Community Stories

Meet Pura

North Carolina

Pura, 49, is uninsured and lives in North Carolina where Medicaid has not yet been expanded. She has a large amount of medical debt, and shared that her income is limited because she is her husband’s primary caretaker. Regardless of whether the medical debt appears on her credit report, Pura and her husband live with the financial insecurity that medical debt creates. 

Our constituency is diverse. Pura’s preferred language is Spanish.


“Thank you so much for what you did for me. [When I first saw the letter], I thought it was another bill. I have so much debt. It is discouraging.
I’m 49 years old and I don’t have insurance. [My income is not enough to allow me to afford it.] My husband and I are currently trying to refinance our home but I have so much debt. [I ask myself], how am I going to pay all these bills?
My husband used to help with the bills but he was in a terrible accident last year [and can no longer help]. He is a veteran. I only work part-time because I am my husband’s primary caretaker.”
I thank you with my whole heart.
Spanish Version: Muchísimas gracias por lo que has hecho por mí. [Cuando vi la carta por primera vez], pensé que era otra factura. Tengo tantas deudas. Me desanima.
Tengo 49 años y no tengo seguro. [Mis ingresos no son suficientes para poder pagarlo]. Mi marido y yo estamos intentando refinanciar nuestra casa, pero tengo tantas deudas. [Me pregunto], cómo voy a pagar todas estas facturas?
Mi marido me ayudaba con los pagos, pero el año pasado sufrió un terrible accidente [y ya no me puede ayudar]. Es veterano. Yo sólo trabajo a tiempo parcial porque soy su principal cuidadora.
Se lo agradezco de todo corazón.