Healthcare too costly? Don't fear telling your doctor

Despite high medical costs topping Americans' list of financial concerns, many of us have a hard time telling our doctors that the care they're prescribing may break the bank. As part of a recent awareness campaign called "I Wish My Doctor Knew," the online health social network Inspire asked patients and caregivers what medical concerns they wish doctors better understood. In more than 700 responses, about 20% dealt with insurance coverage, disability insurance coverage paperwork, and out-of-pocket medical costs. "What we see every day in our online community, and through this campaign, is that patients don't discuss fully with their doctors the financial toll of [their] disease," said John Novack, Inspire's communications director.