The Hidden Cost of Care: What You Need to Know About Medical Debt
Let’s be honest.
Medical debt isn’t just a number on a bill.
It’s the knot in your stomach when the mail comes.
It’s the late-night math you do to figure out if you can cover both the prescription and the rent.
It’s the stress that lingers long after the ER visit is over.
And you’re not alone.
An estimated 100 million Americans —nearly 1 in 3 adults—carry medical debt.
Nearly half of U.S. adults say they wouldn’t be able to cover a $500 medical bill without going into debt.
Research shows medical debt doesn’t just strain finances—it’s linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and even delayed care.
So if you’ve felt shame or fear about medical debt, I want you to hear this: it’s not a personal failure. It’s the system.
How Medical Debt Shows Up in Everyday Life
Health Delays: Skipping care or medication out of fear of more costs
Avoidance: Not opening hospital bills because you can’t face the balance
Relationship Strain: Debt stress bleeding into conversations with loved ones
Mental Load: A constant background noise of worry that makes it hard to focus at work or rest at home
Medical debt isn’t just financial—it’s emotional, physical, and relational.
What You Can Do
While we can’t fix a broken healthcare system overnight, there are steps you can take to lessen the weight of medical debt:
Get Clarity: Request an itemized bill. Errors are shockingly common, and correcting them can reduce your balance.
Negotiate: Many hospitals and providers have hardship programs or discounts—but they’re rarely advertised. Calling and asking is often the only way to access them.
Prioritize: If you have multiple bills, focus on the ones with the most severe consequences first (like collections), while negotiating or setting up payment plans for others.
Seek Support: You don’t have to face this alone. Having someone walk you through the steps—or even sit with you while you make the calls—can turn avoidance into action.
How Equip Advisory Can Help
At Equip, I work with clients to make these overwhelming tasks more manageable and less isolating.
1:1 Coaching Calls: Personalized support to review your medical bills, create a repayment plan, and advocate for yourself with providers.
Body Doubling Sessions: Sometimes the hardest part is just starting. In a session, we sit down together on a virtual call and you take the steps in real time with support right beside you.
You don’t have to navigate medical debt alone.
With the right tools and support, you can move from feeling trapped to feeling equipped.
👉 Book a 1:1 session or join a body doubling call.
Your debt doesn’t define you—and it doesn’t have to control your future.
