Nearly half of cancer patients have more than $5,000 in medical debt, even though most are insured
Nearly half of cancer patients have more than $5,000 in medical debt, even though most are insured
A survey from the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network found that 98% of patients had health insurance when they incurred medical debt.
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My brother had hundred of thousands in medical debt before he finally passed. He had insurance. He was a teacher.
How did he end up with so much medical debt?
insurance doesn't cover everything, and the things they do not cover always just happen to be the most critical things necessary for treatment. it's a scam.
Exactly. And it's always been a scam. I only have health insurance because my employer forces it on me as a work benefit. I'd much rather just be paid more. It's not like the insurance will save me from debt when push comes to shove.
I thought it was illegal to not have health insurance
What? No. Absolutely no-one is going to jail for not having health insurance. I think you're thinking of the tax penalty for not having it.
So, is it illegal to not have health insurance since there is no longer a fine? On a federal level, having health insurance is no longer a legal requirement. However, a handful of states in the U.S. require citizens to obtain coverage or pay a tax penalty.
https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/resources/affordable-care-act/considered-illegal-health-insurance
I'm pretty sure that penalty has been removed now too.
Yeah, years ago.
Medical bills that insurance didn’t cover. Him and his wife didn’t share specifics with me, but my understanding is that he blew through the insurance maximums yearly for years. Leukemia is a bitch.
That sounds awful. I was at the Mayo Clinic recently and talked to a woman who was in remission from stage 4 appendix cancer. I can't even imagine what that sort of rare cancer would have cost.
Isn’t the appendix removable?
I would think so, but after her husband started talking about "woke ideology," I decided not to ask any questions. I am guessing she wouldn't have been at Mayo if it were that simple.
...stage 4.
Right. I keep forgetting that stage isn't necessarily progression of a specific organ.
Between the ways deductibles and out of pocket maximums actually work, that's probably just a few years of fighting cancer on a Bronze or Silver ACA plan.