Fifteen years ago, my wife had to undergo very severe neurosurgery to repair several growing aneurysms. One procedure required freezing to 47 degrees Fahrenheit and halting all bodily functions for nearly half an hour while the aneurysm in his brain was restored; other improvements are less evasive. But he was in intensive care for three weeks and another week in recovery. With those two offices, skilled doctors, trained medical staff, equipment, and one month of hospitalization, the bill came to over $700,000. It would have taken everything I own and owed, more than half a million dollars, if it weren't for the excellent health insurance I have through the company I work for. The insurance covered all my medical expenses and even accommodation for the month she was in the clinic. In fact, a few years ago my hip joint underwent surgery for a child injury I had some 35 years ago and all medical expenses for the surgery were covered.
Today, for most of us, looking for companies that work with this type of health insurance or getting affordable health insurance is no longer an option. Excellent medical care is today a luxury that only the top 20% of our population can afford, who can afford something or who work for companies with excellent medical care.
Then what should be done when faced with medical expenses who cannot afford and do not have health insurance? Most hospitals and even some doctors have financial aid programs. It takes time to evaluate these health programs, but when you're in debt or looking at thousands of medical bills, it's well worth the time.
A year ago in January (2010) I was laid off and lost my income and the little health insurance I had. I couldn't find a job, retired early to earn money, and kept looking for another job. Then last December (still 2010) my wife had a really bad headache. We went to several doctors and specialists could not find the cause of this very acute headache. In this way we leave medical obligations far beyond our means. In a conversation with the hospital tax office, they offered us to apply for their funding program. We did, and they covered over $3,000 of our medical debt. That alone cut our medical expenses in half, and they even covered the cost of the hospital clinic at the health center, which eased my wife's severe headache.
Finally, talk to your doctor's office and ask if there are programs out there to help with financial difficulties. The worst thing you can say is NO. But most will want to help you pay your bills. Some can cover only a third, others can cover half of your debt and deposit the rest into a low interest payment account. There are even some hospitals that will cover all your debts. To qualify, you must provide all of your medical bills, housing costs (rent/mortgage, utilities), any other bills you pay, and your household income. Copies of these invoices, expenses and receipts are required. Your qualifications for the funding program depend on your household income and expenses.
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