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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Elizabeth
North Bend, WA
I have insurance that I canÕt afford to use. Sad but true for so many of us. A few months after graduating from college in 1994 I was diagnosed with CrohnÕs Disease. IÕve gone through 3 different employer plans, a few months of COBRA, and an individual plan since then. IÕve had coverage for lab work declined, had months where my pharmacy copays took _ of my paycheck (bye bye groceries). IÕm still paying off 3 surgeries from 1998 and 1999 and 2 from 2001 that I had to put on credit cards because the hospital would only spread them out over 6 months maximum plus the deductibles and copays and coinsurance for every test or hospital stay in between and after. I recently had to liquefy my IRA to pay off the bulk of the bills for another surgery in April of this year as well as the ER visit that preceded it, and I still have payments that will eat up my grocery budget for the next six months to pay off the hospital portion of things. IÕve been living with the knowledge that I will eventually need another surgery like the one in 1998 that resulted in 2 additional surgeries due to complications from the first to remove an area of stricture that will, if it follows the pattern of my prior experience, also involve multiple hospital visits with the occasional stay before they finally decide surgery is the only option. Problem is that I donÕt have my IRA to fall back on anymore, my credit card debt is barely budging because what room I clear is going to pay for the gas and groceries that got knocked off my budget by my 6 month payment plan with the hospital. I feel a bit like a hamster on a wheel. CrohnÕs wonÕt kill me, but my ÒshareÓ after my insurance pays has kept me locked in a job that provides health insurance because I canÕt afford the individual plan that I would need if I returned to school. It has me putting things like dental care and food in the luxuries column. That said, I feel incredibly lucky that the medicine that works for me is covered by with an $80 copay for 3 months as long as I use mail order, and get it reauthorized by the insurance company once a year (with thanks to my doc for fighting the automatic denial with copies of my medical records).
*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.
