[Sarah Barracuda]

She was a teacher and couldn’t afford 116 dollars..I feel sorry for her and her family but really..what was her hourly wage, 50 cents an hour?

[Mrs. Don-o]

I don't think the implication is that she was flat broke and couldn't scrape up $116. I assume that at age 38 she's survived many bouts of flu and other seasonal upper respiratory ills. She figured she could just fight it off as she always had before, especially since the manufacturers of that $116 medicine admit it isn't all that effective anyway.

There are millions of people --- not just "poor" people, and including my own family --- who would not readily shell out $116 for a medicine of dubious benefit for an ailment which --- in our experience --- "usually" goes away on its own.

This is unbearably sad for her family and friends. I'm interested in the septic shock aspect. How did that happen?

[silverleaf]

The implication is she couldnt afford but the reading suggests she didn’t want to pay it
Different

[Karoo]

A teacher is a state gov’t worker. They have good insurance.

[freeandfreezing]

She was a teacher and couldn’t afford 116 dollars...

The whole story is very sad. Ms. Holland was a teacher with 3 years of experience in the Weatherford Independent School District. According to their compensation plan Ms. Holland earned a salary of $49,436 for the 10 month school year.

Source

The cost of the copay should have been easily affordable for someone earning nearly $5,000 per month. And everyone with a job should save up at least $500 or $1000 for emergencies, and/or get a credit card and keep it for emergencies.

Getting the flu this year justifies tapping the emergency fund.

[2nd amendment mama]

Starting pay for a teacher in this school district is $48,000! Weatherford, TX Schools Compensation Plan

[MayflowerMadam]

She probably spent her last $1,000 on a new iPhone.