Medical Bills tied to 62% of Bankruptcies

According to this article on msnbc.com today, 62% of bankruptcies are tied to medical bills, an increase of 50% in the past few years.

“Unless you’re Warren Buffett, your family is just one serious illness away from bankruptcy,” Harvard’s Dr. David Himmelstein, an advocate for a single-payer health insurance program for the United States, said in a statement.

“For middle-class Americans, health insurance offers little protection,” he added.”

This quotation is a serious wake up call for middle America.   Health insurance won’t save you financially from unhealthy habits and an expansive waistline.   What is a middle class American to do? STAY HEALTHY as best you can and this can ONLY be had by healthy eating and lifestyle.    In this lengthy recession, I see folks cutting their food budgets and trimming away the expensive organic and whole foods such as whole raw milk, cream, grassfed butter, meats, and organic fruits and vegetables.   Turn off the cable, but don’t stop buying your whole, unprocessed foods!    Nutrition is the best way to prevent illness and cutting your most nutritious foods when you are most stressed by the economy is a recipe for high medical bills.   Don’t rob Peter to pay Paul.

This is why health care sharing instead of health insurance is an idea whose time has come.

Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist