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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Jon & Pat
Boise, ID
I am one of those insured Americans who went broke paying for health care. I had good coverage with a highly regarded insurance company through my church denomination. My spouse had a complex auto-immune conditon for which there is very little science. It was induced by presticide poisoning, confirmed by blood samples.
The insurance company dismissed claims as non-typical or experimental. She required isolated, "boy in the bubble"-like housing, immune system treatments, physical therapy, spcial elimination diets, and PETR scans to identify brain liesions from her many siezures. She required oxygen, and when at homsse after 23 months, require specialty air cleaning equipmjent. We only billed for medication and direct teatments, but unless I threatened to sue, even those were, by and large, denied. Of ourse you cannot sue a health insurance company!
Between hands-on treatment, special housing, special equipment and clothing, special matress and bedding, and ongoing injections and oxygen (and tanks), I spent approximately #240,000 over and abode any small pitance I occasionally recieved from our insurance company.
So I went broke!
The good news is that I am a professionally trained persons and I was able to keep my job and bring home a paycheck. But the car, the house, the life insurance -- all gone.
In France, the special setting, special food, special clothing would be covered as part of the treatment. And the physician comes to your house!
The old compromise, worked out by manufacturers -- primarily auto, steel and GE -- and unions, put the burden on the imployer. Walter Reuther, who could see where the demographics would go once the workforce began to age, held out for universal covereage mandated by the federal government, rather than leaving worker health up the the vagaries of the bargaining table. He lost
Last year I lost $500 income due to changes in Medicare and Social Security.
I support universal coverage as a requirement and health care as a right for all Americans.
Thank you for listening. We, too, will be listening.
*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.
