Money and Chronic Illness
Chronic illness seriously complicates the role money plays in our lives.
In my July post, “Reimagine Work,” I wrote the following:
“A 2019 study noted that approximately 530,000 bankruptcies are filed annually in the U.S. because of “debt accrued due to a medical illness.” That is almost 4% of the U.S. chronic illness population.”
It is no secret that people in the U.S. are crushed by gargantuan healthcare costs. Knowing these costs — even if you are fortunate to have insurance — makes people think twice about dialing 9–1–1 for an ambulance or scheduling a doctor’s appointment when a new symptom emerges. These decisions are amplified when you have a chronic illness and need more consistent care to maintain a functional standard of living or, in some cases, life-saving treatment.
That’s why the subject of affordability is only a thread in the larger conversation that needs to be had about money and the uncertainty of chronic illness.
A hard pill to swallow
Since my diagnosis in 2017, I have spent a lot of time thinking about how easily chronic illness can bankrupt a person. Every time I review my doctor or pharmacy receipts, I can see what the total, uncensored price of treatment would be without insurance, and I’m left dumbfounded.
