Supportive gestures help loved ones preserve dignity

By Ira Zunin

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Sep 08, 2012

~~<p>Auntie suffers from recurrent breast cancer. While her illness is challenging enough, she also struggles with limited financial resources to cover her medical and living costs.</p>
<p>She is far from alone in our country. In fact, a study at Harvard University, undertaken before the Great Recession, uncovered some troubling statistics related to medical problems and bankruptcy. Researchers identified that medical issues were a major contributing factor in 62 percent of all personal bankruptcies filed in the U.S. in 2007. They were also surprised to learn that 78 percent of those filers had medical insurance at the beginning of their illness. The majority had private coverage — not Medicare or Medicaid. For the most part, filers were solidly middle class before their medical problems began — two-thirds owned their home and three-fifths had gone to college.</p>
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Auntie suffers from recurrent breast cancer. While her illness is challenging enough, she also struggles with limited financial resources to cover her medical and living costs.

She is far from alone in our country. In fact, a study at Harvard University, undertaken before the Great Recession, uncovered some troubling statistics related to medical problems and bankruptcy. Researchers identified that medical issues were a major contributing factor in 62 percent of all personal bankruptcies filed in the U.S. in 2007. They were also surprised to learn that 78 percent of those filers had medical insurance at the beginning of their illness. The majority had private coverage — not Medicare or Medicaid. For the most part, filers were solidly middle class before their medical problems began — two-thirds owned their home and three-fifths had gone to college. Login for more...