Founders are often reticent to talk health insurance, but the consequences of living without it can be dire. What will it take to start the conversation?

Chef Justin Sutherland’s freak boating accident on July 3 made national news. The timing of it seemed particularly heartbreaking, hitting right as his red-hot career was reaching new heights. He had restaurant openings planned for Minneapolis and Portland, as well as a cookbook about to debut. That’s on top of his TV show, Fast Foodies, a streetwear brand, philanthropic projects, and ongoing operations of several Twin Cities restaurants including Handsome Hog. His friends and family announced that he would have to take time off to recover from multiple surgeries. They also started a GoFundMe to cover his mounting medical bills. And with that, the shock over the accident quickly turned to shock of another kind: How is it possible that a famous chef at the top of his game didn’t have health insurance? 

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