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.
for
Judith
Nashua, NH
I am 51 years old and have been without insurance since 2001 when the company that I worked for then, downsized. I now work for a small employer with less than 15 people. They will not provide insurance coverage, except for the company principals.
I maintain my prescription for high blood pressure pills through a Health Stop Clinic. They routinely advise that it is important to find a personal doctor / gynecologist but also understand my situation and write an annual prescription. The doctor that I had in 2001 told me that now that I had no insurance that I would be paying a higher rate than those that they bill with insurance coverage. Not sure of this logic or if it is legal or still true. That was seven years ago. But I have promised myself that I will find a doctor before this current prescription runs out.
What I worry about is this. So I see a doctor. And they find something wrong. That will now be considered a pre-existing condition and thus if i should find an employer that provides health insurance, this condition would then be excluded from coverage. So the smarter thing for me to do is to not go to the doctor until I have insurance. This means that the condition is far worse and will probably cost more to fix (assuming it can still be fixed). So, I'm sure that the insurance companies are working up a clause for those "neglected preexisting conditions" just so that they don't have to cover it. O.K. I'm cynical, but I think you can see why.
I think I should also mention that not having insurance there are certain things that I do not do anymore, such as skiing and other potential bone-breaking fun things.
So, why don't I just suck it up and buy insurance? A family plan (for just my husband and I, no kids) at our age would cost more than my rent + car payment together. And that is just in case I need it, which I am hoping that I do not. In other words, I'd be betting against us being healthy. If either of us does need to use the insurance, then I would have the additional problem of paying the deductible. How much worse off am I going to be if I just take a chance on our health? Instead, we live carefully, eat well, we are not too overweight, we stay out of the sun too long, and don't ride our bicycles in traffic, etc. Right now, without paying for insurance I am betting that I will be healthy and accident free. But i worry because we middle age.
I would much rather live in a country with a medical system that lets me go to a doctor and check the status of a mole or have a breast exam or see a gynecologist as I go through menopause, and without a fear that anything slightly negative is going to preclude me from getting coverage on that one area for the rest of my life. I'd like to know that if I went hiking and broke my leg that getting patched up wouldn't cost me my life savings. I would love to live in a country that holds preventative health care a right for every person, as much as the ability to see a doctor whenever necessary, without first running to the bank and hiding any spare cash.
I think it can happen. We wage war without regard to cost -- why can't we invest in our own people?
Thanks for listening!
Judith G. Clark
*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.
