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The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
The ‘small, sustainable changes' that support your long-term health
A new international study, including an expert from the University of Cambridge, has linked regular French fry consumption to a significantly increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The research, which analysed nearly four decades of dietary data from over 205,000 US health workers, found that eating French fries three times a week raised the risk by 20 per cent, escalating to 27 per cent for five times a week. In contrast, the study concluded that baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes were not associated with any increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Emma Pike, deputy head of clinical at Diabetes UK, highlighted that while there is no single diet to prevent type 2 diabetes, a healthy, balanced diet, including reducing certain fried foods, plays a vital role in lowering risk. Experts recommend several 'small, sustainable changes', such as opting for whole fruit over juice, homemade sandwiches over pre-packaged ones, and mixed nuts instead of crisps, to support long-term health and reduce diabetes risk.
Medical News Today
5 hours ago
- Medical News Today
What can you do if you cannot pay medical bills?
Unpaid medical bills can cause stress and worry. A person may be unaware of the right questions to ask regarding payment. However, various forms of financial assistance can help. Medical billing systems can be complex, and patients may not be aware of the true costs of treatment before receiving it. It is important to get the right help when understanding medical bills to avoid facing late fees, lawsuits regarding unpaid bills, legal issues, and low credit of Medicare termsOut-of-pocket cost: This is the amount a person must pay for care when Medicare does not pay the total amount or offer coverage. Costs can include deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and This is the amount of money someone pays each month for Medicare coverage. Deductible: This is an annual amount a person must spend out of pocket within a certain period before Medicare starts to fund their This is the percentage of treatment costs that a person must self-fund. For Medicare Part B, coinsurance is 20%.Copayment: This is a fixed dollar amount a person with insurance pays when receiving certain treatments. For Medicare, this usually applies to prescription to find financial assistance Medical debt is a persistent problem in the United States, with recent studies finding that around 41% of U.S. adults have some kind of healthcare forms of financial help are available for those who find themselves unable to pay medical bills. These include the following:The Affordable Care Act (ACA): The ACA can provide discounted healthcare for those who need it. It involves providing coverage for preexisting conditions, allowing children to stay on their parents' healthcare plans until age 26, and enabling small businesses to offer health insurance for their workers. Other offers include options for people who may not qualify for health insurance, such as Retroactive Medicaid can help a person pay past bills up to 3 months prior to experiencing an unexpected illness or Health Insurance Program (CHIP): CHIP offers health insurance coverage for children in families whose household income is too high for insurance providers such as Medicaid but too low for private insurance. CHIP provides coverage for hospital visits, doctor visits, and more, reducing out-of-pocket expenses and minimizing unpaid care programs: Charity care programs can offer free or discounted healthcare for those who cannot pay. They can also help with unexpected costs associated with emergency or unexpected medical care. A hospital may have certain criteria to meet for financial White HIV/AIDS Program: The Ryan White Program can provide care and assistance for those living with HIV, even if a person does not have insurance. Services include hospice care, mental health services, oral health services, stage 3 HIV drug and pharmaceutical assistance, and cost-sharing assistance for low income individuals.A person can also speak with their healthcare professional and negotiate the bill to an amount that they can afford. They may even offer an interest-free repayment plan or offer bill forgiveness adults and veterans may also receive entitlement to certain healthcare privileges, such as the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program. What to avoid with unpaid medical billsA person should think carefully before considering taking out a loan, credit card, or medical credit card to pay off medical bills. This is because it may lead to a high interest, and a person may lose the right to negotiate the and credit cards can also affect a person's credit, which can lead to financial issues later on. What happens if a bill goes unpaid? As of January 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) attempted to remove $49 billion in medical bills from the credit reports of 15 million Americans. Medical bills were to no longer be on credit reports, but recent judge rulings mean medical debts will stay on reports. Those with high healthcare debts may be at risk of:low or bad credit scores, meaning financial help in the future may be an issuereduced access to healthcaredebt collection efforts, such as repossession of assets legal consequences, such as court ordersmental health issues such as stress, depression, and anxietybankruptcy homelessness What to do with surprise medical billsSince January 2022, the No Surprises Act (NSA) protects people from being forced to pay a surprise medical bill if they have or do not have insurance and require unexpected care. If a person has a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment or gets treatment at an out-of-network facility, they may not know how much they owe. Providers must explain the costs of care before they provide services. Due to the NSA, a healthcare provider cannot bill them extra costs on top of their usual insurance your rights and protectionsWhether a person is able to pay or is insured or uninsured, hospital and healthcare providers must always provide adequate care according to the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA).This means a hospital cannot turn away a person if they require emergency or immediate treatment, regardless of financial or insurance status. SummaryAlthough medical debt can be a cause for concern, stress, and worry for those who face issues with payment, financial help is speak with your healthcare professional about paying medical bills, if there are ways to access discounted healthcare, or if they can negotiate the bill, or if there is some kind of interest-free payment plan.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
GSK to be paid up to £370 million after patent row settles in US
Drug maker GSK has secured a payment of up to 500 million dollars (£372 million) after a patent row over Covid vaccines was settled in the US. GSK told investors it will receive a 370 million dollar (£275 million) settlement from CureVac, which it had worked with on the development of mRNA vaccine technology. The London-based business will then be entitled to receive an additional 130 million dollars (£97 million) depending on if a planned takeover of CureVac by BioNTech closes, which would settle a lawsuit outside of the US. CureVac – a German pharmaceutical company – settled a long-running patent dispute with rival BioNTech and Pfizer in the US on Thursday. Drug makers had launched several lawsuits over alleged patent infringement in relation to their Covid-19 vaccines. CureVac said that, under the terms of the settlement, it would grant BioNTech and Pfizer a licence to make, use, and sell mRNA-based Covid and influenza jabs. The firms also agreed that GSK would take 1% of the royalties from the vaccine sales in the US from the beginning of 2025. The cash payment to GSK stems from its partnership with CureVac which was first struck in 2020. GSK remains in dispute with Pfizer and BioNTech in the US and Europe over alleged infringement of its own patents. Shares in GSK rose by as much as 1.7% on Friday morning. Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis for AJ Bell, said: 'Pharmaceutical giant GSK was also among the gainers on Friday morning as it secured a positive outcome from the settlement of a patent dispute involving CureVac with which it has a licence agreement. 'The dispute related to mRNA vaccines and gives GSK a modest, though still welcome, cash injection and the prospect of sales royalties.'
