Gallup poll: One in three Americans cutting back on daily expenses to pay for healthcare

fiercehealthcare - Healthcare affordability remains a significant challenge, with a third of respondents to a new Gallup poll saying they had to cut back on daily living expenses to afford care.

AI Summary: A Gallup poll reports one-third of Americans trimmed everyday spending, borrowed money or skipped essentials to pay medical bills. The findings highlight acute affordability pressures that force families to choose between care and basic needs, underscoring systemic gaps in coverage and cost control while policymakers offer the usual sympathetic nod.

Universal Health Services buys Talkspace for $835M

Ngai Yeung / endpoints - Universal Health Services, which operates hospitals and mental healthcare facilities, is acquiring Talkspace for $835 million in an area closely watched for consolidation, as virtual mental health companies grapple with falling valuations despite high dem…

AI Summary: Universal Health Services agreed to acquire Talkspace for roughly $835 million to bulk up virtual behavioral‑health capabilities and outpatient telehealth services. The deal aims to expand UHS’s behavioral care footprint and diversify revenue streams, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory review — because nothing says mental‑health innovation like a corporate merger.