> It's hard for me to believe that a doctor couldn't afford medical care for her husband

Why's that? Between mortgage, repaying education debt, supporting children, recovering from a husband's failed business venture...what is hard to believe about having trouble paying for another expense, especially after you've been reassured that the expense would be at least partially recompensated and that turns out to not be the case?

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RiverStone a day ago | parent [-]

At a high income level, you should have more buffer for life’s events if you’ve made good decisions in your life. Generally speaking.

For example, that mortgage, did you stretch the very limit of your income or did you buy something reasonable?

Nobody forced you to buy a house, you could also rent or commute longer.

I lived in a crappy rental for five years and commuted and was able to fully pay off my student loans at the beginning of my career. As an example

Education debt can be put on forbearance or deferment under many life circumstances.

Given high income level, you also have many options available to you like personal loans.

	▲	foco_tubi a day ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Without assuming the specifics as you do, it’s possible and entirely believable that any buffer was wiped out by the husband’s business. Access to credit could also be affected. As long as we’re throwing anecdotes, access to forbearance and deferment is shaky at best. I’ve personally had inconsistent success across various income levels.
	▲	broadsidepicnic 10 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		yeah well I make top 1% of income earners in my country, but yet I don't have any liquid(able) assets worth high five figures. House, if I'd sell it, would likely be worth less than I paid for it before pandemic. I couldn't really pay for lets say $200k treatment for next week. It might be the string that broke camel's back, a sinkhole I could never climb out of.