families that moment of panic can turn into unexpected financial stress. When Hanna Utkin’s four-month-old son fell off his highchair as she was adjusting it, she did what any parent would do: she rushed to get help. “He just fell off and he hit his head,” she […]
Delaine Dixon, Texas
For Delaine Dixon, a 61-year-old Texan living on Social Security, managing her health has become increasingly difficult due to unexpected facility fees. After three cervical spine surgeries, Delaine relies on ongoing pain management. But when her insurance provider, Humana, was no longer accepted at her local Baylor health center, her care became even more complicated. […]
Adrienne R, Pennsylvania
Adrienne, a Pennsylvania resident and mother of two, never expected a simple diagnostic procedure to lead to over a year of financial and emotional distress. In February 2024, she underwent a thyroid biopsy at a hospital she knew well, the hospital where she gave birth to both of her children and one she visits frequently […]
Jim and Teresa Matthews, South Carolina
Jim and Teresa Matthews never imagined that a hospital visit in August of 2024 could unravel into a financial bureaucratic nightmare. From Indian Land, South Carolina, the Matthews run a medical practice just across the state line in Indian Trail, North Carolina, where Jim is an optometrist and Teresa serves as office manager. Being health […]
Ben Los, Colorado
In September of 2022, Ben Los’s 5-year-old son began experiencing seizures. After rushing him to the doctor Ben and his wife were referred to a specialist within their insurance network, just an hour and a half away from their Colorado Springs home. They got the EEG scan for their son and were in and out […]