Get Sick and Go Bankrupt!

Aug 31, 2009

In 2007, before the worst of this crisis had hit, two thirds of those filing for bankruptcy had problems paying medical bills. And the figures from two years ago were already an enormous increase in numbers of people filing bankruptcy related to medical bills.

What is worse, a study, which appeared in the American Journal of Medicine pointed out that three quarters of those filing bankruptcy over medical bills had health insurance.

Those with insurance owed an average of $17,749, while those without insurance owed an average $26,971.

This study, carried out by Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School and Ohio University, was the first done nationwide to show the link between bankruptcy and high medical bills.

Here is one more proof of why the U.S. needs to get rid of a health system run by private insurance companies for profit.