How to Handle Medical Bills, with Dr. Virgie Bright Ellington

#466: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported in 2022 that medical debt is the most common reason to get a debt collector call. A Census Bureau study in 2021 found nearly 1 in 5 households (19%) couldn’t pay for medical care when it was needed. These statistics underscore the fact that the potential for unforeseen medical expenses to negatively impact our lives is ENORMOUS. Dr. Virgie Bright Ellington, a medical billing expert and author of “What Your Doctor Wants You to Know to Crush Medical Debt,” joins us for today’s episode to discuss the thorny topic of medical expenses. The episode begins by acknowledging the widespread and detrimental impact that medical bills can cause, especially in a healthcare system as intricate as the one in the United States. Dr. Ellington emphasizes the importance of proactively addressing medical bills to prevent them from becoming a source of financial stress. She then shares a detailed roadmap that will empower listeners to navigate the complex world of medical bills with confidence, ultimately achieving financial peace of mind in healthcare. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode466 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Om Podcasten

You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life. How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles? On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing. But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacognition: thinking about how to think. In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models. Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.