Category: health insurance

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This Cancer Doctor Forgives Over $500,000 in Patient Debt

When I feel sick, the last thing I want to think about is bills. But as many Americans know all too well, being sick can be extremely expensive.

According to CNBC over 17% of Americans have defaulted on their medical debt.

In a population of 3.28 million, that’s almost 56 million people who can’t pay their medical bills.

That’s why the story of Dr. Omar Atiq of Pine Bluff, Arkansas is so bittersweet.

Medical expense is familiar concept. We’ve all seen the GoFundMe pages to raise money for treatment.

According to a Time interview with CEO Rob Solomon, 30% of the site’s fundraisers are for medical care.

He even went to Congress to ask for help.

Dr. Omar Atiq has spoken about the same issue, and urged colleagues to contact their government leaders:

But in December 2020, Dr. Atiq, who had been treating cancer patients in Arkansas for three decades, tried to help his patients one last time in the best way that he could.

Forced to close his oncology clinic because of staffing shortages, Dr. Atiq made the decision to forgive all outstanding balances.

After working with his billing company to forgive about $650,000 owed by around 200 patients, he sent an unexpected Christmas card to his patients.

“I hope this note finds you well. The Arkansas Cancer Clinic was proud to serve you as a patient. Although various health insurances pay most of the bills for the majority of patients, even the deductibles and co-pays can be burdensome. Unfortunately, that is the way our health care system currently works.

Arkansas Cancer Clinic is closing its practice after over 29 years of dedicated service to the community. The clinic has decided to forego all balances owed to the clinic by its patients.

Happy Holidays.”

Here’s what the card looked like…

Interviewed by Fox 16, Dr. Atiq explained:

“Being sick is hard, having cancer is harder, and having Cancer in this pandemic is devastating.

I am just a regular physician–a regular person that they have in the neighborhood–it just so happens to be me standing here.

The ones struggling couldn’t pay, so we thought we could just write off the debt.”

What an absolutely amazing human being.

Now a professor at the University of Arkansas Medical School, it is clear that Dr. Atiq’s students won’t just learn how to treat cancer patients, but also how to treat their neighbors.

This story gave me so many feels. What about you? Let us know in the comments.

The post This Cancer Doctor Forgives Over $500,000 in Patient Debt appeared first on UberFacts.

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A Former Executive of One of the Biggest Health Insurance Companies Talks About How They Lie and Trap People

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act – also known as Obamacare – became law. It not only got millions of people health insurance, but it also made that insurance more affordable to consumers.

Right?

According to former VP of CIGNA Wendell Potter, it’s not quite so straightforward. And we’ve got good reason to believe him – the insurancer’s former VP now considers himself a whistleblower against the industry.

It may seem strange that someone would go against the company they once worked for, but Potter has good reasons to take his stand. Medical debt and bankruptcy is an enormous problem in the United States, and the ACA hasn’t really helped.

The ACA was supposed to decrease the cost of health insurance and, eventually, medical debt. Unfortunately, a February 2019 study shows that levels of medical bankruptcy stayed roughly the same despite the reforms.

Here’s what Potter wrote about the subject.

As Potter explains it, the industry had to redefine “choice.”

He goes on to explain how health insurance companies manipulated perceptions of choice.

Potter explained how employer-based insurance really works.

Next, he admitted that the industry used gaslighting techniques.

Then he exposed some campaigns used to sell “choice.”

And there’s more.

He also explains why things are different now.

Then, Potter discusses one reason Medicare For All would work better for the public.

The last tweet provides useful guidance.

Whew! That’s a lot of great (though disheartening) information for anyone who wants to understand why the US healthcare industry runs the way it does.

What it comes down to, like always, is money.

Was there anything on this Twitter thread that stood out to you? Feel free to let us know.

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A Woman With a Sick Husband Talked About the “Cheapest” Health Insurance Plan Available to Them

It’s no secret that the United States has a very expensive healthcare system. Insurance costs can easily eat up or exceed a person’s paycheck, and there are over 100 million Americans struggling with medical debt.

That number is so enormous, it’s hard to even conceptualize, which is why we need personal stories to really feel the impact. Stories like this Twitter thread.

Lori, or @iCounterSpin, shared a screenshot of the costs of healthcare plans available to her sick husband. The reality is devastating: Lori’s husband needs to stay covered so he can stay alive. But how can they afford coverage with prices like these?

As you can see from the screenshot, the only plans available to her are not only expensive, but they involve sky high deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses as well.

