Some Oklahoma Families Are Getting Surprise Medical Debt Relief

We are living in a time when we see so many horrific stories on a daily basis in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. It’s easy to forget that there’s a lot of good that people and organizations are trying to spread around. It’s usually done behind the scenes with no expectation of becoming publicized but sometimes the attention a small number of these gestures receive serves as a nice reminder that all hope isn’t lost.

One of the biggest issues people face are medical bills, especially if you end up hospitalized from Covid-19. Exorbitant medical fees being covered by insurance policies is no longer a given since the amount charged depends on who’s treating you. Hospitals have different ways of staffing their facilities. They may employ a doctor on their full time staff, or they might contract with other medical facilities to fill open slots in various departments on a periodic basis.

Why are medical bills so high?

If you are treated by a contracted doctor you are likely to see a much higher bill than the person who was treated at the same hospital by an employee because they’re billed to insurance companies differently. It’s not like you’re asking the employment status of each doctor as you’re being admitted to an emergency room, nor are you given a choice in who treats you. It’s causing a lot of stress for families with already uncertain financial futures who can’t face a $500 medical bill much less $50,000.

Help from non-profits when you least expect it

One church is seeing a way to help alleviate the hardship for over 2,100 families across Oklahoma. The Spirit Church is preparing to pay off over $2.6 million in medical debt this month for individuals and families across the state. What began as a project to assist three counties has now grown into a partnership with Christian Assembly in Los Angeles to help families in 56 counties.

One might wonder how $2.6 million can stretch to help so many families in debt over medical bills. Spirit Church also partnered with the non-profit, RIP Medical Debt, to obtain a significant reduction of the balances owed.

The criteria set to determine who would receive help was limited to requiring that the individual or family:

• Earned less than double the federal poverty level
• Owed more than 5% of their annual income to out-of-pocket medical expenses
• That their debt owed exceeds the value of their assets

If you are looking for a way to help individuals and families during the pandemic, consider making a donation to RIP Medical Debt.

The caring Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers at Cunningham & Mears want you to know that we are here for the people of Oklahoma. We believe in serving our communities and one of the best ways of doing that is to support and promote services that give back to those in need. During this time of hardship, should you become injured, please seek help by scheduling a free case evaluation with an experienced member of our team by calling 405-232-1212, or we invite you to reach out to us through our contact form to tell us your story.