In previous posts, the issue of medical debt was described as being one of the most serious and pervasive forms of debt plaguing Americans today. The problem continues for residents of Eugene and elsewhere. Even those with medical insurance may suffer from staggering debt. Some say that there is an unjust discrepancy between the salaries that hospital executives earn, while average citizens are burdened with medical bills they cannot afford.
According to MoneyTips, millions of people across the country report having medical debt between $5,000 and $10,000, despite an increase in those who have medical coverage. A recent survey conducted by the New York Times and the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that one-fifth of those who have insurance said they struggled with paying their medical bills during the past year. Medical costs for those with insurance can stem from visiting an out-of-network provider, having a claim denied, high deductibles and other factors. The problem is unsurprisingly worse for people without coverage.
On the other end of the scale, some surgeons, hospital CEOs and medical executives enjoy yearly salaries ranging from hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars, reports the Huffington Post. Some assert that having well-paid hospital CEOs results in better patient care. However, many patient advocates disagree that hospital performance is affected by executive salaries, and are urging for a cap on CEO pay as healthcare costs are expected to rise in the next year.
In order to cover their medical bills, many people have had to use up their savings, max out credit cards and spend college or retirement money. It may be necessary to consider other options, such as bankruptcy, to find relief from insurmountable medical bills and credit card debt.
