Crowdfunding can help pay medical bills… It’s really that simple. You can crowdfund just about anything, including medical bills. Many times people are in a medical crisis and don’t know where to go. Medical bills can pile up in no time, and medical bankruptcy is real. You’d be surprised how many people in your Audience are willing to help.
In a study published in January 2014 from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in four families experienced a financial burden from Medicare.
This “financial burden” of Medicare equals the medical bills they currently cannot pay and have to pay monthly over time.
This study goes on to share that lower-income families were more likely to experience the financial burdens of Medicare. Those families with incomes at or below 250% of the federal poverty level had the highest levels of any Medicare financial burden.
250% of the federal poverty level (based on the 2013 guidelines) means that a family of four with an annual income of $58,875 or less was in the highest tier of the population feeling the financial burden of medical care for a loved one. This is middle-class America. These are the families who live on paycheck to pay and are unprepared for a medical crisis.
He is a child with his eyes closed and an oxygen tube in his nose. He was born with a bad heart, a weak immune system, and eating problems that caused a condition that doctors described as “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 catheterization and procedures, open-heart surgeries, and surgically placed a feeding tube to ensure he was getting the right amount of nutrients. Isaac’s family has great insurance that covers 80% of all medical costs. But they still spent more than $100,000 out of pocket in the first year of his life in deductibles and related medical expenses.
Shocking…isn’t it?
I know… My name is Kathy, and I’m Isaac’s mother.
I remember people asking us if they could fundraise for us, give us money… They would offer to do anything just to help. At the time, I couldn’t imagine the costs involved, nor could I imagine all the things that insurance wouldn’t cover. You assume you pay for the insurance, you’ll have a deductible…the end.
If only.
Words of advice:
Start a crowdfunding campaign right away
Don’t be too humble to let others offer to help you. You can’t imagine the costs of things in the medical world and how they stack up. It’s so hard to think about money when you’re talking about healthcare for someone you love. You want to do anything and everything…you’ll worry about the bills later.
Whose mother was there
Don’t expect people going through a medical crisis to think clearly (well, I’m pretty sure they didn’t). If you are attached to the family or just a loving friend…talk to them about the medical bills and the reality of the situation. Talk to them about what they need now and what their needs might be in the future and help them create a budget and plan to get everything their loved one needs. From bills, equipment, therapy sessions… even therapy dogs, all of these things can be necessary 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 give you a platform that helps you tell your story as well as share it with your friends and family. The right crowdfunding platform will support you all the way, from mentoring to write your story, choosing photos to post, sharing on social media channels, and even helping write press releases to gain national exposure.
Crowdfunding can help you pay your medical bills by allowing you to take care of your family and letting your “crowd” help you. Donations will be made by the people you have inspired and want to help. These people will have a platform to donate to you according to their schedule and an amount within their means. They will make sure that the money goes directly to you and not to an unknown organization.
You are not alone in your medical crisis. Crowdfunding is a vital resource to help pay medical bills and other medical related necessities.