Michelle Crouch

1 week ago | wfae.org | Michelle Crouch

When Christy Owca’s 17-year-old son flipped his Jeep in a crash in 2019, she was grateful that an ambulance got him to the hospital quickly and that his injuries turned out to be minor. So when the first bill from Gaston County’s ambulance agency came, she didn’t think twice about paying the $61 fee. But more bills kept coming. Then came statements from her health insurance company, each showing a different amount she owed just for the ambulance ride.

1 week ago | northcarolinahealthnews.org | Michelle Crouch |Charlotte Ledger

The Charlotte LedgerWhen Christy Owca’s 17-year-old son flipped his Jeep in a crash in 2019, she was grateful that an ambulance got him to the hospital quickly and that his injuries turned out to be minor. So when the first bill from Gaston County’s ambulance agency came, she didn’t think twice about paying the $61 fee. But more bills kept coming. Then came statements from her health insurance company, each showing a different amount she owed just for the ambulance ride.

1 week ago | buff.ly | Michelle Crouch |Charlotte Ledger

The Charlotte LedgerWhen Christy Owca’s 17-year-old son flipped his Jeep in a crash in 2019, she was grateful that an ambulance got him to the hospital quickly and that his injuries turned out to be minor. So when the first bill from Gaston County’s ambulance agency came, she didn’t think twice about paying the $61 fee. But more bills kept coming. Then came statements from her health insurance company, each showing a different amount she owed just for the ambulance ride.

2 weeks ago | aarp.org | Michelle Crouch

Snacking used to be simple: maybe a slice of cheese or an apple with peanut butter. These days, though, Americans are more likely to reach for packaged chips, crackers or cookies between meals. These ultraprocessed foods are designed to be addictive, making it easy to overeat. One in eight adults ages 50 to 80 shows signs of addiction to ultraprocessed foods, according to research conducted by the University of Michigan and sponsored by AARP.

2 weeks ago | wfae.org | Michelle Crouch

After Cathy Head of Charlotte fell and fractured her shoulder in 2023, she was pleased that her health insurance covered almost all of the expenses for her care: the emergency room visit, the physician’s charges and months of physical therapy. Then she got the ambulance bill. For a 4.5-mile ride to Novant Health Matthews Medical Center, Head was charged $1,397. Of that, Head’s insurance paid just $130, she said. Another $60 came out of an employer-funded account that helps cover medical costs.