<< Back to all Blogs
Login or Create your own free blog
Layout:
Home > Where Do I Begin?

Where Do I Begin?

December 11th, 2006 at 06:21 pm

Dear friends,
I have been reading your blogs for some time now and enjoy them very much. I've felt your pain, and yes, ----felt some jealousy at your success!! (Please forgive me).
I am a 63-year old widow on Social Security and I have a parttime job teaching mentally challenged adults which I enjoy very much.
Unfortunately I am unable to buy medical insurance due to a condition which disallows me from buying any. A year ago I had two surgeries, a D and C, and by for worse, a colon resection due to diverticulitis. I had been pleased without myself for being able to live on $20,000 previous to these surguries, but now life seems like a nightmare. I pay ten creditors $25.00 per month in addition to having to buy a used car (my last one literally blew up). I have heard from horrible creditors and have learned to deal with them, but I know I will never live long enough to pay off the approximately $18,000 I still owe. I assume that when I die this debt will be paid from the sale of my house. If anyone has faced the dreariness of a situation I would like to hear about it, in particular, how you stay upbeat about it all. In the meantime, thank you for all the enjoyment you have given me as I have read your blogs and I am looking forward to the friendships developed here.

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

7 Responses to “Where Do I Begin?”

  1. happyzookeeper Says:
    December 11th, 2006 at 06:28 pm 1165861692
    1165861692

    First welcome! SecondI am so sorry you have had to go through all of this. I don't really have much advice on the financial thing sorry. I'm sure much wiser people than I will though. Have you tried negotiating the medical bills by saying you are very close to bankruptcy and what is the bottom dollar they could settle for? A friend of mine on ssi had great luck with that strategy. I don't know about social security but ssi is not garnishable.
    On not feeling so down I think it helps to count our blessings everyday. I always remind myslf no matter how bad or desperate it seems it could always be harder or worse.

  2. Thrifty Ray Says:
    December 11th, 2006 at 06:40 pm 1165862406
    1165862406

    Welcome! I, too, am sorry about all you've been through. I think happyzookeeper offered good advice when she suggested settling with the doctors. I do not believe SS payments are garnishable under most circumstances...but this would be a good question for an attorney.

    I hope you will find support, information and insight here at the site...this is a good place to come for all 3. Not to mention a little humor now and then.

    My best wishes to you!

  3. janH Says:
    December 11th, 2006 at 06:45 pm 1165862730
    1165862730

    Welcome! I am so sorry that you've had such a hard time this last year! Please feel free to vent here. I hope that the wiser minds here can give you some ideas that might help.

  4. Ima saver Says:
    December 11th, 2006 at 09:51 pm 1165873879
    1165873879

    Welcome, glad you have joined us. I also have no medical insurance. We finally gave it up when it got so expensive. We paid in over $90,000 and never collected a dime. If I ever need surgery, I am just going to pay what I can each month, just like you are doing! Just keep sending in that $25 a month. I will start on social security next month also, but I will only collect about $6000 a year. Lucky for me, I have a younger husband who works full time.

  5. Aleta Says:
    December 11th, 2006 at 10:31 pm 1165876288
    1165876288

    Well, believe it or not, we have insurance and it doesn't pay very much. We're paying about 1256.75 a month now. My husband bad emergency surgery and was in the hospital for 9 days. It's unbelievable how little they want to pay. I have had to send in my claims to the insurance commissioner of my state so that we can have mediation. For us to change policies at this time is not good either.

    I would say the same thing as every one else here has said. Speak with the creditors and explain your situation. Usually, they'l take it down some. I wish you luck.

  6. Broken Arrow Says:
    December 12th, 2006 at 01:32 am 1165887126
    1165887126

    A very warm welcome to you! I hope that you will stick around for a long time to come. Smile

  7. kealina Says:
    December 12th, 2006 at 05:11 am 1165900304
    1165900304

    welcome... you've gotten some pretty good advice so i don't have much to add... just wanted to say hi and i hope you like it here =)

Leave a Reply

(Note: If you were logged in, we could automatically fill in these fields for you.)
*
Will not be published.
   

* Please spell out the number 4.  [ Why? ]

vB Code: You can use these tags: [b] [i] [u] [url] [email]