CHCF September 24, 2024
Vickie Villegas had to pay $3,000 out-of-pocket every time she was treated for multiple sclerosis, a disease that attacks the central nervous system. Her doctor recommended she get treatments twice a year to keep the disease from worsening, but she couldn’t afford it, the Pasadena-area resident said.
“I just couldn’t keep up,” Villegas said. Her disease progressed, and she lost use of her left hand.
When an infection landed Estevan Rodriguez-Hernandez in the hospital for a week in 2020, his bill totaled more than $167,000. After insurance, Rodriguez-Hernandez owed $5,600, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from working.
Villegas’ and Rodrigeuz-Hernandez’ stories are all too common in California, where the average cost of health care is the third highest in...
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