South Florida

Pressures on health policies reshape patient costs and access. See 7 takeaways

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

The articles below focus on the challenges surrounding health insurance, Medicaid and patient costs.

In South Florida, a rise in heart disease pressured hospitals to expand services to meet growing demand.

Meanwhile, a Florida Medicaid patient faced a $77,000 bill after a heart attack.

Catch up with the coverage below on these and other stories.

Los estados enfrentan espinosos desafíos: asegurarse de no eliminar a personas que todavía califican, y conectar al resto con otras coberturas. By Dreamstime

NO. 1: HOW ARE HISPANIC PATIENTS USING MEDICAID? HERE ARE FIVE ISSUES THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Experts analyzed the myths. | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Paula Andalo / KFF Health News Isabel Rubio / Factchequeado

In hindsight, Tim Winard says, he had not understood the difference between Affordable Care Act policies and short-term plans. His advice? Don’t rely solely on marketing materials and always get a cost estimate before a nonemergency procedure. By Jamie Kelter Davis

NO. 2: HE HAD SHORT-TERM HEALTH INSURANCE. HIS COLONOSCOPY BILL? $7,000

Here’s how this medical drama played out. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Julie Appleby

Hans Wirt of Deltona, Florida, had a heart attack while visiting relatives in South Dakota. The hospital that treated Wirt declined to send the bill to his Florida Medicaid plan, leaving him on the hook for almost $78,000. By Jacob M. Langston

NO. 3: A FLORIDA MEDICAID PATIENT HAD A HEART ATTACK WHILE TRAVELING. HE OWED $77,000

He is covered by Florida’s Medicaid program. But a South Dakota hospital refused to submit the bill to his out-of-state plan | Published May 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Arielle Zionts

Jackson South Medical Center, 9333 SW 152nd St, in south Miami-Dade has recently renovated its catherization lab as part of a plan to provide new and expanded cardiac care. By Michelle Marchante

NO. 4: HEART DISEASE FORECAST TO RISE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. HERE’S WHAT ONE HOSPITAL IS DOING

Inside the new lab, doctors will use tech that will let them reconstruct 3D models of a patient’s cardiovascular system. | Published July 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante

People shopping for a plan may need advice.

NO. 5: HOW DO YOU FIND HEALTH INSURANCE WHEN YOU’RE TURNING 26? HERE’S SOME ADVICE

It was supposed to be easier than this. | Published August 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Elisabeth Rosenthal

Applicants in Miami line up at a mall to register for Obamacare in 2014.

NO. 6: CONSIDERING A LIFE CHANGE? BRACE FOR HIGHER OBAMACARE COSTS

People thinking about starting a business or retiring early — before they’re old enough for Medicare — may want to wait until November, when they can see just how much their Affordable Care Act health insurance will cost next year. | Published August 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Julie Appleby

Denied insurance coverage for preventive services like hearing tests? Find actionable steps to appeal decisions and leverage healthcare rights effectively. By Oona Zenda

NO. 7: TRY THIS WHEN YOUR DOCTOR SAYS ‘YES’ TO PREVENTIVE TEST BUT INSURANCE SAYS ‘NO’

“My son was diagnosed with congenital CMV, a virus that can cause hearing loss. | Published August 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jackie Fortiér

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.