Haris Ashley
In 2023, Olympic gymnastics champion Mary Lou Retton was admitted to the ICU with a rare form of pneumonia. Fans were shocked to learn that the former athlete had no health insurance. Retton later revealed that she was uninsured because, as a single woman with a history of orthopedic surgeries, the cost of coverage was too high. Retton's daughters set up a crowdfunding site to help pay her medical bills, and she now has health insurance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for not having health insurance | Money |
| Number of surgeries | Over 30 |
| Recent major life events | Divorce |
| Pre-existing conditions | Orthopedic issues |
| COVID-19 impact | Yes |
| Endorsement deals | No |
| Other income streams | No |
| Current insurance status | Insured |
| Fundraising efforts | Crowd-funding site, donation site |
| Amount raised | $450,000-$460,000 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Mary Lou Retton's daughters set up a crowd-funding page to help pay for medical bills
- Retton is a single woman with a history of surgeries, making insurance unaffordable
- She is a millionaire, but chose not to be insured
- She is now insured and says she is all set
- Retton's family set up an online donation site to help pay her hospital bills
Mary Lou Retton's daughters set up a crowd-funding page to help pay for medical bills
In October 2023, Mary Lou Retton, the former Olympic gymnast, was hospitalised with a rare form of pneumonia. Retton, who won the women's gymnastics individual all-around gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, had to be admitted to an intensive care unit in Texas, where she spent several weeks fighting for her life.
During her hospitalisation, Retton's daughters set up a crowd-funding page to help pay for their mother's medical bills, as she did not have health insurance. The cost of insurance was too high for Retton due to her many previous sports-related operations. The original goal of the fundraiser was $50,000, but it quickly surpassed that amount, raising over $400,000 within a week. By January 2024, the total amount raised had reached $459,324.
Retton's daughter, McKenna Kelley, who initiated the campaign on Spotfund, shared the news of her mother's condition via an Instagram story, requesting prayers and financial assistance for the hospital bills. She emphasised their respect for her mother's privacy and did not disclose many details about her health. Kelley later expressed her and her sisters' surprise and gratitude for the overwhelming response from the public.
Retton herself has also addressed the backlash she received due to the crowdfunding campaign, stating that she doesn't care about the naysayers and is grateful for the support she received during her illness. She credits her daughters and God for helping her get through this challenging time and remains focused on her recovery. As of January 2024, Retton has shared that she is now "all set" and has obtained health insurance.
Partners' Medical Insurance: Deducting Expenses for Healthy Profits
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$12.99
Retton is a single woman with a history of surgeries, making insurance unaffordable
Mary Lou Retton, a celebrated Olympic gymnast, was hospitalized in October 2023 with a rare and potentially deadly form of pneumonia. Her daughter, McKenna Kelley, revealed that Retton was "fighting for her life" and that she did not have health insurance. This came as a shock to many, as it was assumed that the retired gymnastics star had endorsement deals and other means to afford health insurance.
Retton, a 55-year-old single woman with a history of over 30 orthopedic surgeries, attributed her lack of insurance to financial constraints. In an interview, she stated that buying health insurance with her pre-existing conditions was simply too expensive, especially after her divorce. She expressed, "I couldn't afford it... But who would even know that this was going to happen to me?".
Retton's medical history, including multiple hip replacements, has left her in chronic pain and made insurance unaffordable. Her daughter, Kelley, confirmed this, stating, "Due to her medical history and the amount of surgeries she has endured from gymnastics and just life, it's unaffordable for her." The high cost of coverage is a common issue, with almost two-thirds of uninsured adults in the United States citing the expense of insurance as the reason for their lack of coverage.
While Retton initially lacked health insurance, her daughters took initiative and set up a crowd-funding site to help with their mother's hospital bills. The campaign raised over $450,000, surpassing the initial goal of $50,000. Retton has since confirmed that she now has health insurance, stating, "I'm all set now."
Colonoscopy and Medical Insurance: What's Covered?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
She is a millionaire, but chose not to be insured
Mary Lou Retton, the Olympic gymnast who won America's first all-around gymnastics gold medal, was hospitalised in October 2023 with a rare form of pneumonia. She spent a month in a Texas hospital, much of it in the intensive care unit, unable to breathe on her own. Her family set up a crowdfunding site to help pay her medical bills, and her daughters revealed that she nearly died.
Retton, a millionaire, did not have health insurance at the time. In an interview, she revealed that she couldn't afford the insurance premiums due to her financial situation at the time. As a single woman with a history of surgeries, the cost of coverage was too high. She had recently divorced her husband of 27 years, and although many assumed she had endorsement deals, she said, "life goes on and things happen". She also pointed out that it had been 40 years since she won her Olympic gold medal, and she could not afford the insurance financially.
