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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Curt
Pocono Summit, PA
I worked for 33 years in the state of New York before retirement. During my active employment years, I was fortunate to have family coverage employer-provided health insurance, paid for to a large extent by the employer. I was able to carry my health insurance plan into retirement, with me paying about 14% of the annual $15,000 family coverage premium. After retirement, I moved to Pennsylvania. When I need the services of a doctor here, I find most of the doctors to be what my insurance company calls out-of-network physicians and so what my insurance company allows of their health care delivery charge is usually less than 50% and I am given a check for 80% of that allowable amount and the rest of the charge must be paid by me. Recently, the allowable amount of a $700 charge for a prostate cancer procedure was a mere $280, leaving me to pay $420 to the doctor.
This is only one example of what I've encountered as a result of the lack of a national health insurance program and I am in a much better situation than many others. It is intolerable that a nation such as ours should have a significant proportion of its citizenry to be without affordable health insurance.
*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.
