KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It is a frightening and growing trend of people losing their health and then losing their homes.

KMBC's Jim Flink talked with two people who got sick and went broke. Both unexpectedly became catastrophically ill. One suffered with cancer while the other suffered a major injury on the job. In both cases, the illnesses set off a chain reaction of events that led to the courthouse steps and the loss of their homes.

"That was the beginning of the nightmare," said Jim Metzler.

Metzler suffered a catastrophic workplace accident on a summer's day in 2001.

"Tore both my legs up, my urethra, my hips and pelvis," Metzler said.

For six weeks, Metzler lay in a coma. While there, doctors made a life-changing decision.

"Finally, they determined that they were going to have to take my legs," Metzler said.

What happened next to the Metzlers is textbook for many people facing a health crisis, Flink reported.

"The next step, the medical problems get worse and then the healthy spouse has to take leave from their job and the spouse's job starts suffering," bankruptcy attorney Dan Hall said.

Late last year, Metzler contracted a staph infection. His wife, Vicki, took so much time away from work, driving him to the doctor, she lost her own job.

On a cold January day at the Clay County courthouse, the Metzlers lost their home to foreclosure.

"Going once, twice, three times ... sold to Wells Fargo Mortgage for $130,000," the auctioneer said.

Hall said that foreclosures are on the rise. More and more people in medical crises are one step away from financial ruin.

Such was the case for Debbie Sauer. Her Lake Tapawingo home was auctioned off.

"I didn't feel like I did anything wrong except get cancer," Sauer said.

That is how it started a year ago. Sauer is a freelance photographer whose portfolio includes some of baseball's legends, presidents and portraits.

Sauer was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"Then six weeks of radiation after six months of chemotherapy and I didn't feel like I had the strength to work all that much," Sauer said.

By September, Sauer was unable to make payments on her 900-square-foot bungalow. So the mortgage company foreclosed.

"It's really for the needy. I don't know where you draw the line for needy, but I sure needed the money for house payments," Sauer said.

Flink reported that both Sauer and Metzler had health insurance to cover their direct medical expenses. But insurance does not cover the other problems related to catastrophic health events such as paying your mortgage.

Hall said that if you have a health crisis, be proactive. Talk with your mortgage company. Most have something called loss-mitigation departments who will try to work out a plan. Flink said that in addition, there are supplemental insurance policies, like AFLAC that will pay you money while you are ill. Hall said that if you don't have savings, it is not a good idea to go further into debt. Instead, think about selling your home at the first sign of trouble and downsize.

Web Links

Get Sick, Go Broke

Aflac

Western-Southern Life

Center for Responsible Lending

Legal Aid of Western Missouri

Consumer Credit Counseling Service

In Kansas City, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service can be reached at (816) 753-0535.

Long-Term Care, Long-Term Disability

State Farm Insurance

Countrywide Insurance

American Family Insurance