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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M. Lisa
Fort Bragg, CA
I had to take out an interest only loan for prosthetic disc replacements, because Medicare considered them experimental two years after they had been approved by the FDA in this country and 16 years after they have been in use in Germany.
They would have paid more for two fusions, and started me down the road from one fusion to the next, like everyone else I know who has had a low back fusion, and I was only 48 and didn't want another back surgery every 5 years.
So I now have an interest only loan, (all I could afford) to pay for a surgery that has cut my prescription bill from $1000.00 a month, to $100.00 a month. But Medicare doesn't care about that, they don't pay my prescriptions, and I'm to young to get a supplemental health policy that will. Being on disability, I can't afford any other policy, and no one will cover my preexisting condition anyway.
I make $21,000 a year in SSDI and 3rd party disability and I have $20,000 (as of today's market) in a ROTH IRA, so that disqualifies me from Medicare's prescription plans, (which only pay of the medication bill anyway) and all other state help.
If my doctor felt this was the right surgery for me, and the FDA approved it, how can Medicare, or any other insurance company refuse to pay for it? That seems like practicing medicine without a license to me.
I am not totally off disability, I had been in excessive pain with no activity for 15 years prior to this surgery and now, two years after the surgery am much more active, slowly losing weight gained by inactivity, going to the pool several times a week, and starting to reclaim my life. My medical bills have gone from over $15,000 a year (paid for by my family, thankfully I have one that could help) to about $1,500 a year. No thanks to Medicare or my long term disability carrier.
I have a good chance of getting off disability in the next two to three years as my body regains strength and stamina, a difficult task at 50 years old after many years of inactivity, but I am still left with a $60,000 interest only loan, for something that the FDA approved but Medicare wouldn't pay for. I was a CPA, I may be able to find someone who will hire me at 53 after not having practiced for 20 years, but it won't be at a wage that will help me get that loan paid off, and I still won't be insurable for any problems that I may have with my back in the future.
*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.
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Read the Statement of Common Purpose.
