Crowdfunding can help pay for medical bills…it really is that simple. You can crowdfund just about anything, including medical bills. Many times people are caught up in a medical crisis and don’t know where to turn. Medical bills can add up in no time and medical bankruptcy is a real thing. You’d be surprised how many people in “your own group” are willing to help.
In a study published in January 2014 by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), one in four families experienced financial burdens of health care.
This “financial burden” of health care amounts to medical bills that they currently cannot afford and are forced to pay monthly over time.
This study goes on to share that families with lower incomes were more likely to experience the financial burdens of health care. Those families with incomes at or below 250% of the federal poverty level had the highest levels of any health care financial burden.
250% of the federal poverty level (based on 2013 guidelines) means that a family of four with an annual income of $58,875 or less was at the highest level of the population feeling the financial burden of health care from a loved one. That is our middle class America. Those are the families that live paycheck to paycheck and are not prepared for a medical crisis.
He is a baby with his eyes closed and an oxygen cannula in his nose. He was born with a bad heart, a weak immune system, and feeding problems that caused a condition doctors labeled “failure to thrive.” Isaac spent the first year of his life in and out of hospitals in Las Vegas and Stanford, where he underwent multiple cardiac catheterizations and procedures, open heart surgeries, and had a surgically placed feeding tube to ensure he received adequate nutrition. adequate amount of nutrients. Isaac’s family had excellent insurance that covered 80% of all medical costs. But they still spent more than $100,000 out of pocket in the first year of his life on deductibles and related medical expenses.
Shocking… right?
I know… My name is Kathy, and I’m Isaac’s mom.
I remember people asking us if they could have fundraisers for us, give us money…offering to do anything just to help. At the time, I couldn’t have imagined the costs we would incur, nor could I imagine all the things that insurance doesn’t cover. Assuming you pay the insurance, you’ll have a deductible… End.
If only that were so.
Words of advice:
Start a crowdfunding campaign right away
Don’t be too humble to let other people offer to help you. You really can’t imagine the costs of things in the medical world and how they add up. It’s SO hard to think about money when you’re talking about a loved one’s health care. If you want everything to be ready… you’ll worry about the bills later.
From a mom who’s been there
Don’t expect people in the midst of a medical crisis to think clearly (well, they sure don’t). If you’re a relative of the family or just a caring friend…talk to them about the medical bills and the reality of the situation. Talk with them about what they need now and what their needs may be in the future, and help them come up with a budget and plan to get everything your loved one needs. From bills, equipment, therapy sessions… to therapy dogs, all of these things may be a necessity now or in the future.
How exactly will crowdfunding help pay my medical bills?
Well, they can’t send a check to the hospital for you, but they can offer you a platform that will help you tell your story and share it with your friends and family. The right crowdfunding platform will support you along the way, from guidance in writing your story, choosing images to post, sharing on social media channels, and even helping you write press releases to gain national exposure.
Crowdfunding can help you pay your medical bills by allowing YOU to care for your family and allowing your “crowd” to help YOU. Donations will be made by people you’ve inspired who want to help you. These people will have a platform to donate to you on your schedule and an amount that is within their means. They will be assured that the funds go directly to YOU and not to an anonymous organization.
You are not alone in your medical crisis. Crowdfunding is a viable source to help pay for medical bills and other medical related needs.