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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Jean
Syracuse, NY
I am a program director at a not for profit. One of our staff recently went on disability and is not expected to return to work. She has exhausted all of her FMLA benefits and we extended her leave w/o pay for another three months, maintaining our contribution to her health insurance plan. Unfortunately, as a program, we must fill her position and cannot extend her leave again. She makes just enough money so that she does not qualify for any public health insurance benefit, so will have to COBRA and pay for health insurance out of her own pocket - next week she shifts to a long term disability program that pays 60% of her previous earnings. I have no idea how she will manage to pay for her basic expenses of rent and food as well approximately $500.00 month for health insurance - that doesn't even take into account her co-pays for medications and doctor's visits. This woman is a nurse, in her 50's and has always been a contributing member of society - there appears to be no help for her until she has been disabled for two years and qualifies for Medicare. I am angry at a system that appears to discard people when they can't make their own way anymore. I wish i could authorize that our program pay the employer share, but we are grant funded - this won't pass muster with our funder and we can't afford to pay any longer. I am also so sad for our employee - she's ill and not sure how she will pay for her care.
*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.