Retton's situation highlights the challenges of affording health insurance, even for those with wealth and fame. It is also a reminder that unexpected medical emergencies can occur, and the financial burden can be significant. While some may criticise her for not having insurance, it is important to recognise that medical costs can be unpredictable and overwhelming, even for those with substantial assets.
Although Retton did not disclose all the details of her financial situation, she emphasised that she couldn't afford health insurance. This situation is not unique to her, as almost two-thirds of uninsured adults in the United States cite the high cost of coverage as the reason for being uninsured. This issue is prevalent in the American healthcare system, where access to affordable health insurance is a challenge for many.
Despite her initial lack of insurance, Retton confirmed that she is now insured as of 2024. Her story serves as a reminder to prioritise financial preparedness for unexpected medical emergencies and to recognise the impact of the complex American healthcare system on individuals, regardless of their wealth or celebrity status.
Medicaid Insurance: Can You Use It for Regular Doctor Visits?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
She is now insured and says she is all set
In 2023, Mary Lou Retton, the 1984 Olympic gymnast champion, was hospitalised with a rare form of pneumonia. Retton's family set up a crowdfunding site to help pay for her medical bills, revealing that the former athlete was uninsured. Many people were shocked to learn that Retton, a multimillionaire with multiple endorsement deals, did not have health insurance.
Retton's daughter, McKenna Kelley, disclosed that her mother was "fighting for her life" in the intensive care unit (ICU) and that she was uninsured. She appealed to the public for financial assistance with the hospital bills, sparking discussions about Retton's financial situation and assumptions about her access to insurance.
Retton, a single woman with a history of surgeries, revealed that the cost of health insurance was simply too high for her. Despite her previous success and endorsements, she explained that it had been almost 40 years since her Olympic win, and she could not afford the insurance premiums, especially with COVID-19 and her recent divorce impacting her finances.
Now, in 2024, Retton has confirmed that she is insured and "all set." She shared this update after recovering from pneumonia, expressing gratitude for the support she received during her health scare. While she may not be completely back to her old self, she is thankful for her health and the insurance coverage that will support her ongoing medical needs.
This situation highlights the financial challenges that individuals, even those with significant past success, can face when it comes to affording essential healthcare. It also underscores the importance of having insurance to provide peace of mind and financial protection in the event of unexpected medical emergencies.
Insurance Agent Confidentiality: Medical Info Disclosure?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Retton's family set up an online donation site to help pay her hospital bills
Mary Lou Retton, the 1984 Olympic gymnastics champion, was hospitalised in early October 2023 with a rare form of pneumonia. Retton's daughter, McKenna Kelley, announced that her mother was “fighting for her life” in an intensive care unit and that she did not have health insurance. In the same statement, Kelley asked the public to help with prayers and finances for the hospital bill.
Following this, Retton's family set up an online donation site to help pay her hospital bills. A SpotFund fundraiser was opened to help her pay off medical bills, with over $450,000 raised within a week. In a subsequent interview with TODAY's Hoda Kotb, Retton's daughter, Shayla, explained the family's decision: "We were just thinking, 'If she pulls through, the last thing we want her to have to think about is paying off these bills.'".
In the interview with Kotb, Retton revealed that she did not have health insurance because, as a single woman with a history of surgeries, the cost of coverage was too high. She said: "When COVID hit and after my divorce and all my pre-existing (conditions) — I mean, I’ve had over 30 operations of orthopedic stuff — I couldn’t afford it… That’s the bottom line: I couldn’t afford it... But who would even know that this was going to happen to me?".
Many people were surprised to learn that the retired gymnastics star was uninsured, with some assuming that she had endorsement deals and other means to afford health insurance. However, Retton clarified that she is now “all set” with health insurance as of 2024.
Short-Term Insurance and Medicaid: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Mary Lou Retton, a former Olympic gymnast, revealed that she could not afford health insurance as a single woman with a history of surgeries. She said, "I’ve had over 30 operations of orthopedic stuff — I couldn’t afford it… That’s the bottom line: I couldn’t afford it."
It is unclear whether Mary Lou Retton had any other form of insurance besides health insurance. However, she has appeared in a life insurance commercial for Colonial Penn.
After being hospitalized with a rare form of pneumonia, Mary Lou Retton's family set up a crowdfunding site to help pay for her medical bills. Over $450,000 was raised within a week.
Although many people assumed that Mary Lou Retton had endorsement deals that could have helped cover the cost of health insurance, she stated that it had been almost 40 years since her Olympic win and that she could not afford it financially.
Yes, Mary Lou Retton has confirmed that she is now insured as of 2024.
