When the benefit album 'Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation' was released in 1996, the compilation did not benefit Vic Chesnutt, although it was focused on him. A non-profit series founded by singer-songwriter Victoria Williams, Sweet Relief sought to assist ailing musicians in need of health care. Chesnutt, a paraplegic, was sympathetic to the cause but at the time, he had his own health insurance. 'Sweet Relief II' was a compilation of other musicians (including R.E.M., Garbage, Smashing Pumpkins and the Indigo Girls) covering Chesnutt's songs to raise money for the cause. And, in doing so, it raised Chesnutt's public profile.

But more than a decade later, Chesnutt could actually use that money instead. "Right now, I'm in huge trouble in that the hospital is suing me for $35,000, which is terrifying, and the rub is that I have health insurance," Chesnutt tells Spinner. "I have hospitalization insurance, for which I pay almost $500 a month, and then on top of that I still owe the hospital $35,000. That is truly an insane system. I did everything right and I'm still under the gun."

Chesnutt says he thinks President Obama's plan "is kind of a joke" although he is a big fan of the public option. "We need to target health care costs, not just insurance for everyone," says Chesnutt. "Why are our health care costs out of control? If [President Obama] had the public option, that would not do a thing to bring down health care costs."

In sunnier news, Chesnutt has just released his latest album, 'At the Cut,' with a support cast that features Guy Picciotto (Fugazi), members of Silver Mt. Zion Orchestra and members of Godspeed You Black Emperor.

As for getting some relief for his health care costs, Chesnutt says that he actually did talk to Sweet Relief about his recent situation. "They were just like, 'Woah! That's too big of a problem for us -- you're going to have to talk to somebody else about that,'" recalls Chesnutt. Ouch.