South Florida

These 6 trends are affecting healthcare access and costs

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

How does the healthcare and insurance systems affect medical access and price people out of treatment?

Take a look at those issues and others in the coverage below:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. da un discurso en un mitin a favor de Donald Trump en el Colegio Comunitario Macomb, en Michigan, el viernes 1 de noviembre de 2024. Kennedy es candidato a ser secretario de Salud en el gobierno de Trump. By Mandi Wright

NO. 1: HOW MUCH WILL THAT SURGERY COST? HOSPITAL PRICES REMAIN LARGELY UNHELPFUL

The goal is to force hospitals and health insurance companies to make it easier for consumers to compare. | Published April 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniel Chang

At least 5.4 million U.S. children are family caregivers to older people. Challenges include the role of Medicaid.

NO. 2: MILLIONS OF KIDS ARE CAREGIVERS FOR ELDERS. WHY THEIR NUMBERS MIGHT GROW

“For kids, it’s important for them to know they’re not alone,” said Julia Belkowitz, a pediatrician and an associate professor at the University of Miami who has studied student caregivers. | Published June 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Leah Fabel

Eric and Rebecca Tennant of Bridgeport, West Virginia, fought for months to get Eric’s cancer treatment approved by his insurer. When West Virginia’s Public Employees Insurance Agency eventually decided to reverse the denial in May, Eric had become too sick for the procedure.

NO. 3: ‘NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO ANYONE.’ INSURERS ISSUE DENIALS, PATIENTS RUN OUT OF OPTIONS

How people are navigating the healthcare system. | Published June 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lauren Sausser

Stephanie Johnson, a geriatric nurse practitioner, checks her patient Ellen with a stethoscope during a hospice consult. By Jariel Arvin

NO. 4: NURSE PRACTITIONERS ARE TREATING OLDER ADULTS AS RANKS OF GERIATRICIANS SHRINK

What to know about what’s happening with senior care. | Published June 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jariel Arvin

Fatigue, coldness, and pale skin? Know the signs of anemia. Learn about causes, treatments like IV iron and improving quality of life for older adults.

NO. 5: MAYBE IT’S NOT JUST AGING — MAYBE IT’S ANEMIA. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM

“People say, ‘I feel weak, but everybody my age feels weak.’ ” | Published July 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Paula Span

Affordable Care Act declares that young adults who turn 26 generally must get off their family’s plan and figure out their coverage themselves.

NO. 6: WHY YOUNG AMERICANS DREAD TURNING 26 AS THEY FACE HEALTH INSURANCE CHAOS

Amid the challenges of adulthood, one rite of passage is unique to the United States: | Published August 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Elisabeth Rosenthal and Hannah Norman

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.