{'byline': 'by Lauren Barry', 'hosts': '', 'byline_sources': '', 'audience_id': '', 'original_station': [{'station': 'wwjnewsradio', 'path': 'wwjnewsradio/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}], 'syndicated_items': [{'station': 'wbbm780', 'path': '/wbbm780/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'kmox', 'path': '/kmox/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'wben', 'path': '/wben/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'talk980am', 'path': '/talk980am/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'kdkaradio', 'path': '/kdkaradio/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'krld', 'path': '/krld/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'wwl', 'path': '/wwl/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'knss', 'path': '/knss/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': '1210wpht', 'path': '/1210wpht/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'wccoradio', 'path': '/wccoradio/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'kmbz', 'path': '/kmbz/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'kcbsradio', 'path': '/kcbsradio/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'wtic', 'path': '/wtic/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'kdawn', 'path': '/kdawn/news/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': '971talk', 'path': '/971talk/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}, {'station': 'thesky973', 'path': '/thesky973/news/national/americans-are-skipping-meals-to-pay-for-healthcare'}], 'original_item': {'_index': 'published-content_v44', '_type': '_doc', '_score': None, '_source': {'date': '2026-03-12T21:11:18.627Z', 'lead': [{'data': {'title': 'The ICU Unit at Hennepin County Medical Center', 'thumbnail_url': 'https://s1.dmcdn.net/v/W0cC81eoW0_Rji1EI', 'id': 'x8vqcy0', 'created_time': 1711448719, 'mode': 'vod', 'private_id': 'k1lrPZWJMKgsFNAljle', 'owner': 'x2x9l8g', 'description': "This is where nurses work with COVID Patients inside the ICU at Hennepin County Medical Center. 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While 27% of people who don’t have health insurance reported that they skipped a meal to cover healthcare costs, 9% of people with insurance skipped meals to cover costs too.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000j01s8b6k107fa@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Overall, the index indicated that Americans’ ability to afford healthcare has deteriorated in recent years. Previous research cited by Audacy has also tracked concerns about healthcare costs. This research including AP-NORC results from last October <a href="https://www.audacy.com/wwjnewsradio/news/national/6-in-10-americans-afraid-about-affording-healthcare">that showed nearly 60% were extremely or very concerned about their healthcare costs increasing</a> and research from 2024 that found the U.S. had <a href="https://www.audacy.com/wccoradio/news/national/us-spends-the-most-health-care-ranks-dead-last-in-health">higher spending but worse healthcare outcomes than 10 other nations</a>.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000k01s8r020v00n@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Why are our healthcare costs so high? <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-costs/health-policy-101-health-care-costs-and-affordability/?entry=table-of-contents-future-outlook">According to the Kaiser Family Foundation</a>, spending has been pushed higher by “a number of factors, including but not limited to an aging population, rising rates of chronic conditions, advancements in medicine and new technologies, higher prices, and expansions of health insurance coverage,” and more.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000l01s8g3bhce32@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'President Donald Trump has even laid some of the blame at the feet of “<a href="https://www.audacy.com/wwjnewsradio/news/national/trump-slams-money-sucking-insurance-companies">money sucking insurance companies</a>.”', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000m01s8qp0flto1@published'}, {'data': {'text': '<a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/faculty/11/gerard-anderson">Gerard Anderson</a>, PhD, a professor in\xa0<a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/departments/health-policy-and-management">Health Policy and Management</a> and\xa0<a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/departments/international-health">International Health</a> at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health traced the U.S. healthcare cost problem back to a decades-old decision by the Internal Revenue Service in <a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/whats-behind-rising-health-insurance-costs">an interview published last November</a>.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000n01s88d58snqd@published'}, {'data': {'text': '“We’re probably never going to have a very robust and healthy system,” Anderson said. “It all comes back to a decision by the IRS in 1943 to provide tax subsidies to employer-sponsored insurance plans. Most Americans get health insurance coverage through employers, which are typically large, self-insured companies. Those companies are not likely to give up the idea of providing health insurance to their workers because it’s a very attractive option for them in recruiting employees.”', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000o01s8xnrbvyjc@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'At the same time, these companies are paying very high premiums compared to what Medicare pays, Anderson explained. He also said they are not actively trying to control costs.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000p01s8tib08ixt@published'}, {'data': {'text': '“Until they are so upset with the status quo to make a change, we won’t have fundamental changes to the insurance system,” Anderson argued.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000q01s8xta39295@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'This year, even more healthcare cost challenges are on the horizon for Americans.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000r01s8m7a8slz6@published'}, {'data': {'text': '“In 2026, millions are expected to face higher insurance premiums and rising out-of-pocket costs as the expiration of some Affordable Care Act subsidies and upcoming <a href="https://www.audacy.com/wwl/news/national/would-medicaid-cuts-end-up-costing-all-of-us-more">cuts to Medicaid</a> enrollment threaten coverage,” said Gallup. “Collectively, these shifts could leave millions of Americans without health insurance at a time when financial stress is already running high.”', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000s01s897b9zvvl@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'In addition to skipping meals, Gallup polling showed that Americans have cut back on utilities, driving and other costs to afford healthcare. Some have also stretched out their doses of prescription medication and borrowed money.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000t01s8zhta8s8v@published'}, {'data': {'text': '<iframe width="100%" height="500px" frameborder="0" src="https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?&amp;feed-link=https%3A%2F%2Frss.amperwave.net%2Fv2%2Ffeed%2Faudacy%2Faf2c3117d69eb7aee476aefdc80af2c3&amp;theme=blurred&amp;playerDisplay-download=false&amp;playerDisplay-logoType=Audacy&amp;playlistDisplay-playlistDownloads=false" allow="clipboard-write"></iframe>', 'isIframe': True, 'componentVariation': 'html-embed', 'fbInstantArticleHtml': '<iframe width="100%" height="500px" frameborder="0" src="https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?&amp;feed-link=https%3A%2F%2Frss.amperwave.net%2Fv2%2Ffeed%2Faudacy%2Faf2c3117d69eb7aee476aefdc80af2c3&amp;theme=blurred&amp;playerDisplay-download=false&amp;playerDisplay-logoType=Audacy&amp;playlistDisplay-playlistDownloads=false" allow="clipboard-write"></iframe>'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/html-embed/instances/cmmnymejo000u01s8ckt0b7g1@published'}, {'data': {'text': '“More than half of U.S. adults (55%) in households earning less than $24,000 per year report having made at least one trade-off in their daily life to pay for healthcare,” said Gallup. For households earning $240,000 or more (roughly 1.6 million U.S. adults) that dropped to 11%. Data also showed that Americans who report being in poor or fair health are also more likely to report having made financial trade-offs to cover healthcare costs.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000v01s8kkpmaznx@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'When it comes to skipping meals, research indicates that it can put further stress on health. <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/intermittent-fasting/faq-20441303#:~:text=But%20the%20long%2Dterm%20health,and%20affect%20the%20menstrual%20cycle.">According to the Mayo Clinic</a>, intermittent fasting “may cause people to feel very tired and dizzy,” and it can affect diabetes management, headaches, mood swings, constipation the menstrual cycle. <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7832891/">Research has also shown</a> that, counterintuitively, skipping breakfast might lead to weight gain and the onset of overweight and obesity.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmmnymejo000w01s8xo3lb3sh@published'}], 'feedImg': {'data': {'alt': 'An elderly man wearing glasses and a dark jacket browses a market, holding a wallet. 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