“Accident Victims…” explains how employers are aggressively recouping medical costs from employees’ accident settlements. Workers have been left with little or no money. The story focuses on a recent case where Wal-Mart sued a former employee, now brain damaged and in a nursing home, and won its claim to take the more than $400,000 her family had received for her future care.
“Locked out” explores how fewer specialists will see Medicaid patients, making it difficult for poor patients to get critical care. The story focuses on how this problem has developed in Michigan and how it has led to segregated health care in the twin communities of Benton Harbor/St. Joseph.
“Experimental Therapy” chronicles one doctor’s attempt to provide more affordable care and keep ahead of his rising costs by shutting health insurers out of his primary care practice. The story shows how even small-scale solutions to the uninsured and underinsured can run into entrenched opposition. Both the local insurance industry and state insurance commission tried to shut down his prepaid health care plan for patients.