Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #diagnosisdebt
Most recents (3)
1/ Medical Debt- a holiday story
A few years ago, I found myself poring over a printout of ED frequent fliers with a PCP in Mississippi.
The office manager knew why they were going to the ED.
“They’re not going to show their faces here. They all owe us money.”
A few years ago, I found myself poring over a printout of ED frequent fliers with a PCP in Mississippi.
The office manager knew why they were going to the ED.
“They’re not going to show their faces here. They all owe us money.”
2/ Because of the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act, the ED would see them even if they owed money
But thousands more dollars would have been added on top of the prior debts
His bills will climb. His credit score will drop. Collection agencies will start hounding him
But thousands more dollars would have been added on top of the prior debts
His bills will climb. His credit score will drop. Collection agencies will start hounding him
3/ When I was in college I got dehydrated at a crew meet and an ambulance took me to the ER. A couple of liters of fluid later I was fine
But I couldn't figure out what to do when the bills started coming
For years I carried the stress and shame of being sent to debt collection
But I couldn't figure out what to do when the bills started coming
For years I carried the stress and shame of being sent to debt collection
🧵I met Penny Wingard last Dec. At the time, I had no idea what it would mean to follow someone who has medical debt. But I’ve learned a lot since—some of which I’ve shared in this @KHNews/@NPR story & some in this thread. khn.org/news/article/m…
@KHNews @NPR 2/ For starters, a quick background on Penny: She’s 58 and lives in Charlotte, NC. She’s survived breast cancer, a brain aneurysm, and transplants on both eyes. She loves hoop earrings and is a music/concert aficionado. I was introduced to her by @rcerese @ncjustice 
3/ She had insurance during breast cancer treatment through a special program, but it ended once she was in remission. In North Carolina—1 of 12 states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid—she doesn’t qualify for public insurance. And none of her jobs has offered insurance. (@KFF map)
🧵 More than 100 million Americans, including 41% of adults, are plagued by a health care system that drives people into debt to pay for their care.
An investigation by @KHNews and NPR shows the problem is far more pervasive than previously reported.
npr.org/sections/healt…
An investigation by @KHNews and NPR shows the problem is far more pervasive than previously reported.
npr.org/sections/healt…
To calculate the true extent and burden of this debt, the KHN-NPR investigation draws on a nationwide poll conducted by KFF for this project. The survey aimed to capture not just bills patients couldn't pay, but other borrowing used to pay for health care as well. #DiagnosisDebt
A KFF poll found that more than half of U.S. adults reported going into debt because of medical or dental bills in the past five years. A quarter of those with health care debt owe more than $5,000. One in 5 who have any amount of debt believe they will never pay it off.
