The latest on surprise medical bills, student loan mistakes, and the self-made myth
Here are some favorite personal finance reads from around the web this week.
How to find out how much your surgery really costs—before you go under the knife
—MarketWatch
Out-of-network charges, unexpected facility fees, and balance bills are usually the culprit behind surprise medical costs, but numerous roadblocks stand in the way of making these expenses more predictable and transparent. The good news? Senators on both sides of the aisle have introduced draft legislation to find solutions to these surprise bills.
Obamacare helps with housing payments, new study finds
—MarketWatch
While the 2010 Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Americans get insured, a new study in the Journal of Public Economics shows greater access to health care has also led to a significant decrease in rent and mortgage delinquencies. The new research hopes to shed light on additional financial benefits that are not being taken into account during debates about health care policy.
Student loan servicers’ frequent mistakes went unpunished, audit finds
—The New York Times
A recent audit by the U.S. Department of Education detailed the many errors made by federal student loan servicers and how the department failed to dock the servicers’ pay despite recurring mistakes. While the report only reviewed data from 2015 to 2017, many of the problems have occurred for years, validating complaints made by borrowers and other government auditors.
Why does it feel like everyone has more money than you?
—Harper’s Bazaar
Many successful entrepreneurs started out with financial help from family and friends, yet the “self-made” success story persists. This writer examines why, and how it’s prevented millennials from talking about their financial anxieties.
Craving more financial finds? Here are my latest blog posts!
How a cheap staycation can beat a pricey family trip
The upcoming spring break means big-ticket vacations for many American families, but that isn’t always the case. Here are tons of staycation ideas to help you and the kids have nearby fun without breaking the bank.
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