By Christopher Harper
I just joined a growing group of millions in the United States who owe more than $200 billion in medical debt.
Last month, I underwent emergency surgery, which cost nearly $200,000. My cut is somewhere between $6,000 and $11,000. That’s likely to grow as the bills roll in.
Obama care didn’t help me a lick. Neither do the Democrats’ plans to “reduce” costs for drugs. In fact, the medications used during and after the surgery ran about $2,500. The new series of drugs cost another $2,000.
But at what cost? The hospital room alone ran more than $20,000!
Although I live mainly on Social Security, I do not qualify for any of the state and federal “plans” to pay for some of the costs of the surgery. I am also not eligible for health services, such as home support, which my wife and daughter provide.
Also, I don’t qualify for subsidized aftercare, such as a long-term facility, if that becomes necessary. Fortunately, I took out a specific insurance policy for such possibilities.
One in seven people with outstanding medical debt has faced lawsuits to recover the money, according to the Kaiser Foundation, which has no affiliation with Kaiser Permanente.
My case is typical. The Democrats propose a plan to give money from the federal budget to those with debt—a giveaway for mostly seniors like forgiving college debt.
The plan is mostly smoke and mirrors, but, of course, the Democrats blame the GOP rather than the abomination that Obamacare created.
Any of the Democrats’ plans shouldn’t fool older Americans. You might get lower costs for some medications, but the big-ticket items will likely cost more.
The Kaiser Foundation provides more information at https://www.kff.org/health-costs/report/kff-health-care-debt-survey/
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