Posted on Jul 9, 2022
She was already battling cancer. Then she had to fight the bill collectors
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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/07/09/ [login to see] /cost-cancer-treatment-medical-debt
Jeni Rae Peters would make promises to herself as she lay awake nights after being diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago.
"My kids had lost so much," said Peters, a single mom and mental health counselor. She had just adopted two girls and was fostering four other children. "I swore I wouldn't force them to have yet another parent."
Multiple surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy controlled the cancer. But, despite having insurance, Peters was left with more than $30,000 of debt, threats from bill collectors, and more anxious nights thinking of her kids.
"Do I pull them out of day care? Do I stop their schooling and tutoring? Do I not help them with college?" Peters asked herself. "My doctor saved my life, but my medical bills are stealing from my children's lives."
Cancer kills about 600,000 people in the U.S. every year, making it a leading cause of death. Many more survive it, because of breakthroughs in medicines and therapies.
Jeni Rae Peters would make promises to herself as she lay awake nights after being diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago.
"My kids had lost so much," said Peters, a single mom and mental health counselor. She had just adopted two girls and was fostering four other children. "I swore I wouldn't force them to have yet another parent."
Multiple surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy controlled the cancer. But, despite having insurance, Peters was left with more than $30,000 of debt, threats from bill collectors, and more anxious nights thinking of her kids.
"Do I pull them out of day care? Do I stop their schooling and tutoring? Do I not help them with college?" Peters asked herself. "My doctor saved my life, but my medical bills are stealing from my children's lives."
Cancer kills about 600,000 people in the U.S. every year, making it a leading cause of death. Many more survive it, because of breakthroughs in medicines and therapies.
She was already battling cancer. Then she had to fight the bill collectors
Posted from npr.org
Cancer
Medical
Health
Money
Finance
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."As Peters put away bags of groceries in her kitchen, she conceded she doesn't know what will happen to her family. Like many patients, she worries about how she'll pay for tests and follow-up care if the cancer reappears.
She is still wading through collection notices in the mail and fielding calls from debt collectors. Peters told one that she was prepared to go to court and ask the judge to decide which of her children should be cut off from after-school activities to pay off the debts.
She asked another debt collector whether he had kids. "He told me that it had been my choice to get the surgery," Peters recalled. "And I said, 'Yeah, I guess I chose not to be dead.' "
..."As Peters put away bags of groceries in her kitchen, she conceded she doesn't know what will happen to her family. Like many patients, she worries about how she'll pay for tests and follow-up care if the cancer reappears.
She is still wading through collection notices in the mail and fielding calls from debt collectors. Peters told one that she was prepared to go to court and ask the judge to decide which of her children should be cut off from after-school activities to pay off the debts.
She asked another debt collector whether he had kids. "He told me that it had been my choice to get the surgery," Peters recalled. "And I said, 'Yeah, I guess I chose not to be dead.' "
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