{"id":698,"date":"2026-05-12T19:04:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T19:04:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=698"},"modified":"2026-05-12T19:04:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T19:04:21","slug":"money-happens-expert-tips-for-managing-medical-debt-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=698","title":{"rendered":"Money Happens: Expert tips for managing medical debt"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

NEW YORK<\/strong> | In 2020, Jennifer Vall\u2019s son was diagnosed with leukemia. A year later, she found out she had thyroid cancer. While Vall was debt-free and had a great credit score, medical bills kept adding up, leaving her with thousands of dollars in debt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was able to utilize my credit to survive because one thing with cancer is (that) bills don\u2019t stop just because somebody gets sick,\u201d said Vall, 37, a healthcare training specialist for the state of Minnesota\u2019s Department of Human Services.<\/p>\n

Taking care of her and her son\u2019s health and paying off debt became Vall\u2019s main priorities, leaving her emotional well-being to the side.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re under a great deal of financial stress, it does present physically in forms of insomnia, migraines, and relational troubles,\u201d said Ashley Agnew, a certified financial therapist.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

EDITORS\u2019 NOTE: The Money Happens series explores challenges and anxieties around money and offers helpful tips for dealing with them. Each episode features a case of an individual experiencing a challenging financial problem, whether it\u2019s student loan or credit card debt, and an expert who can help provide strategies for working through these issues.<\/p>\n

After years of trying to make a dent in her medical debt, Vall decided to start working with a debt management company to pay the remaining $21,000.<\/p>\n

If you are confronting medical debt, here are three recommendations:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Know where you stand<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The first step towards creating an action plan to pay off your medical debt is to know how much you owe, Agnew said.<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt\u2019s important to take a deep dive in. What parts of that are accumulating interest? How far out is the debt in the 30, 60, or 90-day cycle?\u201d Agnew added.<\/p>\n

    Having a complete view of your finances will enable you to create a detailed plan to pay off your debt. And, if you need to, you might also reach out to organizations that help you build a payment plan.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Give yourself grace<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      While her son was going through a tough time during treatment, Vall bought him everything he desired. But now that he is healthy, she regrets having spent so much money.<\/p>\n

      \u201cAt the time, it was rightfully so,\u201d Vall said. \u201cAnd looking back, I don\u2019t know that I would have changed that. But part of me regrets doing that, (given) that he is here and there is more to be given to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

      If you have a similar story to Vall\u2019s, Agnew recommends giving yourself grace. Rather than blaming yourself for your past decisions, remember that you were doing your best under the circumstances.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Find your new relationship with money<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        As you continue your journey to pay off medical debt, it might be a good time to start thinking about what you want out of your relationship with money. That could be a concrete financial goal, like eventually buying a house, or something more intangible, like having more experiences with the people you love.<\/p>\n

        \u201cWhen you really take a deep dive into your money story and into your relationship with money, what\u2019s really fulfilling?\u201d Agnew said. \u201cSometimes it\u2019s not a thing but an experience or a feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

        The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.<\/p>\n

        Read more SENTINEL MUSE: Take an emotional roller coaster ride with \u2018Angels\u2019 in Aurora<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

        Read more Colorado lawmakers pass bill allowing civil suits against ICE, federal authorities<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

        Read more New Beatles fan experience set to open in London in 2027<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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