Lori did everything she could to try to find ways to save. She tweeted out one her ideas:

Healthcare and illness are a sensitive topic in the United States today. Lori’s thread elicited plenty of responses from people who face similar struggles.

Others promptly tried to help her find solutions.

Another well-wisher tried to impart advice as well.

Others wanted to find ways to pitch in more directly.

People from other countries also showed their concern.

Though the subject of Lori’s thread was serious, she chose not to accept offers to start a crowdfunding page. Instead, she encouraged people to support presidential candidates that have discussed their desire to change healthcare policies in the U.S.

Airing out grievances can be a hit or miss on Twitter, but once again, people on social media showed that they have compassion and just want their fellow people to be OK. Good on Lori for sharing her story so others can understand how the backwards U.S. healthcare system truly affects people.

What are your thoughts on Lori’s thread? We’re all ears in the comments section!

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Michael Jordan Opens a Clinic for Patients with Little or No Health Insurance in North Carolina

Some call Michael Jordan the greatest basketball player of all time, and while he still remains in the game as owner of the Charlotte Hornets, he has also shifted his focus to helping out the needy in North Carolina.

Jordan recently opened the first of two clinics that he funded in Charlotte. The Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic will serve the Charlotte community and will help uninsured and underinsured residents.

Jordan became emotional at the opening of the facility, saying, “As you can see, it’s a very emotional thing for me to be able to give back to a community that’s supported me over the years.”

‪“It’s not about the money. It’s not even about the name.” Michael Jordan at the opening of the @novanthealth Michael…

Posted by The Charlotte Post on Thursday, October 17, 2019

In 2017, Jordan committed to donating $7 million to open two clinics in Charlotte to provide healthcare to communities and people with little or no healthcare – and he followed through. The clinic will not only provide typical healthcare, but will assist patients with behavioral health and social services as well.

Carl Armato, President and CEO of Novant Health, said, “This clinic will not only provide access to medical care for those who need it most, but it will connect them to resources to ensure their health extends beyond the doctor’s office.”

Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic

#MichaelJordan stopped by our new Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic to get his #FluShot. ? We recommend everyone get their flu shot – and early! For more information about the clinic he made possible and its services, visit NHMichaelJordanClinic.org. #FluShotFriday

Posted by Novant Health Hemby Children's Hospital on Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The site of the first clinic was specifically chosen because the location is in a part of Charlotte that is shown to have a high need for medical care. Area residents were also given a voice in the planning; they were consulted at meetings and forums so that Novant could learn what residents were specifically looking for from a healthcare facility in their neighborhood.

Jordan added about opening the clinic, “I believe that your ZIP code or neighborhood should not determine the quality of your health care – or whether or not you can even get care at all.”

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A Starbucks Worker Passed Away Because He Couldn’t Afford Kidney Dialysis

To the people out there who continue to argue with their heart and soul that the United States has the best health care on Earth, maybe you should read this story.

Oh, and, you’re wrong.

Most of us know the American health care system is pretty bad for a large segment of the population, but it’s stories like this that really drive the point home.

James Farmer was an employee at Starbucks who tragically passed away on August 11 due to kidney failure. Farmer was only 22 years old, and his story has gone viral because it highlights the failure of the American health care system to protect its citizens in many cases. James Farmer was unable to take off work to have his dialysis treatments because he couldn’t afford to miss out on any paychecks because, like many Americans, he lived paycheck-to-paycheck.

Posted by James Farmer on Thursday, August 23, 2018

A writer named Allison Robicelli was friends with Farmer, and she shared his sad story on Twitter to shed light on a situation that untold numberas of hourly and low-wage workers across the country have to deal with. Robicelli included the #ChickenSandwich hashtag in her tweet to reference the hoopla surrounding the Popeye’s chicken sandwich and how people should refocus their thoughts and priorities on things that literally amount to life and death.

Robicelli wrote, “The people who serve you coffee and sandwiches, the people who barely get by because a living wage ‘isn’t in the best interest of shareholders,’ the people who so many believe don’t deserve to be paid fairly: they are people.”

For the record, Starbucks says that it offers its baristas healthcare coverage if they work an average of at least 20 hours per week. All Starbucks employees also get one hour of paid time off for sick days for every 30 hours worked.

A sad story and one that will hopefully inspire those in high places in business and government to make a change.

A GoFundMe page to pay for Farmer’s funeral expenses already exceeded its goal, but you can still donate to honor James Farmer’s memory.

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