There's a reason businesses love the concept of buying now and paying later. The customer gets what they want today, the immediate financial consequences are postponed, and everybody gets to enjoy the transaction before the bill arrives. But eventually, somebody has to pay. And when it comes to the federal government, the people footing that bill aren't always the ones who made the purchase. Congress passed the bill in 2025, but some of its biggest consequences won’t arrive u

My college-age son was bitten by a dog while making a delivery for an app-based food service. He did what any reasonable person would do. He went to the emergency room, had blood work done, received medication through an IV, and went home. No major surgery. No extended hospitalization. No medical drama worthy of network television. Then the bill arrived. More than $58,000. A medical bill can be negotiated, adjusted, or denied, but every dollar still comes from somewhere, and