When Illness Attacks the Body First, Then the Family Purse.

When Americans lose their jobs, as is happening in growing numbers, many also lose health insurance. But even for employed people with medical coverage, an illness can mean not only a sharp break with the life they have known, but also financial disaster. Employment-based insurance frequently does not sustain someone through the entirety of a serious medical ordeal. Often, a health crisis will ultimately mean the loss of a job, and with it insurance. Medicaid and Social Security disability provide a vital, if minimal, safety net, but qualifying for them can take time, while medical bills pile up, leading to trouble paying the rent, utility bills and other expenses. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]