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Medical Price Roulette
Man relieved of $1.7 mllion debt relief
An update on the story of Alexis Hernandez, who fought to survive after an explosion only to be hit with a $1.7 million medical debt for his treatment at a burn center in Brooke Army Medical center. While his debt was finally waived after the story and urgings of legislators, others with similar stories still face their huge medical bills. Anna Werner reports
COVID long-haulers may face financial hurdles
Some long-haulers suffering from long-term coronavirus symptoms are now facing financial challenges as well. Anna Werner spoke with several people who faced challenges getting disability and health care coverage.
Some Cologuard users hit with unexpected high bills after cancer test
"I am mad because I pay so much every month for this insurance," on Cologuard user told CBS News. "I just feel like I'm really getting raked over."
Man billed $1.7 million by government for life-saving burn treatment
"I never expected, never in my life to live through something like this," Alexis Hernandez told CBS News' Anna Werner.
Company pauses plan to send 9,000 back to office after pushback
Epic Systems, a medical records software company, "is going to have to adhere by the same rules as everyone else," a local official said.
COVID-19 tests should be free, but these people still got big bills
People returning to their jobs could wind up having to pay for COVID-19 tests, experts warn.
His coronavirus test wasn't processed, but he got billed $9,000
Congress passed a law making coronavirus tests free, but all costs may not be covered by all insurers.
Alabama couple struggling after hospital sues over medical debt
KC and Daryl Roberts were paying what they could each month toward the more than $30,000 hospital bill.
Woman fighting with insurance for follow-up breast cancer tests
Mammograms can save lives, but in some cases, insurance companies are refusing to cover follow-up tests ordered by doctors.
Women shocked by "hidden" cost of mammograms
Health insurance covers mammograms every one to two years, but many women often need secondary tests that aren't covered
Man drives five hours for surgery insurance won't cover
Around the country, middle-class Americans with high-deductible insurance plans are heading to dozens of cash-based surgery centers
Regulators want to change law after CBS News report
"After hearing about — and resolving — a recent issue, we know that if it could happen to one consumer, it could happen to others"
Even with insurance, woman hit with $40,000 in medical bills
When Molly McKenna went to a clinic in agonizing pain, doctors told her it was an emergency. Only later did she learn much of her treatment was out-of-network
How to find out health care costs in advance
How much will that cost? Why did that cost so much? Always ask. Take notes, take names, take numbers
Man hit with $650,000 in medical bills finally gets relief
Frank Esposito was hit with $650,000 in medical bills after his insurance company said his surgery didn't qualify as an emergency
Medical bills jump from $220 to $4,000 a month – for treatment her life depends on
"I was like, how is this even possible?" one patient said of the unpredictable charges
She needed two rounds of ultrasound exams. Why did one cost 10 times more?
Medical prices vary greatly, even within the same city. "It's either unethical or dishonest," said one patient hit with a surprise bill
Ways to save on health care costs
ClearHealthCosts offers some practical tips to help you beat back your health care costs
How to read a medical bill or explanation of benefits
An insurance company's "explanation of benefits" often confuses matters more
Back surgery saved him from paralysis. Then the bills arrived: over $650,000
Frank Esposito, a tool and die maker from Long Island, New York, drained $49,000 from his retirement account and still owes over $220,000
Appealing a claim denial, or how to turn "no" into "yes"
If your insurance company denied a treatment or a medication in advance, and you want help, here's where to start
10 steps for appealing a claim or bill
So you got a huge bill, and you're sure there's been a mistake. Here's a step-by-step course of action
CBS News investigates lack of transparency in health care prices
"Nothing about the United States' health care system really makes sense," one doctor said
Health
Baby formula supplies dwindle amid widening shortage
FDA working to boost formula supplies, with more than half of popular products out of stock in some U.S. states.
Omicron surge adds complications to U.S. economy
The spread of the Omicron variant is causing an additional complication to the U.S. economy, which is already struggling with high inflation and a supply chain crisis. And data shows nearly 9 million Americans were out of work in January because they were caring for someone with COVID-19 or being ill with the virus themselves. Joshua Hausman, associate professor of public policy and economics at the University Of Michigan and research associate at the National Bureau Of Economic Research, joins CBSN's Lana Zak with more.
FDA works to approve vaccines for kids under 5
The White House is now working to provide Americans with free N95 masks and at-home COVID-19 test kits. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration is reviewing the vaccines for kids under the age of 5. Emergency medicine physician Dr. Owais Durrani joins CBSN's Lana Zak to discuss the latest efforts to combat the virus.
