Health, Money and Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse can cause health problems for victims. With health problems a victim may need money to pay for a doctor. That person may need money for medicine or to travel to a health clinic. Abusers sometimes may deny money or resources to take care of health problems or to take care of children.
People with health problems from abuse may need care right away. A person may also live with health problems from abuse for a long time.
These may include:
- Broken bones or teeth.
- Bruises or bleeding.
- Stab or gun wound.
- Head injury.
- Anxiety or depression.
- Eating disorder.
- Stomach or heart problems.
- Drug or alcohol use.
- Unplanned pregnancy.
- Sexually transmitted infection.
An abuser may keep a person from working so they may not be able to get health insurance. An abuser may also get a person fired from a job and this may lead to bad credit. A victim with out a job may feel trapped and unable to move into a safe home. All of this means an abused person may need money or health care but cannot get it.
Not allowing a person one or all of these things is abuse:
- Doctor
- Medicine
- Money
- Job
- A safe home
- Good credit
- Education
The Affordable Care Act says that a victim of domestic abuse must not be denied health insurance. The Allstate Foundation has online learning tools to help people who are survivors of abuse and for those in need of money or job search skills.
To find the domestic abuse program nearest you, visit Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence website and click on Find Help or use the Find Help map on the home page.
To reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline, call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) (TTY 1-800-787-3224).