“I want you to have a stress test and an echocardiogram,” said my heart doctor. I was having some difficulties with my breathing. I have had these tests done before at the same medical facility, before having heart stents put in. I should add that my medical insurance had paid for these tests at this facility.
So when I got a bill for $9,772.50, I was shocked! My health insurance company explained to me that, though the doctors were “In-Network” and paid, the hospital was “Out of Network.” I had the test done in August of 2025. What I didn’t know, and was never told, was that the company I retired from could not reach an agreement with the oversized medical conglomerate, so they decided to declare them “Out of Network” in June of 2025.
I argued, I appealed twice, but still the insurance company would not pay the bill. I spoke to the hospital, I argued, I appealed, and I begged them to reduce the bill as if I was paying cash and had no insurance, and technically, I didn’t have insurance to help me pay it. They would not work with me. The only thing they finally did was agree to put me on a five-year payment plan instead of a three-year plan.
I turned to God. I appealed to Him for help. I cried, at least 9,772 tears. I didn’t know what we were going to do. I could feel stress every time I looked at our finances. Over the ongoing five months, I prayed. April was praying too, as was her prayer partner.
I was talking to a medical advocate that my retirement company provides, and I mentioned the $9,772 bill. The woman I was talking to took notes and referred me to another lady who was going to look into the matter. She responded a few days later that she, too, spoke to my insurance company and to the medical group, and the only thing she could suggest was to fill out and submit a financial aid form. I almost didn’t because, as I said to April, “They will probably think we make too much money.” But I did fill it out and sent it in.
Yesterday morning (February 13, 2026), I was sitting at my desk working on some other matters when I received the following email:
Hi Mark A.
We’ve received the final payment for your payment plan, and the balance is now paid off. Thank you — this payment plan is now closed.
Your balance is now fully paid
I couldn’t believe it! I was shocked, and I started crying! “APRIL, COME HERE! YOU’RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE IT!” We hugged and held each other, as we started thanking and praising God.
This is why I write so many times about how great God is. How much He cares and loves us. He knows what we are going through and is just waiting for us to invite Him into our lives and into our situations. I’m not special. I’m not holy or a saint. I do try to walk justly with my God, though. I do read His word, the Bible, not religiously, but I do read it. Having a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, is not about being good enough or keeping a stupid man-made list of rules. I do commit sins, but I also confess those sins to God and ask Him to help me go and sin no more.
Again, Father God in heaven, “Thank you for being such a loving and caring God. And thank you, Jesus. Because of your sacrifice on the cross my “sin” balance has been fully paid!”
(The tests came back good. I have a strong heart. The issue was caused by one of my medications, which the doctor changed.)
Copyright © 2026 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
brady, mark a. 