skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Election 2024 - close races to decide control of US Congress; Alabama felony voting ban leaves thousands disenfranchised as polls open; Glynn County under watch as key Election Day player; PA voting report: Strengthening election integrity amid potential disruptions.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A Cambodian poultry farmer who lost his livelihood could be a hero for others, rural Montanans are anxiously awaiting a court ruling over a climate lawsuit brought by young people, and Northeast states say more housing for working families could boost jobs.

Majority of Mainers Concerned with Medical Debt, Rising Healthcare Costs

play audio
Play

Monday, June 5, 2023   

Most Mainers believe they are one medical emergency or illness away from financial disaster, according to a new survey.

The non-profit Consumers for Affordable Healthcare finds rising costs, including those for prescription drugs, are weighing heavy on the majority of Mainers - causing more than one in three residents to skip or delay going to the doctor when sick.

Executive Director Ann Woloson said the majority of Mainers with commercial insurance are also concerned they'll experience a gap in their coverage.

"You know you hear this all the time," said Woloson, "people splitting pills, or not filling a prescription because they can't afford it. It just shows us that more needs to be done."

Woloson said Maine is on the right track to addressing the high cost of healthcare and the state's new executive director with the Office of Affordable Healthcare could help, and so could the Prescription Drug Affordability Board.

More than four out of ten Mainers have medical debt in their household, and nearly all of them who've accrued that debt within the past two years still have it.

Woloson said counselors with her organization's free hotline help Mainers with insurance questions and regularly hear from families struggling to pay their bills.

"I think as more Mainers experience affordability issues," said Woloson, "they realize they're not alone and that everyone in Maine should have access to quality healthcare they can afford."

That includes the growing number of immigrants in Maine, who are helping alleviate the state's worker shortage.

Lawmakers are considering a bill to expand MaineCare to all low-income residents, regardless of immigration status.

Woloson said everyone benefits when everyone can get the care they need... when they need it.





Disclosure: Consumers for Affordable Healthcare contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy & Priorities, Health Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Some organizations point to low pay, racial bias in school systems and retention challenges as the biggest obstacles to recruiting more Black men into teaching. (RDNE/Pexels)

Social Issues

play sound

In a country where Black men make up less than 2% of the teaching workforce, a program in Jacksonville is working to shift the balance by recruiting 1…


Social Issues

play sound

By Jabari Gibbs for The Current.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for Georgia News Connection reporting for the Rural News Network-Public News Serv…

Social Issues

play sound

It is Election Day and Maine voters are weighing the future of the state's extensive trail system. If passed, the Maine Trails Bond would inject …


More than one of every 10 voters in today's general election is expected to be Latino, a 20.5% increase from 2016, according to the NALEO Educational Fund. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Election Day is finally here, and this year more than 17 million Latinos are expected to cast a ballot. The National Association of Latino Elected …

Social Issues

play sound

A package of New York City bills can help preserve affordable housing. The Community Land Act creates more pathways for communities to purchase and …

More than 36,000,000 Latinos nationwide will be eligible to vote in the 2024 presidential election - an increase of four million voters since 2020, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

By Lourdes Medrano for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Yes! Media-Public News Service …

Social Issues

play sound

A nonprofit report aims to build trust in Michigan's voting system by explaining the safeguards that ensure fair and free elections. The report …

Social Issues

play sound

Wyoming's secretary of state is asking county clerks to report non-citizens who try to vote, although cases of that - or any other - kind of election …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021