You Don't Have to be Uninsured to have Medical Debt

Last week, we aired a first installment of a series that takes a closer look at the Human Services Agency of San Francisco, the people they serve, the ones they don't, and how that latter group is sure to get bigger after the agency suffered budget cuts in the tens of millions of dollars this past year. What is clear from the conversation I had with Trent Rhorer, Executive Director of the HSA, is that there are some people who are left behind by welfare services, simply because they make just a little too much to qualify....Or they have a car...Or savings...or unemployment benefits...the list of disqualifications is a long one.

And today there was a headline in our digest that proved there are people on the margin of the health care debate that are suffering greatly as well - the insured poor. The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research released a report today that found 2/3rds of the 2.2 million Californians who say they are in medical debt, actually had health insurance when they incurred that debt.

If you are one of the people on the margin, barely making it, give us a call at 415 264 7106, and share your story with us. Or write to us at news@kalw.org.