In mid August there was an interesting article in U.S. News and World Report. It reported on a study done in Philadelphia on 250 families facing foreclosure. The study suggested that foreclosure was having a severe impact on the health of the people facing it.
Findings of the Study
250 families were studied. The major findings were:
- Over 50% were depressed. 37% had major depression.
- 60% skipped meals because they couldn’t afford them.
- 48% could not afford to buy the drugs prescribed for them.
- 9% listed a medical condition as the cause of the foreclosure.
- Over 25% had large outstanding medical bills.
- 68% of those who smoked more when they were notified that a foreclosure had started.
The Devastating Part
Here we have people with major health issues. Do you believe that they were getting the medical treatment they needed for their conditions? If they weren’t what is the ongoing impact on them and their families?
What do you think the impact is for those who are depressed on their relationships? Might a higher number of divorces occur? What is the impact on children when a parent is depressed? Do they have any idea of the reason the parent may be acting as they are?
The Health Care Crisis in This Country
Right now there are news reports on a daily basis of how many people do not have health care in the United States. We also hear about the people who cannot get the medical care they need because of the cost.
It is expected that there are going to be 9 million foreclosures in the United States by 2012. How many of these people do you think will not have health care coverage? If something is not done to get these people some type of affordable health care, isn’t the problem just going to intensify?
Help Is Available
While it may be quite awhile before the health care crisis in this country is resolved, there are other things that people facing foreclosure can do to get help with medical problems they have.
First – they should get a lawyer or expert in loan modifications to help them and represent them in dealings with their mortgage company. These people know what to do. They know the steps that can be taken to have their loan modified in the best way for their clients and their circumstances. Just turning this over to a lawyer or one of these experts will go far in alleviating stress and depression they are experiencing.
Second – They also should look for medical resources available in their community that can direct them to where they can get treatment for themselves and their family members at a reduced cost. If they belong to a church, a good starting place is their church. Most have people on staff who knows what is available in the community. Another good source is the local county government. County governments frequently have departments that specialize in directing people to clinics and doctors who offer medical care for free or at a minimal cost. Last, the local county medical society can advise people where they can get medical care for free or at a minimal cost.
If you are facing foreclosure and you or a family member has a medical condition and don’t have medical insurance, I suggest that you check out what I have suggested here. By the way, you also will want to know as much as you can about the steps you can take to stop the foreclosure on your home. One place you can get this information is in my EBook. I invite you to check it out. You can get more information on it by clicking Stop Foreclosure.
Much Success,
Mark Elkins
