My Friend’s Cancer Taught Me About a Hole in Our Health System

Caregivers aren’t supported, and America overlooks their importance.

Last year, one of my best friends learned he had cancer.

In many respects he was lucky. He had great insurance. He had enough money. Partly because one of his friends (me) is well connected in the health care system, he got excellent care.

So this is not a story about how the system failed, or how people need insurance or access. He had those. He got the care. This is the United States health care system at its peak performance.

View the complete March 25 article by Aaron E. Carroll on The New York Times website here.