In June 2023, Cecile, 56 at the time, needed emergency surgery.
She was working on a farm outside Austin when an accident left her with a crushing injury. Despite the surgery, Cecile found herself barely able to move her left arm. After enjoying an outdoor life, her days feel slow now. Without the use of her arm, her income went down as well.
Although hers is a low-income household, the hospital never mentioned financial assistance. They told her they would not do the surgery unless she put down $533 as a deposit. Plus, she knew there would be more surgeries in the future.
“They told me to put it on my credit card and now I am in debt,” says Cecile.
Like everyone, Cecile hates being in debt. She went to incredible lengths to contact the hospital about her bills. She called, left messages, and sent emails, usually with no response.
“Finally, I reached a person on the Financial Assistance line. But they could only tell me how much I owed and could not make any decisions on reducing my bill.”
On her own, Cecile applied for assistance in September 2023. The hospital denied her application in October, saying they did not receive all the necessary documents, even though Cecile used certified mail and showed them the receipt.
Cecile still kept trying. She told her story to her son. “I am so lucky. My son is very smart,” Cecile shared, like the proud mom she is. He suggested reaching out to a local church in Austin. They were the ones who directed her to Dollar For.
With help from Dollar For, things went more smoothly. Dollar For submitted Cecile’s application again. By January 2024, Cecile’s bill was reduced by $578. And she’s expecting a refund from the hospital for the $533 she already paid.
Dollar For explained that you don’t have to pay the first medical bill before you apply for financial assistance. The hospital cannot send you to collections until after you have a chance to apply for financial assistance to lower – or even eliminate – your bill.
Cecile was very relieved. Asked about working with Dollar For, she says, “People are helpful, kind and won’t let you down. When I had a question, I always had an answer in 48 hours!”
Cecile’s advice is to look for financial assistance right away, before making payments. “Do not hesitate to go to Dollar For! I told my story so other people will know about Dollar For. Especially those who might be in a worse financial situation than me,” she says.
With another surgery coming up, Cecile will look to Dollar For to help crush those medical bills too.