LAKEVILLE, Minnesota — St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter has announced that nearly $40 million in medical debt will be wiped out for 32,000 St. Paul residents.
The city has partnered with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to make it happen.
During Tuesday's press conference, Walt Myers of Lakeville shared his story. While Myers is not personally benefiting from St. Paul's announcement, he knows firsthand how medical debt can impact someone's life.
"Nobody knew what to do. It was medical billing hell," Myers said.
Myers inherited $135,000 in medical bills after his wife, Sue, died in March 2019.
Sue was 39 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"I can tell you the exact moment my life changed forever. We were sitting on the couch watching TV downstairs and she touches the the base of her left breast and she says, 'Does that feel weird to you?'"
Myers said his wife battled cancer for more than two decades before entering hospice care in January 2019.
"The hospice team came in and they were amazing. They took just exceptional care of her," Myers said. "It was always her wish and our wish as a family to stay in the house as long as possible and, you know, up in the bedrooms is where she passed away."
Prior to Sue's death, Myers was getting explanation of benefits (EOB) letters.
"It was six to seven pages, both sides, and unless you know exactly what you're looking for... I'd defy anybody to figure out what it is they're telling you," Myers said. "Then came the insurance medical $135,000 out-of-network bill."
Myers recalled a social worker who once mentioned Cancer Legal Care — a nonprofit that provides free legal care to Minnesotans affected by cancer.
"I just retired... had a celebration of life for my wife, trying to console my kids, and had this medical debt hanging over my head that was just brutal. I was actually afraid to go to the mailbox and see what was in it," Myers said.
Cancer Legal Care connected with Myers' former employer and it kept going up the chain.
"We pled our case and waited and about a month later we get a response from the insurance company saying my $135,000 bill was forgiven. So a life-changing moment," Myers said.
It led to Myers volunteering for Cancer Legal Care. While Myers has never considered himself a public speaker, he suddenly found himself front and center at press conferences sharing his story as part of a push to get the Minnesota Debt Fairness Act passed.
The new law took effect in Minnesota on Oct. 1. Among other things, medical debt can no longer be automatically transferred to one's spouse. It also cannot be used to deny medically necessary care or be reported to credit reporting agencies. You can read the full list of changes, here.
"A very meaningful thing. Hopefully, people won't ever be touched by that but if they're in a situation where they are, they're going to be very thankful for this new law," he said.
Myers went on to say, "I can tell you that my wife would be absolutely delighted to know that after five and a half years of her passing, she's still helping people."