Millions of people are raising money on GoFundMe right now to fund their health care and life-saving

[Uncle Joe]

medication.

Link to tweet

The human body is a frail thing, and illness is a pitiless adversary. Every day, an untold number of Americans are diagnosed with a devastating illness or suffer a sudden injury that threatens to upend their lives and tear apart their families.

This misfortune often comes at a staggeringly high financial cost that can be just as cruel.

(snip)

This is why thousands of Americans have turned to crowdfunding website GoFundMe in the last decade to help cover medical bills and related costs. HuffPost is profiling some of those people, and what their stories reveal about the shortcomings of the American health care system.

These are not feel-good stories.

That’s often how the news media cover these fundraisers ― focusing on the generosity of individuals giving rather than the systemic failures that created the need. While it’s hard not to be inspired by successful campaigns and the fortitude of those suffering through terrifying ordeals, such stories portray a chilling reality that Americans ― even those with good jobs and health insurance, can be one bad day away from financial ruin.

(snip)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gofundme-health-care-system_n_5ced9785e4b0ae6710584b27

[George II]

1. That's quite an exaggeration. There are only 250,000 GoFundMe accounts related to health care....

....a far cry from "millions". I expect statements like that from trump, not one of our Democratic candidates.

[Celerity]

4. it is over 250,000 per year, not total

I do not know the total number of health campaigns in the 9 plus years (launched May 10th, 2010) that GoFundMe has been around, but it is probably close to maybe even over 1 million by now (granted that is not 'millions', but there are hundreds of other crowd-funding sites as well)


GoFundMe CEO: ‘Gigantic Gaps’ In Health System Showing Up In Crowdfunding

https://khn.org/news/gofundme-ceo-gigantic-gaps-in-health-system-showing-up-in-crowdfunding/

Scrolling through the GoFundMe website reveals seemingly an endless number of people who need help or community support. A common theme: the cost of health care.

It didn’t start out this way. Back in 2010, when the crowdfunding website began, it suggested fundraisers for “ideas and dreams,” “wedding donations and honeymoon registry” or “special occasions.” A spokeswoman said the bulk of collection efforts from the first year were “related to charities and foundations.” A category for medical needs existed, but it was farther down the list.

In the nine years since, campaigns to pay for health care have reaped the most cash. Of the $5 billion the company says it has raised, about a third has been for medical expenses from more than 250,000 medical campaigns conducted annually.

snip



Ultimate List of Crowdfunding and Fundraising Websites [Updated 2019]

https://www.crowd101.com/list-crowdfunding-and-fundraising-websites/

Understanding the fees and unique features on crowdfunding sites and fundraising websites can help you choose between the hundreds of options.

There are hundreds of other crowdfunding and fundraising websites to meet your campaign goal. Understanding the fees and unique features at each will help you take full advantage of the boom in alternative funding.

snip




Top 100 Crowdfunding Sites


https://crowdfundingpr.wordpress.com/top-100-crowdfunding-websites/

[bluewater]

5. Hi!

How many go fund me accounts have been created though? Over time?

[handmade34]

2. this is not a functioning health care system!!

my son had a bike accident a month ago... severe brain injury... he had just come back from working in the Caribbean (still rebuilding) and hadn't gotten insurance yet... luckily we live in Vermont and they are covering the many thousands of dollars the hospital billed to save him (Thank You Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital ) people do not need the stress of wondering how they can pay for taking care of health concerns along with the injury or illness they have...


Vermont may not have been able to pass an official universal coverage bill but the state has compassion and we are grateful to live here (I do not ever complain about paying taxes!)

[Skittles]

3. he is correct

I've heard that it is being suggested now that you create a gofundme to pay these extortionists

[area51]

6. This is why we need

comprehensive Medicare for All.