Medical bills can be vexing and perplexing. Here's important advice for patients

"A Texas boy's second dose of the MMRV vaccine cost over $1,400. A Pennsylvania woman's long-acting birth control cost more than $14,000. Treatment for a Florida Medicaid enrollee's heart attack cost nearly $78,000 about as much as surgery for an uninsured Montana woman's broken arm. In 2025, these patients were among the hundreds who asked KFF Health News to investigate their medical bills as part of its Bill Of the Month series. Insured and uninsured. Job-based and government-funded. Comprehensive and short-term."

"As millions of Americans grapple with the rising cost of health insurance next year, the Bill of the Month series is approaching its eighth anniversary. Our nationwide team of health reporters has analyzed almost $7 million in medical charges, more than $350,000 of that this year. Of this year's 12 featured patients, five had their bills mostly or fully forgiven soon after we contacted the provider and insurer for comment."

"1. Most insurance coverage doesn't start immediately. Many new plans come with waiting periods, so it's important to maintain continuous coverage until the new plan kicks in. One exception: If you lose your job-based coverage, you have 60 days to opt into a COBRA policy. Once you pay, the coverage applies retroactively, even for care received while you were temporarily uninsured."

Extreme medical charges affected patients across states and insurance types, including a $1,400 vaccine dose, a $14,000 long-acting contraceptive, and nearly $78,000 for heart attack treatment. Patients were insured and uninsured, covered by job-based, government-funded, short-term, and sharing-ministry plans. A nationwide reporting team analyzed almost $7 million in medical charges, more than $350,000 in the current year, and found that five of 12 featured patients had bills mostly or fully forgiven after provider or insurer review. Common issues include waiting periods before coverage starts, unexpected plan restrictions, and the importance of maintaining continuous coverage or using COBRA retroactively.

Read at kffhealthnews.org