Marketplace All-in-One Dealing with credit card or medical debt? Here's how to handle it.
Oct 10, 2025
Marielle Segarra, host of NPR's Life Kit and a reporter specializing in debt issues, joins to tackle pressing financial concerns. She shares insights from her recent newsletter series on escaping credit card debt and offers practical methods for managing medical bills without falling into financial traps. Marielle emphasizes the importance of negotiating charges and avoiding credit card use for medical debt. The discussion also breaks down the stigma surrounding debt, encouraging open conversations for better solutions.
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Avoid Carrying A Credit Card Balance
- Pay your full credit card statement balance by the due date whenever possible to avoid interest charges.
- Use cards for rewards only if you can reliably pay them off each month.
Credit Card Debt After Home Purchase
- Kimberly describes running up credit card debt after buying a house and the relief of paying it off.
- She emphasizes the discipline required to clear that balance and the weight it lifted.
Pause And Check For Charity Care
- Don't panic when you get a medical bill; pause and explore options before paying.
- Search your hospital's financial assistance or charity care policies and ask the billing office directly.