Artist can focus on her sculptures and not medical bills

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Removing barriers to care | Affordable care in Olympia

As a child, Laura saw the effects of medical debt on her family. She was hospitalized numerous times due to severe asthma, and her parents never received assistance with the medical bills for her care.

So as an adult, when Laura needed hospitalization at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Wash. in 2019 with a rare trachea condition, she was really concerned about how she would pay for her care.

“I was in the ICU, and I know how much that costs because my parents had to pay for it when I was growing up,” says Laura, of Lacey, Wash.

Laura also had to resign from her job in special education because of her condition, which made finances tighter. However, Providence is taking care of all medical costs to her after she qualified for financial assistance.

“When I got that letter in the mail, I said ‘thank God and thank you, Providence,’” Laura remembers.

Providence offers free or low-cost care for eligible patients like Laura, who need financial assistance. Making sure each patient gets needed care, regardless of ability to pay, is an important priority for Providence’s community benefit investments.

Laura continues to need ongoing care for her condition, and Providence is there for her medically and financially. She’s able to take walks at a nearby park with friends, and she can do three-dimensional paper sculpting art, although the tracheostomy equipment does get in the way a bit.

“It just touches my heart and makes me feel comfortable, knowing Providence has my back,” Laura says.

In 2021, Providence St. Peter Hospital provided financial assistance to 6,594 patients in need.

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