These stories come from the real people who live with a broken health care system. Some have health insurance and some do not. Many of these stories suggest potential solutions* that lead to quality, affordable health care we can count on. One thing we all agree on is that the we cannot trust the insurance industry to fix themselves. To learn more about what Health Care for America Now stands for read our Statement of Common Purpose.
We wanted to give you a chance to speak for yourself, in your own voice, about the need for Health Care for America Now. Do you have something to say? Tell us your story.
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Anonymous
Oak Park, IL
In 2001, we had PPO insurance and paid $800 per month for 2 of us. My husband became ill and was misdiagnosed. When finally hospitalized, he was in congestive heart failure that had been caused by a virus that attacked his heart. Our policy provided that we had a $1000 deductible and a $3000 out of pocket maximum. We were in an in-network hospital with in-network doctors and we were charged more than $35,000 for the treatments that he received.
The company (Unicare) refused to honor the plain language of their policy which stated that after the $3000 maximum was met they would pay 100%. When they denied a charge, they billed us as if we were not insured at all so we didn't even get the benefit of the negotiated rate. In other words, for some services, we paid more than the insurance company would have paid.
Of course, after a diagnosis of congestive heart failure, no other health insurance company would touch us. We were stuck with Unicare until this year when my husband went onto medicare. They raised our rates frequently and the last premium that we paid, last December was more than $1400 for the month.
*Health Care for America Now is not responsible for the content of these stories. These stories are submitted by individuals in the online audience and have been edited in some cases. Health Care For America Now does not endorse any of the solutions or policy positions suggested in the content of these stories. Health Care for America Now is a coalition of organizations that agree to the Statement of Common Purpose.
See our coalition partner list.
Read the Statement of Common Purpose.
