You are right health care shouldn’t slide because of the economy. Things have changed however, most doctors and hospitals can no longer afford to negotiate down bill and unpaid bills are sent to small claims court in a matter of months.

My friend who is declaring bankruptcy is working closely with a lawyer, talking to doctors and hospitals daily…bankruptcy right now is the only option.

No one should have to let their health go due to the economy, but sadly, those without financial means, insurance, or good insurance are having to skip doses of their medications and put off going to the doctor because their is no money to pay for the care. If they don’t pay, debt and bankruptcy are real possiblilites.

Let’s all write our legislators, write on our blogs, write editorials, shout, do whatever we can to get our medical system (that does not work for too many) fixed.

Fortunately with bankruptcy she will be able to keep her house…and her awesome hubby who is sharing the journey. They both have terrific attitudes. Right now for them it must feel like finding yourself having to live your life on the edge of a cliff, unable to get medical insurance, no possibility of qualifying for credit no matter how much you need it, etc…

Jeanne, your story, the stress you and your husband have gone through is too much…and yet instead of crumbling under it, you support and help others through your blog, and your incredibly compassionate heart.

Maureen, You’ve already been there in bankruptcy and I hope never have to go there again. Was there an actual “medical bankruptcy’ when you had to file?

Renee and Jeanne, you are bringing awareness to another problem dental care! It takes second seat to the medical and often is what never gets done until too much damage is done.

The point you all have made and I tried to make in my post, is that none of this should be happening. Going bankrupt and receiving medical care should never go together. Our broken medical system is financially breaking down innocent folks who just happened to get sick.

My friend who I wrote this post about is a life coach who works with people who are ill (chronic and terminal). She has come through unimaginabel losses with her spirit, sense of humor and compassion for others intact. She makes good lemonade!

As do you my new friends. I am grateful that our blogging has brought us together to share our journeys. Your “never give up” spirits, your abundant compassion, and your fun blogs, where I get to visit you, make my days all the brighter.

Maureen thank you for brightening up my last couple days with the Kreativ blog award. I have had much fun doing the excercise the award requires. I love your blog, and would give the award right back at ya if you hadn’t already received it!

Kerry

Due to my illnesses being so severe and numerous and my pre-existing conditions causing trouble, and our $1,000 deductible per person per year despite the fact that we pay COBRA (full premium) insurance because my husband’s job has no health benefits, here we are:

1) I applied for SS disability in January 2006. After over 2 years of pure HE–, I finally got a hearing before a judge. (It would have been another 6 months or so to get a hearing but our foreclosure classified my case as “dire needs” so I got bumped up a little.

2) We used my disability settlement mainly to get our house out of foreclosure. (This was the 2nd time we were in danger of losing our house to foreclosure).

The first time never made it past “loss mitigation” and into foreclosure but this most recent one did.

3) We did a ‘medical bankruptcy’ in 2005 to protect the house we built with our own hands in 1998-9 when finances were WAYYYY better and I was not so very, very sick.

4) I just FINALLY went to the dentist today to get lots of work done while I still have some disability check money available. I had 4 fillings in a row done yesterday! I couldn’t afford to go in sooner than now! I need to go back for more dental work before our COBRA dental runs out. (I couldn’t even afford the 50% co-pay for the fillings until I got that darn disability check!

5) My husband has worked 7 days a week for about 3 months now and I worry about him. When I tried going back to work PART TIME, I got REALLY sick and still haven’t recovered to where I had been before I was so stupid. *That was in 2002-3). I have been chronically ill since age 13 (I’m 39 now). However, it was the year 2000 that I became REALLLLY sick after a ten day hospitalization. So I do the best I can to be productive blogging and I’ve been group leader of an endo support group for 7 years. (We’re transitioning the group to less frequent meetings now.

I have met monthly with groups here and where I used to live since diagnosis in 1992. So I’ll miss the monthly meetings.

You get the general idea. After almost losing our house twice (well, 3 times if you count protecting it with the bankruptcy… after mountains of medical bills, etc… My husband and I are just as stressed out as we get!!!

It’s all medical that is messing up our finances so badly. It’s so sad… It is especially frightening now with the economy this way. (My husband job working at a large division of a bank could end quicker than he anticipated)!

I could go on and on but I won’t explain the botched surgery that appears to have resulted in permanent damage. You get the idea.

It is disgraceful that things have reached this point!! Things have to get better!

Jeanne

P.S. Has your friend tried working with a loss mitigation company? Ours was paid for by our bank/mortgage holder. (Bank doesn’t want to do foreclosures b/c they take a hit… especially now with the housing market like it is). We had great luck with the loss mitigation company. They were really nice and non-judgmental. They staved off foreclosure as long as they possibly could…

Coincidentally, I just received the pre-approval letter yesterday for a 2.5 MRI that my wife had on Monday.

I nominated you yesterday for the Kreativ Blogger Award. Please check out my post and claim your prize and pass it on! I hope it brings a smile to your face, you could use one today.

Love and gentle hugs,
Maureen
http://beingchronicallyillisapill.blogspot.com