Elderly couple found dead in apparent murder-suicide, left notes about high medical bills

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An elderly husband and wife died in an apparent murder-suicide in Washington state, and police say they found notes about the couple's struggles to afford needed medical care.

An elderly husband and wife died in an apparent murder-suicide in Washington state, and police say they found notes about the couple's struggles to afford needed medical care.

Deputies went to the home of the man in Ferndale, a town about 100 miles north of Seattle near the Canadian border, and set up outside. A crisis negotiator attempted to contact the couple by phone and loudspeaker for about an hour, according to the sheriff's office post Wednesday night. Police are not releasing the names of the couple at this time. Two dogs found alive in the house were taken to a local humane society. Numerous firearms were also found in the house.

 

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Castro4Congress The Affordable Care Act made health insurance unaffordable. Why not place the blame where it lies?

Castro4Congress What a piece of crap that husband was, this is the 'ugly american'. People though-out the world suffer way more than this stain on the underside of underwear. And instead of just killing himself, he took his poor wife with him. He had the same reasoning...

What’s going to happen when Trump & Republicans gut Social Security & Medicare? Republicans have been trying to gut Social Security ever since Roosevelt put it in place, They fought it then and have been trying to get rid of ever since

🙄

Mine went crazy high after obummer care kicked in

I would rather go this way than to suffer in pain with people changing my diaper and cleaning after me. With dignity.

Damn imagine if those were your grandparents? Doing out Bonnie n Clyde style. They some ridahs

How many times are you going to retweet this ? You must be up to 500 by now

When an elderly people denied theirs need to live peaceful and respectful lives in great America than the system is doomed!Unfortunately!

This is so sad that in America, 'the best & most powerful nation on earth', in the words of some, this sort of thing happens. We must do better.

This should not happen.

This should never ever happen in America!

this is what i call a slow genocide. raise premiums among the working class, working poor, vets and senior citizens and they would either die due to lack of medicine or medical care or commit suicide because they're unable to afford to pay to see a doctor

Sorry, according to NBC News, is not in my vocabulary anymore as it is an oxymoron.

Sad. They had other options

The USA has the greatest health care system in the world. GOP

GOP murders two more Americans.

I wish we treated the elderly as other countries do with respect, they led the way for our future they shouldn’t be treated like this they should be respected and worshiped. This completely breaks my heart

Very sad to read this story, I know we all have different views when it comes to Health Insurance, but I always stated that medical care for children and the elderly SHOULD be FREE!! Seniors should not sell their homes or not take meds to survive, they should retire in peace.

RICH PEOPLE = SELFISH = LOW MORALS= PEOPLE DIE BECAUSE OF YOU !

This is so sad. I can’t imagine how helpless they must have felt.

😞

...

alelomi

I bet they met the Clinton's once...

No money for Healthcare for Americans But taxpayers spend $23,000 a month... Each To stop a.... 8 year old child From seeking asylum in the US Liberal Conservative republican democrat Republican Democrat Christians Christianity

I'm not surprised. Obamacare really hurt me. I have been through multiple doctors and specialists because of Obamacare and insurance companies. I've stopped taking meds because they aren't covered by insurance and cost more than my income. Others have the same issue.

Kankaym TrumpBodyCount

Just sad and unjust. People are chooseing suside because they cannot afford health care. Shame on for profit health care.

And America don’t want free health care 🤨 smh

God rest their souls. You know the system is broken when poor old people have to go to Smith & Wesson for their health problems.

So America really isn’t great again?

gop’s donors’ america is a sad place.

PamBattistella Another causality of Obama’s failure to pass universal insurance like the rest of the civilized world. I’m sure Joe Biden will make it all better with his corrupt policies, and we will likely applaud him for it as well. BernieSanders2020

Thank Trump

This is shouldn't even need to be a thing, but I super wish they had popped up here for them.

I’m sure you guys are happy about this story

But building a wall is obviously the most pressing issue. People love to try and push stats about immigrant or POC related murders but love to leave out the fact that millions die due to NEGLEGENCE. America allows its own citizens to die, and others get rich off it

Meanwhile The Kocks and The Waltons are wiping their asses with $100 bills earned entirely off y’alls backs. America, you’re broken.

Elderly? Fuck that. With my health insurance policy... I better check out by 60

Republicans want to take away healthcare just to stick it to Obama without any replacement in existence.

KattyKay_ BrittMcHenry re; your bizarre Canadian health care thing. This does not happen in Canada. Elderly couples may go together because they love each and want to in Canada - not because they can't afford to live

More deaths due to Obamacare it needs to go . You can keep your doctor!! One of Obama’s most famous lies

GOP Well done!

Pushing that democratic agenda I see.

