In the latest episode of the AP’s “Money Happens” series, Jennifer Vall describes how medical bills accumulated even though she had been debt-free and had a strong credit score before her family’s cancer diagnoses. Vall’s son was diagnosed with leukemia in 2020, and a year later Vall learned she had thyroid cancer, according to the episode. As treatment needs grew for her and her son, the bills continued to add up, and Vall said she eventually ended up with thousands of dollars in medical debt.
Vall said she used her credit to survive while the bills kept coming, noting that cancer-related costs do not pause simply because someone becomes sick. She also said that taking care of her and her son’s health and working toward paying off the debt became her main priorities, leaving less room for her own emotional well-being.
Ashley Agnew, a certified financial therapist, told the series that financial stress can show up in physical and interpersonal ways. Agnew said that when someone is under a great deal of financial stress, it can present in forms such as insomnia, migraines and relational troubles. The episode frames medical debt as not only a budgeting challenge but also a factor that can affect day-to-day health.
After years of trying to reduce the balance, Vall said she chose to start working with a debt management company to pay down the remaining amount. In the episode, she said the remaining medical debt was about $21,000.
For people confronting medical debt, the episode highlights three recommendations through Agnew and Vall’s experience. First, Agnew said the key step is to know where they stand so a person can build an action plan. She said it is important to take a deep dive into the debt, including what parts are accumulating interest and how far out the debt is in the 30-, 60- or 90-day cycle, according to the episode. Agnew also said that having a complete view of a household’s finances can help someone create a detailed payoff plan and, if needed, identify organizations that can help build a payment arrangement.
Second, the episode addresses the emotional side of repayment. Vall said that during her son’s treatment, she bought him everything he desired and later regretted spending that money once he was healthy. Vall said that, at the time, it felt right, but she also expressed that part of her regrets the spending in light of what she believes there is more to be given to him now. Agnew’s guidance, as presented in the episode, is to give yourself grace and avoid blaming yourself for decisions made under difficult circumstances.
Third, Agnew encouraged viewers to consider how they want to relate to money as they work through repayment. The episode suggests that the new relationship can include concrete goals, such as eventually buying a house, or less tangible aims like having more experiences with loved ones. Agnew said that when people take a deep dive into their money story and relationship with money, the question can become what is truly fulfilling—sometimes it is not an object but an experience or a feeling.
The episode’s editors’ note says that “Money Happens” explores challenges and anxieties around money and offers helpful tips for dealing with them, with each episode featuring a case and an expert’s strategies. The editors also note that the AP receives support from the Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy, and that the foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc., with the AP responsible for its journalism.