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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Cheri
Mendocino, CA
My husband caught a virus or bacterial infection and in a week went from flu like symptoms to complete renal shutdown.
He spent 10 hours in emergency in our local rural hospital, and then had to be helicoptered out to a hospital in Santa Rosa.
He spent 5 days in ICU with 15 tubes, continual dialysis and breathing machines.
5 days in a regular hospital room doing PT and OT.
The local hospital bill (for the 10 hours) is over $20,000. I haven't gotten all the bills for the rest, but there will be 6 different doctor bills as well as th 10 day hospital stay.
I am assuming it will be about $200,000.
We have no insurance, at all. We both work for ourselves and make less than $23,000 a year. Any time I looked for insurance, the premiums were at least half of our income.
So, I will have to live at least 15 years longer than I thought, just to pay this off.
The state "help" CMSP, in California, will probably tell me that I make "too" much money to qualify for any assistance.
I have friends in the UK, that are apalled at this, as it would have cost them NOTHING.
No one should have to begger themselves just to have some assistance. NO one should have to stress more over the money aspect than the health aspect of their loved ones.
*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.