Kids' COVID-19 hospitalizations on the rise
COVID-19 hospitalizations for children are climbing, with an average of more than 900 kids admitted a day. CBS News' Michael George reports, then Dr. Gigi Chawla, chief of pediatrics at Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, joins CBSN to discuss the latest.
COVID-19 infections rising in kids
CBS News correspondent Carter Evans reports on a rise in pediatric COVID-19 cases in communities like Kansas City, Missouri. Then Dr. Bob Lahita, director of the Institute for Autoimmune and Rheumatic Diseases at St. Joseph Health and a professor of medicine at New York Medical College, joins CBSN to discuss the latest on COVID-19.
COVID vaccines don't affect fertility, study finds
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 does not reduce the chances of getting pregnant, new research shows. Meanwhile, as the Omicron variant continues to strain hospitals, military troops are deploying to help. CBS News' Bradley Blackburn has more on the pandemic response.
Omicron batters states with low vaccination rates
Thursday marks two years since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the U.S. CBS News' Bradley Blackburn has more on how the virus is impacting states with low vaccination rates, and the battle over masks in schools. Then, emergency medicine physician Dr. Anand Swaminathan joins CBSN's Lana Zak to discuss the latest.
U.S. debuts site for free at-home COVID tests
Some hospitals are overwhelmed, facing an influx of COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, Pfizer says that its oral pill is showing efficacy against Omicron in lab tests. Dr. Jen Caudle joins CBSN to break down some of the latest coronavirus headlines.
Omicron continues to overwhelm U.S. hospitals
The Biden administration is planning to give out 400 million free N95 masks to Americans in the coming weeks as the coronavirus surge tightens its grip on hospitals in hard-hit areas of the country. CBS News correspondent Carter Evans reports from Missouri, where COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising among the unvaccinated. Then, Dr. Payal Patel, an infectious disease physician at the University of Michigan Medical School, joins CBSN's Lana Zak to discuss the latest.
North Carolina hospitals overwhelmed
COVID-19 infections are continuing to surge in parts of the U.S. In North Carolina, recent data shows one in three people tested positive for the virus. And some local hospitals are struggling to keep up. CBS News national correspondent Manuel Bojorquez reports from Charlotte.
U.S.
More U.S.
Videos, witness accounts of deadly shooting at odds with official statements
Bystander videos verified by CBS News show the scene from multiple angles before the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Prett in Minneapolis.
Daughter defends loving dad now accused in her mom's cold case murder
For more than 30 years the murder of Debe Atrops in suburban Oregon remained unsolved. Then, an Oregon cold case team took a fresh look at the case and thought there was enough to prosecute Bob Atrops, Debe's estranged husband at the time. Their daughter thinks they have the wrong man.
Did a secret obsession lead a "genius" to murder a Yale grad student?
Kevin Jiang, 26, a Yale graduate student and former Army National Guardsman, was gunned down in New Haven, Connecticut. What appeared to be a road rage incident soon unraveled into a story of obsession and premeditation.
NTSB to rule on cause of midair collision that killed 67 people near D.C. airport
Thursday marks a year since an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair with an American Airlines plane. The NTSB is expected to rule on the probable cause.
Minneapolis business owners react to deadly shooting: "A neighbor was murdered"
Minneapolis business owners and community members were among the crowd of protesters in sub-zero temperatures following the deadly shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti.
MoneyWatch
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Here's what it takes to achieve an 800 credit score
Only one in four Americans has a credit score above 800, which is considered exceptional, according to industry data.
Bank of America may introduce credit card with 10% APR
Facing pressure from President Trump, credit card issuers are exploring ways to ease borrowing costs.
How to heat your home safely as fierce winter storm grips the U.S.
Federal safety regulators warn that home heating equipment can spark fires or emit carbon monoxide. Here's what to know.
What to know about EVs as the winter storm brings bone-chilling temps
Cold weather can reduce the efficiency of electric vehicles, shortening their driving range. These tips can help.
Tesla Cybertruck sales plunged 48% in in 2025
Other Tesla vehicles also struggled to attract buyers, with sales of its X, S and Y models all sinking from the previous year.
Politics
More Politics
Rep. Maxwell Frost says he was assaulted at Sundance Film Festival
Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Florida Democrat, said a man told him "Trump was going to deport me before he punched me in the face."
