One step closer to being debt free!

Over 3 years ago when Jordan and I got married we entered our marriage in debt. Don't get me wrong, the only debt we had was a Kay's credit card we used to buy our wedding rings with. We paid off that credit card within the first 6 months that we were married, we paid our schooling as we went, we owned our cars outright, we didn't have a mortgage, we didn't have hospital bills, etc. We were doing pretty well financially.

The first couple months that we were married we didn't have couches and we couldn't get a credit card to buy them because we had no credit! There have been plenty of times that I wished we had a credit card so we could buy what we want or need. Instead we did things the old fashioned way - saved up and payed cash.

3 years late I'm proud to announce we still have no credit cards, however we do have debt. When I had Jayden we paid off our medical bill throughout my pregnancy and then after he was born we still had about $1,200 of debt which we paid off with my bonus from work. Unfortunately, we didn't have the same health insurance when I had Gabriella. We met our deductible of $4,000 when I had Gabri at the end of 2009, then 3 months later (January 2010) we met our deductible again when I was in the hospital for a kidney stone. Within 3 months we racked up $6,000 of medical debt.

My sister told me about this program called Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) for low income families that helps pay off medical debt. I called the hospital that I was admitted to for my kidney stone and found out they use CICP and I was accepted. My bill went from $3,600 to $220!!! I can't express to you what a relief it was to pay off that debt. Unfortunately, we still had $2,100 of debt at the hospital where I had Gabri. I tried contacting the financial aid office, but no one ever called me back. I was told this hospital didn't accept CICP so I wanted to see if they offered another program.

Yesterday while the kids were napping I was watching TV when the phone rang, I let it got to the answering machine. The message started, "Hello my name is so-and-so and I am calling from a collection agency for Kortnie Wertzbaugher"... not exactly what I was expecting to hear! The idea of having a collection agency calling me doesn't settle well in my stomach! I quickly answered the phone and began speaking with a really nice lady. I explained to her that I had tried contacting the financial aid office and no one ever called me back and some how I mentioned that we have CICP. She put me on hold and when she came back she told me that I need to fax my CICP card to them and they will come up with our new amount that we'll owe the hospital! I told the lady that I was informed that hospital didn't accept CICP so she put me on hold again to double check, when she came back she said for sure they do! Now we'll be able to pay off our debt and be completely debt free (except for out home mortgage!)!!!

I love how God works out these details!! This is such a huge weight lifted off our shoulders! I'm very thankful for programs like this that help people get out of debt!