A grieving widow's slide into depression landed her in a hospital for five nights, which then turned into a $29,894.50 medical bill that her insurance didn't cover, Kaiser Health News reports with NPR. The bill was then reduced to $21,634.55 because her insurance didn't cover mental health care.
Why it matters: The woman had an association health plan. Her story illustrates how these plans can backfire on patients.
- They aren't required to cover the ACA's essential health benefits — including mental health — which is part of why they're often cheaper than ACA-compliant plans.
- The woman hadn't expected to need mental health services when she bought the plan.
Go deeper: Ads for "Trumpcare," which doesn't exist, are everywhere
