Stem crippling medical debt in New Jersey
Editor’s note: For the respect of those engaged, the name of the individual involved has been changed.
In the heart of Newark, where the heartbeat of the community echoes through the corridors of Metropolitan Baptist Church, I found myself intricately woven into a tale that transcended the pulpit. This is the story of Shanae, a resilient woman whose journey through the labyrinth of health care costs in the inner city unfolded within the embrace of our beloved congregation.
Shanae, a cherished member of Metropolitan Baptist Church, is not merely a statistic but a living testament to the struggles faced by people of color in the inner city when confronting the towering barriers of health care costs.
Her story is one of daily perseverance in the face of systemic challenges, and it’s a story that is sadly all too familiar. When a routine checkup unveiled a serious health diagnosis, Shanae was thrust into a world where the cost of care became a haunting specter. For a woman of color in the heart of Newark, access to quality health care was not just a matter of convenience but a battle against a system that seemed indifferent to the needs of the marginalized.
Medical debt and health care lead the causes of bankruptcy
Even with all the initiatives to expand access to health insurance and make health care more affordable, health care costs are exploding out of control. The insatiable nature of rising health care costs affects everyone, but this being America, the impact is felt most severely by communities of color and by people like Shanae.
The labyrinth began with navigating a web of insurance complexities that often left Shanae disoriented and questioning her worthiness of adequate health care. The journey from doctor visits to prescriptions became a dance with shadows — shadows cast by the looming burden of medical bills and the fear that seeking care might lead to financial ruin — which ultimately it did. Shanae has had to fight to ensure that her financial future will not succumb to the debt bestowed by necessary health care.
Health care is a leading cause for bankruptcy nationwide. As many as 28% of Black households have medical debt, the highest of any racial class, and in New Jersey alone, 1.1 million people have unpaid medical bills. Thank God for the church and health care center models that provide support because without them, Shanae, like so many others, would be left with nothing.
Metropolitan Baptist Church, a beacon of hope in Shanae’s life, became a sanctuary where she could share her struggles openly. In the hallowed halls, we listened intently as Shanae’s narrative unfolded, and her experience became a mirror that reflected the disparities etched into the health care landscape within our community.
Our faith-based community responded with prayer, empathy, organizing support networks, financial assistance and a collective call to action. Shanae’s story catalyzed discussions within our congregation about the urgent need for health care reform that addresses the unique challenges faced by people of color in the inner city.
As we gathered in prayer, we recognized that Shanae’s journey was not hers alone; it was a collective journey, and a call for justice and equity in health care. Her shadows were not unique to her, the health care industry thrives in the darkness, especially at hospitals, where prices go unchecked at 100% inflation and are most often only revealed after care.
Our church learned from Shanae’s journey. Now it’s time for action in NJ
The impact of Shanae’s journey rippled through our pews, igniting a passion for advocacy that transcended the sacred walls of Metropolitan Baptist Church.
Shanae’s resilience, while facing the stark reality of health care costs and hospital prices, has become a clarion call for our congregation. It is a call to dismantle systemic barriers, address racial disparities, pour sunshine on the shadows, and strive for a health care system that reflects the compassion and justice embedded in our shared faith.
Justice is what we deserve. We can no longer let our hospitals and our health care system feed off the shadows they themselves cast, we deserve transparency and accountability. We deserve equal access but also equal protection from an out of control system because we know, better than most, what it looks like when a human being is forced to choose between their
health care and their home, livelihood or economic stability.
As the head of Kean University’s Faith-Based Institute of Public Policy, I see this latest legislative effort to bring transparency and accountability to New Jersey hospitals as an opportunity to make a difference — a difference that provides others a chance to lift the veil that covers these health care inequalities and marry it with a solution fair to all.
In the shadows of Shanae’s journey lies an opportunity for a renewed purpose — a purpose that extends beyond the pulpit to advocate for a future where health care is not a privilege but an inherent right, especially for those navigating the intricate challenges of life in the inner city.
Health care is a leading cause for bankruptcy nationwide. As many as 28% of Black households have medical debt, the highest of any racial class, and in New Jersey alone, 1.1 million people have unpaid medical bills.
The Rev. David Jefferson Jr. is assistant pastor at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark and head of The Kean Faith-Based Policy Institute in the Office of the President’s Governmental Affairs and Community Relations Department at Kean University.