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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Friday, November 28, 2025

Charities that help people cover their medical bills say they're seeing an alarming increase in requests for help.

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Americans are buckling under medical bills. It could get worse.

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-- Politico (@politico.com) Nov 27, 2025 at 7:03 AM

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... 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. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-27 11:08 PM | Reply

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?


#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-27 11:20 PM | Reply

Until we can do something about provider charges, medical debt will increase. But, the government or an insurance company can't tell a provider what to charge, just what they are willing to pay. As a result, those people that don't have insurance or are covered by some government program face ENORMOUS medical bills.

#3 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2025-11-28 06:12 AM | Reply

Until we can do something about provider charges, medical debt will increase. But, the government or an insurance company can't tell a provider what to charge, just what they are willing to pay. As a result, those people that don't have insurance or are covered by some government program face ENORMOUS medical bills.

#3 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2025-11-28 06:12 AM | Flag: GOP War on Obamacare and Universal Healthcare for Americans

One AI snapshot:

"The for-profit health insurance system is one of the most profitable industries in the US.

Key Points:

Profit Margins: Health insurance companies, especially large ones like UnitedHealth Group, Anthem, and Aetna, consistently report profit margins of 3-6% on revenue, but their net income in absolute dollars is massive, often tens of billions annually.

Revenue Scale: The industry generates over $1 trillion in revenue per year, with the top insurers making $20-30 billion in net profit annually."

Dr. Mehmet Oz owns healthcare industry stocks in the same companies he oversees in the Trumpf junta.

The US leads the world in people declaring 'medical bankruptcy," a concept unheard of in other modern industrialized countries.

This is why the Republicans don't want universal healthcare or vaccinations for Americans. Our illnesses or gunshot injuries create medical bills, leading to debt and re-possession opportunities.


#4 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-11-28 07:11 AM | Reply

MAHA my @ss: www.nbcnews.com

"Cha-ching!"

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-11-28 07:33 AM | Reply

Yeah but that Republicant plan is just around the corner.

#6 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-11-28 11:59 AM | Reply

Just two weeks away!

#7 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-11-28 12:09 PM | Reply

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?
#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-27 11:20 PM

Gee, that's a real head-scratcher.

Not per-capita then, just "rich" in elite ownership and profiteering. Parasite by any other name.

Does fence-sitting keep you warm?

#8 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2025-11-28 12:15 PM | Reply

*** GOP War on the Health of Americans Continues ***

Under ardent anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC has named Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham as its new principal deputy director, choice that was immediately called "dangerous" and "irresponsible."

This redneck quack prefers "natural immunity" over vaccines.

Source: arstechnica.com

Our sicknesses from spreading disease, food poisoning, or gunshot wounds make money for CEOs and Wall Street in the for-profit healthcare system we are all trapped in.

#9 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-11-28 10:38 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Shifting the cost to a third or fourth party does not reduce the cost.

#10 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-11-29 12:05 AM | Reply

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