Retired from government work since 1997, Ms. Ellis’ greatest joy is spending time with her daughter and granddaughter in their Queens home. When her retirement funds stopped coming in over an unpaid medical bill she never received – for a procedure she didn’t remember having – her family also became her fiercest advocates. Following a …
They Took My Retirement Funds Over a Medical Bill: Ms. Ellis’ Story Read More »
In the summer of 2020, Mrs. Wilson was at her Staten Island home battling an active COVID infection when she heard a knock at the door. Northwell Health was suing her for $100,000. Three years prior, Mrs. Wilson started receiving care she needed to manage her chronic condition. Working in administrative services for the city of …
“As someone struggling with medical bills myself, it became my mission to make sure everyone knew about financial assistance.” A patient navigator for ACR Health and helpline volunteer with Community Health Advocates, Sheryl knows firsthand how challenging it can be to access the funds New York hospitals are legally required to provide to low-income patients. …
“We Can’t Just Tell Everybody About That” – Sheryl’s Financial Assistance Story Read More »
As COVID-19 continues its spread across the country, a growing number of New Yorkers are experiencing persistent memory loss, nerve damage and other chronic neurological symptoms of long COVID. While much is unknown about long COVID at this stage, one thing is clear: the illness can be devastating to patients’ health, well-being and finances. “Financially, …
When Mr. Berg received a notice in the mail informing him he was being sued by Samaritan Hospital in Troy, NY over unpaid medical debt, he and his wife were shocked, then confused. They had been making regular payments to the hospital’s collection agency to cover Mr. Berg’s $5,300 bill for an emergency room visit …
“Fight Back, Don’t Quit, Don’t Give Up”: Mr. Berg’s Story Read More »
Meet David, a man who is disabled, undocumented, houseless, and fighting cancer—and he’s a cat dad. At the beginning of last year, David lived at a housing facility in the Lower East Side. He was accompanied by a small tabby cat named Lucky, who became a close companion after David saved his life. But one …
Claudia Knafo is familiar–too familiar–with our broken medical system. When Claudia’s son got sick last November, she was prepared. Once they arrived at the NYU Langone emergency room, she gave out her insurance information immediately. Her son got an EKG and stayed at the hospital for a few days, and when she found out his …
When her father had a stroke, Lucinda Koza had to become his sole caretaker at a young age. With no long-term care insurance policy in place for Americans, Lucinda had to take on a large financial responsibility once her father could not continue working. Once he could no longer afford care, she went into debt …
Millennial Goes Into Debt Providing Care for Father Read More »
Meet Carol, a patient fighting breast cancer. Since she was diagnosed, Carol has been receiving treatment for breast cancer. Her insurance only covers 80% of the cost, and she is unable to work in her current condition. However, the hospital does not consider her to be in a low enough income bracket to offer financial …
Welcome to the fifth episode of #WeTheImmigrants! We The Immigrants is a video series where immigrants share their experiences with health care in the US. We’ve gathered videos from immigrants across New York to discuss their stories about affordability, accessibility, and more. Watch Deirdre’s story below! Deirdre shares her experience working with the Filipino community …
#WeTheImmigrants: Filipino Community Comes Together to Serve Frontline Workers Read More »
