Why patients should ask providers about health care costs

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US Edition - Today's top story: Health care sticker shock has become the norm, but talking to your doctor about costs can help you rein it in View in browser   US Edition | 10 April 2026 Top headlines What it would take to make a lasting peace with Iran 25 million Americans still smoke – should it be illegal? TGIF means it’s time for the news quiz Lead story The health care affordability crisis that millions of Americans are struggling with is getting worse. The proliferation of high-deductible plans, which push a bigger share of costs onto patients, is one major driver. Another is the sharp drop in premium subsidies for Americans who get their coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Combined with rising drug costs, these trends continue to push medical debt levels higher, including among Americans who are insured. Patients need to arm themselves with knowledge, argue Helen Colby from Indiana University and Deirdre Popovich from Texas Tech, business professors who study consumer decision-making. Asking questions about cost can empower patients in meaningful ways – but all too often, people hold back, research shows. In particular, consumers can ask questions about the availability of generic drugs, cheaper alternative treatments and payment assistance – which can make a big difference on the final price tag. The authors write: “Physicians can’t address financial concerns they don’t hear about, and most want to help their patients access care they can realistically follow through on. As costs continue to shift toward the patient’s burden, asking these questions isn’t just helpful – it’s essential.” [How faith and religion drive the world. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, This Week in Religion.] Helen Fessenden Senior Economy and Business Editor A doctor at the National Cancer Institute talks with a patient. National Cancer Institute on Unsplash Health care sticker shock has become the norm, but talking to your doctor about costs can help you rein it in Helen Colby, Indiana University; Deidre Popovich, Texas Tech University Three questions can help patients get a better handle on drug and health care options. But many Americans still hold back from asking providers for information. International After ceasefire, negotiating a lasting deal with Iran would require overcoming regional rivalries and strategic incoherence Ioana Emy Matesan, Wesleyan University A decade of shifting regional alliances, continuous conflict and outside interventions have narrowed the path for diplomacy. Health + Medicine Tobacco is still one of the world’s top killers – here are the key obstacles to enacting generational smoking bans Marie Helweg-Larsen, Dickinson College A few US towns have banned cigarette sales to anyone born after a specific date, and several states are considering this path. A psychologist explains why such measures often face stiff resistance. What declining vaccination rates mean for your family – and what you can do Kar-Hai Chu, University of Pittsburgh; Maggie Slavin, University of Pittsburgh As childhood vaccination rates in Allegheny County decline, The Conversation asked experts why parents are opting out and how to protect vaccination policy. Doctors can refuse to treat LGBTQ+ patients in several states – these religious exemption laws lead to drops in HIV testing Nathaniel M. Tran, University of Illinois Chicago; Periwinkle Seljord-Solberg, University of Illinois Chicago An increasing number of laws aim to roll back LGBTQ+ people’s ability to access health care, leading to cascading effects on their well-being. Science + Technology I found a new meteor shower, and it comes from an asteroid getting broken down by the Sun Patrick M. Shober, NASA A newly identified meteor shower reveals that intense heat is fragmenting a previously unknown asteroid as it passes too close to the Sun. Politics + Society As a philosopher, I’m convinced that Trump isn’t lying − he’s doing something worse Robert B. Talisse, Vanderbilt University Donald Trump’s false claims about the Iran War, Epstein files, tariffs and inflation have left some supporters who have traditionally believed all he says feeling duped and abandoned. Why now? Arts + Culture In his efforts to remake federal architecture, Trump repudiates the ‘republican ideals’ that have long informed it Kevin D. Murphy, Vanderbilt University US presidents haven’t usually sought to impress their own architectural tastes – much less their names while in office – on national monuments. Ethics + Religion 80 years later, scholarship is breaking silence on women’s suffering and strength at Treblinka – including their role in its uprising Chad S.A. Gibbs, College of Charleston Topics such as sexual assault have been difficult for survivors and historians to write about, even decades after the war. Podcast 🎙️ The pseudoscientific attractiveness scale that grew out of incel forums and is now making money for looksmaxxing influencers Gemma Ware, The Conversation Sociologist Jordan Foster explains the origins of the PSL scale on The Conversation Weekly podcast. Trending on site Massive eye drop recall reflects ongoing issues with manufacturing and FDA inspection When a president is unfit for office, here’s what the Constitution says can happen Why the Persian Gulf has more oil and gas than anywhere else on Earth The Conversation News Quiz 🧠 The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation Here’s the first question of this week's edition: High-grade sea moss gel, adaptogenic mushrooms and collagen peptides are all found in what costly product? A.$22 smoothies at upscale LA grocery chain Erewhon B. $220 lipsticks sold by Ivanka Trump C. Japan's powerful new bio-hybrid solar panels D. A mango-scented ocean "shampoo" that can scrub oil spills Test your knowledge More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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