Why Are People with Health Insurance Going Bankrupt?

[KentuckyWoman]

57. My personal case history

In my 50's. Have "decent" HMO coverage but my income is so low that by the time I pay the premiums it's hard to afford a doctor for anything that is not threatening to life or limb.

Recent acquisition, a pacemaker/defibrillator - which I have needed for more than 10 years but keep putting off because of the cost. Finally getting it done because it became a life threatening issue - but it meant I went into this sicker and more expensive.


For this one event

$125 ---- for 5 primary care visits at $25 copayment
$450 ---- for 9 specialist visits at $50 copayment
$97 ---- for 4 prescriptions - paid retail for generics since cheaper than $35 generic copayment using insurance.
$1250 ---- bill from anesthesia - hospital contractor - outside network - not covered by HMO (WTF?)
$2431 ---- "member responsibility" portion of hospital bills.
$307 ---- spendable income lost for one week lost work

I had $450 in the bank, which was not easy to amass at my income level that is now gone. I had a credit card with no balance and a $3000 limit that is now maxed out with a 16.9% interest rate.

And I am still getting 3-4 collections calls a day because I can't figure out how to pay the rest since they won't let me make a few $ a month payments on it.

The Credibility people tell me bankruptcy is my best option, which I'm determined to avoid and just might as a local charity is helping me negotiate with the hospital to write that part off to indigent care.

And this is with "good" insurance. Many people don't even have that to rely on.