More Americans struggle with healthcare costs

Managing healthcare costs is increasingly seen as a hardship among Americans, according to a New York Times investigation. In a Times poll, 46 percent of respondents described paying for care as a hardship rather than affordable, up 10 points from 2013. This is largely due to an increase in out-of-pocket expenses, which 52 percent of respondents said have gone up in some capacity, compared to 39 percent who noticed no change and 5 percent who said they had gone down. This is partially the result of newer insurance plans fashioned to make sure patients have enough "skin in the game" to be more discriminate healthcare consumers, according to the Times. A large majority of respondents, 80 percent, said they wished physicians were more open about discussions of treatment costs. Article