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The Double Whammy!

Are you just one serious illness away from bankruptcy? Many are.

Those of us with “health” insurance policies think we’re protected from the burden of huge medical bills. You may be surprised to learn that’s just not true. In a Harvard University study of almost 2,000 Americans in bankruptcy court, half said that illness or medical bills drove them to bankruptcy.

Every 30 seconds in the United States, someone files for bankruptcy because of a serious health problem. Surprisingly, more than 75 percent of those filing for bankruptcy had insurance, losing their coverage during the course of their illness. Thus, they face the double disaster of illness and bankruptcy.

"If you're sick enough, long enough, you're likely to be financially ruined," cautioned researcher Dr. David Himmelstein.

Once thought largely the result of bad business deals, out of control credit card debt or just bad luck, bankruptcy is increasingly accompanying serious health problems. In fact, people who go under from medical debt are mostly middle-class or working-class people who own their own homes.

The solution? Don’t get sick.

Keep in mind, health is our normal, natural state. Many people neglect their health, paying attention to it only when their symptoms become unbearable. By then, problems can be well advanced, often becoming irreversible. That’s why I sometimes sound like a broken record, constantly suggesting preventive and maintenance visits. Keeping the nervous system free of interferences and catching little problems before they come serious is the key.

Visiting our office when you’re feeling great, may sound a little strange to your health insurance carrier. Maybe it even sounds strange to you. But preventive measures may actually provide more “insurance” than your insurance.