More from the article ...

... Our organization can't really handle much more demand," said Michael Sapienza, chief executive of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, which helps patients pay for colonoscopies, tests and cancer treatment.

Financial assistance from the HealthWell Foundation, one of the largest charities in the country, is already 23 percent higher this year than all of last year. Requests swamped the fund it launched this month to help consumers offset higher Obamacare premiums that are likely if the subsidies expire, prompting it to stop taking new applicants after just two days. The Colorectal Cancer Alliance has seen a 26 percent increase in requests year-over-year, and CancerCare, another charity, has seen a 10 percent increase in year-over-year requests.

Michael Heimall, HealthWell's chief executive, expects the spike in assistance requests to continue next year and expressed concern over whether donors, who are also under price pressure, can maintain or ramp up their payments. ...

Once, my doctor said I needed an MRI for the symptoms I presented.

So, I went to the hospital, and participated in the MRI experience.

[my doctor said the MRI was good, fwiw]

Shortly afterwards, I received a letter with a bill enclosed. The letter was almost mocking in its tone. It said, and I paraphrase, ~we don't participate in any medical insurance plans, so you have to pay us directly. That will be (hundreds of dollars). Thank-you. Due date is (30 days later). Yes, it was valid.

OK, I never approved, or even asked, the entity who sent me that letter for their medical assistance. It seemed to be the private-equity-owned hospital having someone walk into a room and then charging me for their "consulting."

Fortunately, it was only a few hundred dollars?

I have seen reports on the local CT news of similar occurrences, but with tens of thousands of dollars involved.

Healthcare in the Country is broken.

Why cannot the wealthiest nation on the planet provide affordable healthcare for its citizens?