Two reporters and a veteran researcher share insights and tips for covering the economic squeeze American families are facing.
Health Insurance and Costs
Fears over ICE raids and looming Medicaid changes are pushing Coachella Valley health organizations to move care onto private property, Zoom, and other more channels to keep undocumented and immigrant patients connected to services.
How the Inland Empire’s doctor shortage is forcing desert residents to travel farther, wait longer, and go without timely specialist and maternity care.
“There’s a complete mismatch between where we see PrEP clinics, and where we see HIV,” said Natalie Crawford, a researcher at Emory who is leading an initiative to support and train pharmacies in HIV prevention, education and referrals.
Rising dental costs and unequal access leave many Black and Hispanic Americans without adequate oral care, worsening health disparities and financial strain.
Insurance denials hit many Americans, but marginalized and sicker patients suffer most because appeals are complex, delaying care and widening health inequities.
Detroit residents showed how unreliable transportation can turn health care access into a daily struggle.
“This is a lot of people not just milking the system but making deliberate economic decisions to exploit a vulnerable population,” said Barak Richman, a professor at George Washington University Law School.
A kidney transplant survivor urges donation despite safety fears after a Times investigation sparked registry withdrawals, while reporters are urged to cover access and racial inequities.
States are eliminating out-of-pocket costs for follow-up cancer tests, aiming to reduce delays, improve early detection, and address disparities in care.