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
Silver Spring, MD
Where do I begin? My earliest memory: In 1982, I changed jobs and thus insurance companies not long after conceiving, and didn't know I was pregnant until after I'd changed jobs. When my daughter was born nine months later, I was told that my stay in the hospital would not be covered, although my new baby daughter's would. How does that work, I wonder? I think most insurance companies had to change that discriminatory approach, but they've certainly found other ways to get out of paying. Many, many ways.
For example, when I separated, I was told that either my husband or I could take the coverage for which I was paying. Since my husband needed health care at the time, we agreed that he would take the coverage, leaving my children and I to go without for more than a year.
Then there were all the contractor jobs I've had to take after it became possible to secure a permanent job in the Information Technology field, following the 2000 dot com debacle and the cooked books era. As time went on, fewer and fewer contracts included health benefits. Finally, I bought my own plan, which cost me $300 a month - and THAT was a deal.
Both my children, now in their early 20s, have had jobs where they did not have coverage, and being fairly new to their respective occupational fields, have both had to sustain layoffs whereby they had no coverage. Like me, they've had to put off taking care of health issues during those times.
This is a tragic situation, considering the fact that we are one of if not the richest country in the world. Absolutely disgusting.
I saw Michael Moore's Sick-o, and cried through most of it. I now have good insurance, but while working a job I love, am still a contractor. If the economy turns downward, there's always the chance that I'll lose my job. This time I'd be in serious trouble, with home that has lost euity and a healthh condition whereby I can bleed to the extreme if I don't take the appropriate medication.
And that's just MY story.
In all, without a doubt, when it comes to health care, our country is in one shameful condition.
*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.
