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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Joyce
Papillion, NE
I'm a 60 year old woman with diabetes multiple health issues such as high blood pressure, neuropathy, COPD, some digestion problems associated with the diabetes, arthritis, and kidney stones. Needless to say, I take home a suitcase full of prescriptions every month. Since my husband is still working and we can buy insurance through his employer, we have fairly good coverage. That plus the Payflex option has cut our costs tremendously.
But I don't think we will fare so well once he is retired and we have to use Medicare and buy supplemental insurance. There is no reason that our tax dollars couldn't be directed toward making sure that every American's health is covered and the out of pocket costs are greatly reduced or eliminated. Our tax dollars are wasted on thousands of private issues and subsidies for corporate interests, that could be better spent on making sure every American's health is covered.
Medical costs are exploding and the elderly, the poor and families with children are collateral damage. We will soon be part of one of those groups and aside from feeling like I am dragging my healthy husband down with the burden of health costs, I am tired of how we already have to struggle each month to cover what the insurance we PAY FOR does not. Personal issues aside, without reasonable health care, Americans are endanger from many major health issues....what happened to "promoting the general welfare"? We certainly know how to provide for the common defense.....cut that budget in half and you could fund health care, a works program to help people retool for a new society, rebuild infrastructure and fund clean energy....many things, all of which would promote the general welfare better than the waste and fraud in our current budget.
My story is the story of every American, because it is a story connected to many others whose health care needs must be addressed, my adult children, my grandchildren, my aging mother, my aging brothers and sisters and everyone else we are related to who are or were taxpayers who should be able to reap the most important thing from their tax dollars--the assurance of good health through a tax-based health care system.
*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.