Senate Democrats will not provide votes to advance DHS funding bill, Schumer says
Sens. Chris Murphy and Alex Padilla have spent the past two days calling colleagues to whip opposition to the DHS funding bill, according to a source familiar with the process.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard warns U.S. as warships head toward Middle East
Tension remains high between Iran and the U.S. in the wake of a bloody crackdown on protests.
Trump threatens Canada with 100% tariffs over its new China trade deal
Canada this month negotiated a deal to lower tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in return for lower import taxes on Canadian farm products.
Minnesota AG Keith Ellison accuses White House of "politics and retribution"
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said he has seen "no evidence" of a federal investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer earlier this month.
HealthWatch
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Heart failure threatened her pregnancy. A first-of-its-kind procedure saved it.
Cassandra King was thrilled to be pregnant after years of fertility struggles and multiple miscarriages. Then a sudden cardiac event threatened everything.
Loss of measles-free status would be "cost of doing business," new CDC deputy says
After a year of ongoing measles outbreaks that have sickened more than 2,400 people, the United States is poised to lose its status as a measles-free country.
Measles cases surge in South Carolina as U.S. risks elimination status
An infectious disease physician and former CDC official said he does not "have faith" that the U.S. is "handling measles very well."
Tylenol not linked to autism, new study shows
A review of studies published in The Lancet found no link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, contradicting the Trump administration's recent claims.
Woman gets her life back after rare transplant: "Prepared for the worst"
Lacy Cornelius Boyd needed IV nutrition and an ileostomy bag after a devastating car crash. A rare transplant was her only option.
World
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Climber Alex Honnold free solos Taipei 101 skyscraper
Alex Honnold also famously climbed Yosemite's El Capitan without any ropes or safety gear in 2017.
Peace talks end constructively, Ukraine's Zelenskyy says, with more possible
The talks are the first known instance that officials from the Trump administration have sat down with Russia and Ukraine.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard warns U.S. as warships head toward Middle East
Tension remains high between Iran and the U.S. in the wake of a bloody crackdown on protests.
Trump threatens Canada with 100% tariffs over its new China trade deal
Canada this month negotiated a deal to lower tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in return for lower import taxes on Canadian farm products.
Australian boy dies days after being bitten by shark in Sydney Harbor
The Sydney shark attack that killed Nico Antic was one of four recorded in the span of two days.
Entertainment
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Entertainment
Kermit the Frog gets a new home
A 900-pound Kermit the Frog took a journey from Hollywood to Atlanta. Brian Unger has the story.
Lily Fitts performs "Beat Me To It"
Massachusetts-based Lily Fitts originally gained a following for her viral song covers, which were shared by artists like The Lumineers and Noah Kahan. Her debut album "Getting By" captured attention for its honest and raw lyrics, and she's got more coming soon. Here's Lily Fitts performing "Beat Me To It."
Lily Fitts performs "Brown Eyed Baby"
Massachusetts-based Lily Fitts originally gained a following for her viral song covers, which were shared by artists like The Lumineers and Noah Kahan. Her debut album "Getting By" captured attention for its honest and raw lyrics, and she's got more coming soon. Here's Lily Fitts performing "Brown Eyed Baby."
Lily Fitts performs "Lose You Now"
Massachusetts-based Lily Fitts originally gained a following for her viral song covers, which were shared by artists like The Lumineers and Noah Kahan. Her debut album "Getting By" captured attention for its honest and raw lyrics, and she's got more coming soon. Here's Lily Fitts performing "Lose You Now."
Madison Beer opens up about music journey
Madison Beer says music has always been her escape since she started writing songs at just 6 years old. But the 26-year-old has had to navigate ups and downs in her journey to stardom. Anthony Mason reports.
Technology
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Microsoft says outage affecting several services has been resolved
Microsoft services were down for thousands of users, according to tracking service Downdetector.
Snapchat's parent company settles lawsuit
Snapchat's parent company, Snap Inc., settled a lawsuit surrounding allegations of social media addiction burdening users. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul reports.
How AI powered robots are helping small farms
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
Elon Musk says at Davos that robots will one day outnumber people
The billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, in his first appearance at Davos, said Tesla could start selling its Optimus robots next year.
YouTube looks to get rid of fake AI videos
YouTube says it wants to get rid of fake AI videos flooding social media feeds on its platform. CBS News MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady explains what's driving the change.
