AN 80-year-old man is still working long past his retirement age to pay off $80,000 in medical bills after his wife passed away.
Gary Saling is a Utah resident who once designed mansions for Hollywood celebrities and Wall Street elites, but now works four days a week at a local grocery store.
80-year-old Gary Saling is working as a grocery bagger in Utah to pay off his wife’s medical bills[/caption]
Saling said there’s “no way I’m a hero” and stands by his decision to care for his wife at home[/caption]
Gary Saling had a successful career as an architect designing houses for Hollywood’s elite[/caption]
He got the job about six months after the death of his wife who died of a rare and aggressive disease, to pay off mounting medical bills after he promised to care for his wife at home.
But he might be able to retire soon thanks to supportive members of his community.
In an interview with KSBY news, Saling explained that his wife Carol was first diagnosed with Sundowner’s syndrome in 2017.
The disease. which is a form of dementia, forced the couple to relocate to southern Utah to be closer to the neurologist.
“The neurology was covered by Medicare. What wasn’t covered was the promise that I would keep her at home and never put her in a nursing home,” Saling said.
Despite the soaring medical bills, Saling stands by his decision to care for his wife at home.
‘I’M NOT A HERO’
“There is no way I’m a hero. I am not an angel, and I’m certainly not a saint. I made the promise to keep her at home and never put her in a nursing home because I took vows,” Saling said.
KSBY reports that Saling always had a hard working nature, after working three jobs in high school including bagging groceries in Laguna Beach, California.
He worked his way up the ranks as an architect, designing multi billion dollar projects.
He even made his way onto Architectural Digest’s top 100 architects list.
However, help might be on the way for Saling after local Utah woman Duana Johnson him Saling working recently and decided to help.
“I saw Gary bagging groceries, and I thought, ‘What’s this guy? Why is this elderly man still here?’” she told KSBY News.
She launched a fundraising campaign, setting up a Venmo account with around $2,000 raised so far.
“I’m trying to raise enough money for him to be able to retire and not have to worry about working anymore,” Johnson said.
SOARING DEBT
Saling is just one of a number of Americans struggling to pay off soaring medical bills.
Millions of uninsured Americans are scared to seek medical care or visit a hospital over fears for how much it may cost.
Hospital bills can be financially crippling, with some opting to go on never-ending payment plans to settle their debt or choosing to go without help altogether.
Hospital billing can be incredibly opaque, with many patients unaware of the cost of care upfront.
ASK QUESTIONS
But there are options available, and bills can be negotiated.
Andy Schoonover is the founder and CEO of a health insurance alternative called CrowdHealth, which is an online platform aiming to provide an alternative to existing health insurance models.
He says many hospitals open to negotiation, and you can request a discount based on your financial situation.
Also, experts say to inquire about payment plans or apply for financial assistance.
Charity care may also be an option under the Affordable Care Act which can help reduce your bill.
Lastly, people are encouraged to look into programs like Medicare and Medicare which may cover a significant portion of your expenses.
