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U.S. Hospitals Require $2,000 Upfront at Merritt Island for Surgeries

May 9, 2024, 10:31 PM

A growing trend among hospitals and surgery centers across the United States is the requirement for patients to pay upfront for medical treatments, including surgeries and other procedures. This policy is forcing many Americans, like Heather Miconi, to scramble for funds to cover the costs of essential health services. Miconi is currently trying to gather $2,000 for her daughter's adenoid and tonsil surgery at Merritt Island Surgery Center in Florida, as she has been told the procedure will be delayed without upfront payment. Nearly a quarter of patient payments to hospitals are now made before treatment, impacting even pregnant patients. The Wall Street Journal highlights that this practice aims to avoid the difficulties of collecting payments after treatments but has raised concerns about access to necessary medical care. Hospitals are also not accepting checks, only credit card payments.