Having health insurance didn’t protect them. Some focus group participants thought they had “good” health coverage when they incurred their medical debt while others were uninsured. They agree having health coverage does not protect you from big bills or medical debt. They believe hospitals (most Atlanta-area hospitals were mentioned), providers, and insurance companies find loopholes in order to send large and unexpected medical bills to people.
Those who had debt abolished by RIP Medical Debt say it was extremely helpful. They are grateful and say it made a difference. It relieved the constant pressure of their debts. Some also sought health care services once their debt was paid – care they had been putting off – because they felt less vulnerable. And at least two Atlanta residents said having their medical debt abolished was a catalyst to paying down other debts – they could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Debt creates more debt. Going into medical debt means they start falling behind in other areas too. Some go into credit card debt to pay off medical bills. Others miss car payments or ignore student loans. Medical bills and debt can cause a larger financial spiral. Some see their credit affected which has knock-on effects that impact their ability to move to a better neighborhood, get approved for loans, etc.
Thank you for the welcome and your insight! I did find this specific focus group report conducted by RIP Medical Debt that you may find of interest. https://ripmedicaldebt.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Focus_Group_Report_August.pdf
Key Takeaways:
Having health insurance didn’t protect them. Some focus group participants thought they had “good” health coverage when they incurred their medical debt while others were uninsured. They agree having health coverage does not protect you from big bills or medical debt. They believe hospitals (most Atlanta-area hospitals were mentioned), providers, and insurance companies find loopholes in order to send large and unexpected medical bills to people.
Those who had debt abolished by RIP Medical Debt say it was extremely helpful. They are grateful and say it made a difference. It relieved the constant pressure of their debts. Some also sought health care services once their debt was paid – care they had been putting off – because they felt less vulnerable. And at least two Atlanta residents said having their medical debt abolished was a catalyst to paying down other debts – they could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Debt creates more debt. Going into medical debt means they start falling behind in other areas too. Some go into credit card debt to pay off medical bills. Others miss car payments or ignore student loans. Medical bills and debt can cause a larger financial spiral. Some see their credit affected which has knock-on effects that impact their ability to move to a better neighborhood, get approved for loans, etc.