And people believe Medicare/Medicaid for all will do away with this? Medicare doesn’t pay for everything.

Yes. Unaffordable health care and much needed medications can lead some to this fatal decision HealthcareForAll

lynn1329 Aww, how sad😥 They had to come to this. Why is it so hard to take care of people who really need medical care.😡

I know this sounds cruel, but is technology keeping us alive at a price that is just too high?

Saw this tweet 15 times in 2 days. We get it, we saw it, stop spamming twitter

Running this story for days now!

So-called President CONald Trump and his fantastic health care plan.

Tracy9672 Sad..RIP mr.and mrs.

soledadobrien Murder-suicide?

This makes me absolutely sickening! This should have never happened! Someone should have helped them. Makes me so sad to hear about there struggles. We need to take better care of our elderly. Praying for peace and comfort for their families.

^The Baby Boomers should all liquidate a portion of their collective wealth of paper securities and convert them into a durable public health infrastructure. Eliminate risk. Invert insurance into banking. GOPHELP HELPCmteDems MikeCrapo SenSherrodBrown usmayors AARPadvocates

kharyp I am a RN. I am sorry to say: I believe: this kinda of situation is only going to get worse!!!

texasfightnow I've been sobbing off & on all night about the sorry state of things in America & I honestly don't know if I could make it through the article. How in the world are there people like me - regular people - who think all of this is OK?

soledadobrien Sad

randydsmith No surprise in this country

😪

soledadobrien Here you go MoscowMitch and LindseyGrahamSC - here's what you're apparently looking for with your (no)health policies. Just let 'em die, or kill themselves. Must be nirvana for you....

Wow, this shouldn’t happen😡

This type of suicide will increase 10 fold

This is so sad

DrRobDavidson this will break your heart. This is not ok!

This is so sad!

soledadobrien Just downright sad 😢!

kharyp Shocker Said no one the USA cares more about guns than health care

Are you HAPPY TRUMP?

So tragic.

I’m sorry this couple Idid not drive to Canada 🇨🇦 gone to local hospital; their care would not be free but I bet it would have been a lot cheaper and seniors get cheaper drugs! Sad that America lets them down at that age probably hard working people!

Welcome to America

While you're elected grand wizard is fastidiously caging toddlers and withholding toothbrushes, your fellow American citizens you proclaim to love don't have basic medical resources. Yep, we're making America something, damn sure not great

Obamacare

2nd time you posted this...same post.

soledadobrien Universal Healthcare. This does not happen in Canada. It’s worth higher taxes.

This is a real tragedy for America when elderly people are so stressed with medical problems they can't cope.......?

I thought the ACA was supposed to solve these problems.

JoshMankiewicz Just heartbreaking 💔

soledadobrien Oh my god

soledadobrien It's a shame. I get it though. There's a lot of us facing that option.

GloriaSeattleWA 😲😭👉💔💔🙏

soledadobrien Because republicans! GOP

soledadobrien 😔

This is why it’s pathetic for Americans to act like we are the best country in the world. Americans shouldn’t be killing themselves over medical bills and creating gofundme accounts so they can stay alive. That’s a broken system and we are far from a perfect country.

This is my first year ever without health insurance. 😭 My kids are adults and they don't have any either. Trump is killing our Country and Americans. I feel heartbroken hearing people dying because they can't afford meds or Dr visits 😭💔

Oh yeah 'America is great again ' yet feeling so far from great. More like America is looking sadder and sadder again...😔

Thats MAGA Trump's promisses

Horrible, this stuff shouldn't be happening in America. We have to protect the elderly and the Young people in America.

This clip needs further explanation. Elderly folks are on Medicare. How is it they can’t afford healthcare?

Unfortunately we’re likely to see more of that. Thanks Trump

So very, very sad. 😭💔

I’m really sick of America going down the toilet with this story and the mass shootings none of this should be happening at all !!!!

I'm a conservative. I find this to be terribly sad. I am one conservative out of hardly any other conservative that believes we need universal health care. No system is perfect because well, we're humans but the system we have currently is a massive failure.

On the bright side, they had no trouble buying the gun.

It’s an amazing exquisite Hell and a moral outrage. No one should have to see suicide as their only choice.

Why did you leave Gilroy victims off your memorial on the news tonight? That's was lame as fuck!

Really sad...

2.) Tragic tho’ it is, it doesn’t surprise me at all. This couple was likely not only afraid of bankruptcy, but fed up to the eyeballs with fighting Medicare, insurance and their providers to no avail, not to mention threatening collection letters. 3.)

Republicans don’t care. They want to get rid of Obamacare just to say they got rid of it and without any replacement ready.

Very sad and tragic. May they Rest In Peace.

They had Medicare, what is problem, Democrats want this same care for all!!

