Public Health

Listen: He Was Denied Care Because He Owed His Doctor Less Than $100

[A Special Audio Featured on Medical Debt – Reprinted with Permission from KHN]

Ariane and Samantha Buck of Arizona have had their lives upended by $50,000 in medical debt. They rely on family to provide Christmas gifts for their three children. But Ariane Buck was still surprised when his doctor refused to see him because he owed a balance of less than $100 to the practice. “That’s just not right,”

Buck told KHN’s Noam N. Levey. “Everyone should at least be able to get to a doctor when they feel ill.” Levey discussed the Bucks’ predicament with Mary Louise Kelly on NPR’s “All Things Considered” on June 22.

The Bucks are among tens of millions of Americans who have crippling medical debt, according to an ongoing KHN and NPR investigation, “Diagnosis: Debt.” Levey discussed the investigation with A Martínez on NPR’s “Morning Edition” on June 16.

Medika Life

Medika Life is a digital Health Publication for both the medical profession and the public. Make informed decisions about your health and stay up to date with the latest developments and technological advances in the fields of medicine.

Recent Posts

Death Is Not A Failure

In my conversation with Dr. Elaine Chen of Rush University Medical Center, who is both…

2 hours ago

Executive action may actually drive up medicines prices

*This story will be updated as more details become available* President Trump’s executive order could…

3 days ago

Trump’s Drug Price Gambit: Cheaper for America, But Who Pays the Price?

Donald Trump is back at it, making big waves in the world of pharmaceuticals. On…

3 days ago

Cancer Isn’t Random: What 42% of Diagnoses Have in Common — and How You Can Lower Your Risk.

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves…”— William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar.…

2 weeks ago

When Is Exercise Not Exercise, and Is That Good Enough?

Going for walks, dancing, and doing housework —although not technically exercises —any kind of movement counts toward your…

2 weeks ago

How Real-World Evidence Proves the Power of Patient Engagement

Data isn’t just an asset—it’s a trust marker. In life sciences, our credibility hinges on…

3 weeks ago

This website uses cookies. Your continued use of the site is subject to the acceptance of these cookies. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.

Read More