Science
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Science
Cow develops technique to scratch herself
"CBS Saturday Morning" learns more about Veronika, the clever cow who figured out multiple ways to scratch herself with a broom. It was the first time a cow was seen using a tool.
Almanac: January 18
"Sunday Morning" looks back at historical events on this date.
Fossils found at Dinosaur National Monument, first excavation in 100 years
The Dinosaur National Monument, which is located on the border between Colorado and Utah, was last excavated in 1924.
Dogs can learn by eavesdropping: study
Have you ever wondered if your dog is eavesdropping on you? A new study published in the Journal of Science found that some dogs are not only listening, but are also learning words. Lead scientist Dr. Shany Dror joins CBS News to discuss.
Fossils found in cave shed light on where our species emerged
Fossilized bones and teeth dating to 773,000 years ago are providing a deeper understanding of the emergence of Homo sapiens.
Crime
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Daughter defends loving dad now accused in her mom's cold case murder
For more than 30 years the murder of Debe Atrops in suburban Oregon remained unsolved. Then, an Oregon cold case team took a fresh look at the case and thought there was enough to prosecute Bob Atrops, Debe's estranged husband at the time. Their daughter thinks they have the wrong man.
Did a secret obsession lead a "genius" to murder a Yale grad student?
Kevin Jiang, 26, a Yale graduate student and former Army National Guardsman, was gunned down in New Haven, Connecticut. What appeared to be a road rage incident soon unraveled into a story of obsession and premeditation.
Official: Feds blocked shooting scene access
Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Prevention, spoke after federal agents killed a Minneapolis man on Saturday. Evans said federal investigators blocked his agency's access to the shooting scene.
Officials on 5-year-old boy detained by ICE
Trump administration officials are denying accounts from witnesses who say they saw what occurred during a Minnesota ICE raid where a 5-year-old boy and his father were detained.
Jury selection date set in Mangione trial
At a pretrial hearing on Friday, a judge set the date for jury selection in the case of Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman was in the courtroom and has the details.
Space
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Space
More on Virgin Galactic all-female space crew
Virgin Galactic is sending an all-female research team to space. Kellie Gerardi, who is leading the crew, joins "CBS News 24/7 Mornings" to discuss the goals of the mission.
NASA's Artemis II mission clears big hurdle
Inch by inch, NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lumbered along its four-mile commute from the Vehicle Assembly Building to launch pad 39-B. Mark Strassmann is at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with more.
NASA hauls Artemis II moon rocket to launch pad for February flight
Four Artemis II astronauts plan to fly around the moon and back next month, traveling farther from Earth than any humans before them.
NASA begins Artemis II rollout to launchpad
NASA is beginning its rollout of its Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft as preparations for the Artemis II mission enter their final stage.
NASA moon rocket ready for trip to launch pad
Depending on the timing, NASA could launch a fresh crew to the space station while four other astronauts are flying around the moon.
Latest Galleries
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Notable Deaths in 2025
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Evidence in the Barbara Kendhammer case
Does the evidence show a cover-up, or was Todd Kendhammer wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife?
The life & near death of prizefighter Christy Salters-Martin
Christy Salters-Martin dominated in the boxing ring but faced her toughest challenger at home.
Timeline: The disappearance of George Smith
Family seeks answers in death of newlywed who disappeared in 2005 while on Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.
Who is Alix Tichelman?
Meet the tattooed beauty charged in the death of Google executive Forrest Hayes.
Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
The Mother I Wish I Knew
A daughter whose mother was murdered is convinced her father is innocent. "48 Hours" correspondent Natalie Morales reports.
The Ivy League Murder
A newly engaged Yale graduate student is gunned down by an unknown attacker after a fender bender. Was it extreme road rage or was he targeted? "48 Hours" correspondent Anne-Marie Green reports.
Kermit the Frog gets a new home
A 900-pound Kermit the Frog took a journey from Hollywood to Atlanta. Brian Unger has the story.
Trump shocks allies with comments about veterans
President Trump shocked NATO partners in an interview with Fox News this week about U.K. veterans and fallen soldiers in Afghanistan. He walked back the comments on Truth Social. Haley Ott has more details.
President Trump threatens 100% tariffs on Canada
President Trump insults the Canadian prime minister, calling him "Governor Mark Carney," as he threatens new tariffs against the country. Willie James Inman has the details.