This is America.

And it will only get worse if the GOP has any say! Unfortunately ore-existing conditions & terminal illness doesn’t discriminate along political party lines so GOP will be killing off their own.

Its terrible when a shithole country has elderly couples having to commit suicide as the last resort because they cant afford medical.

💔 heartbreaking Healthcare ThisIsAmerica 😔😢

But don’t worry, the pharmaceutical industry is thriving 👍🤦🏻‍♂️

I thought Obamacare was going to fix that? It tripled my prem to now $1980 per month with a ridiculously high deductible, and no one accepts it! Now the democrats 8 short year later want a 2nd chance at totally remaking the HC industry? Hell no!

Trump & Republicans fault...totally their faults!

MLCzone I would like to say this is exception to norm but it’snot the case. People think Medicare is a panacea but not w/rising costs of care❗️ I see more couples divorcing so they can get Medi-Cal to be able to afford growing healthcare costs & get free in home help❗️Itsthecostsstupid

The problem was/is the State of Washington had no message telling folks where they could get help. Now it is someone else’s fault.

This is sad. We have people like Epstein and Trump spending millions on prostitutes and we have old couple like these two who killed themselves because they have no money for medical care. Meanwhile corrupt Republicans like Trump, McConnell, Johnson, McCarthy, Rubio cut medicare.

😢😔💔

Horrible

MAGA sure didn't make America 'great' for them. May they rest in peace

This is bad

Heartbreaking

‘Merica

So sad 😢

💔😭💔😭!

Thanks Obama?

Trump and GOP's America.

America.

docrocktex26 There is a crack in the dam. This won't b the last💔💔😢😢

Never a valid reason for murder!

Blame Obama and the unaffordable care act. All it did was escalate cost for everyone.

Well since they were covered by Medicare this seems like a damning indictment of socialist medicine, right?

Mordern life shouldn't be so God dang hard to the freaking point that you have to make choices like this !

No reason to kill yourself. Godiswatching

Welcome to TrumpsAmerica god damm!!! Os getting worst and worst!!!!

This just pisses me off that they came to that decision because they couldn’t afford health care. And we all know there are those who are chronic ER users and don’t pay a dime. Sad. Condolences to the family b

This is so sad

This is our reality because the greedy jack asses like Moscow Mitch and Buttface Lindsay have put the $$$ in their pockets and broke healthcare!!! This is all ridiculous. Greed ultimately will destroy us

SMFH... and crying 😢

They should have moved to Mexico, then go back to California illegally. They would have gotten all the free healthcare they needed..

The first person you see when you are admitted to the hospital is someone who coaches you how to shed your assets to qualify for Medicaid

So they turn to homicide? That makes no sense.

This was my worst fear. My elderly parents were struggling with massive amounts of medical debt. I felt so helpless. My Mom passed away recently. My Dad and I had very frank discussions about money and their medical debts. They were being pushed into a corner. THIS IS A TRAGEDY

Very sad. No family or other resources where they could have gotten assistance? Many services are available in most States for Seniors, such as delivery of meals, & someone should have been able to do something, Again, no family?

💔😢🕯️

Please, , post this sob story 30 more times. 🙄

Blame realDonaldTrump

As heartbreaking as this story is trump’s biggest supporters are these old people. I have seen how they go nuts for this conman, imo

If Dems have their way, single payer health coverage, this tragedy will become the norm. Obamacare was a disaster!

Disgrace to our health care system, where corporate executive get top dollars like United Health care & others. Disgrace to all politician who are hooked to drug cos., physician money etc.

So sad. Pathetic.

djrothkopf OMG. This is horrific.

This is who we have become with no relief or help in sight for people like this couple. A shameful reality of our healthcare for people in desperate need. 💔

This is awful. Even with Medicare, if they do more research no doubt this is due to scripts or diabetes meds. I think my 84 yo grandmother pays $1000 for a 3 month supply of insulin.

djrothkopf Love to live in a normal country

AngieMeader All those Republicans who are fighting Medicare for all? Shame on you!!!

Dam

Trumpers, give us all the details of Trump’s healthcare plan. Oh, there isn’t one after 3 years. Now, quit running your mouth about Obamacare.

soo bad here on elderly! they, ve lose food stamps housing ect!

LindseyGrahamSC GOP realDonaldTrump senatemajldr

Everywhere you go, waiting rooms, restaurants, bars, gas pump TV, etc, Fox News is blaring...indoctrinating naive people to believe that anything that makes your life better is evil and socialism. This country is doomed.

This will become very common if Trump and McConnell get re-elected.

When they talk about repeal and replace the healthcare plan. This is the GOP means.

djrothkopf ThisIsAmerica 😢💔

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