Insured, But Indebted: Couple Works 5 Jobs To Pay Off Medical Bills

[DonViejo]

December 26, 2018 6:00 AM ET

JONEL ALECCIA

Robert and Tiffany Cano of San Tan Valley, Ariz., have a new marriage, a new house and a 10-month-old son, Brody, who is delighted by his ability to blow raspberries. They also have a stack of medical bills that threatens to undermine it all.

In the months since their sturdy, brown-eyed boy was born, the Canos have acquired nearly $12,000 in medical debt — so much that they need a spreadsheet to track what they owe to hospitals and doctors.

"I'm on these payment arrangements that are killing us," said Tiffany Cano, 37, who has spent her lunch hours from her job at a regional bank on the phone negotiating payoff plans that now total $700 a month. "My husband is working four jobs. I work full time. We're a hardworking family doing our best and not getting anywhere."

The pair, who earn nearly $100,000 a year, are insured and have had no major illnesses or injuries. Still, the Canos are among the 1 in 4 Americans who report in multiple polls that the high cost of health care is the biggest concern facing their families. And they're at risk of joining the 62 percent of people who file for bankruptcy tied to medical bills.

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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/26/678749817/insured-but-indebted-couple-works-5-jobs-to-pay-off-medical-bills?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news

[ck4829]

1. "Greatest healthcare system" at it again I see

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Why No "Max Out Of Pocket"?

Sounds like a pretty crappy coverage plan.

That's a ton of money to owe given there was no long term catastrophic event.

And PINO and his gang of thugs reintroduced these types of plans that don't actually pay for things.

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. Terrible, but shows how messed up our system is

They are both fortunate that there jobs offer health insurance, but what if the plan your job offers sucks? High deductibles and copays can be almost as bad as having no insurance at all.

That being said, I wonder about some of their financial choices. It says their mortgage is $1300 for a 2400 sf house that is a 90 minute commute for her. At current interest rates, I figure their house costs around $230K. There are cheaper homes in the Phoenix area. While I understand it's easy to fall in love with your dream home, just because you can get approved for a $1300 a month mortgage doesn't mean you should sign on the dotted line. They have a car payment too. I wonder what other debts they have and if they are overextended.

The family was on a insurance plan that cost $500 a month through his job , but they're switching to a plan that's $650 a month through hers because it has lower deductibles and copays. That makes sense, but why doesn't he get his insurance through his job and she get hers through her job? The bulk of their premium is to cover their spouse, who could be covered at their own job. Adding only the son, as opposed to the son and the husband, would probably only be about $50 a month.

If I were in their situation, I would bite the bullet and downsize until they have their debts paid off. JMHO

[area51]

4. We need

Single-payer/Medicare for All.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

5. welcome to Republican plutocracy utopia