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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Laura
Elkhart, IN
I am a chaplain for incarcerated children and youth. Most of them have never known anything even close to health insurance. I had health insurance through the organization that was providing my chaplaincy training. When I completed my training the insurance plan ended so I went to a Church related insurer to obtain health insurance. I was confident there would be no problem since I was a minister and my health was excellent. My blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol were near perfect. They required me to have some tests done which revealed that I had a small birth defect in my heart. The insurance company told me that I could not receive coverage because of this condition. When they saw that this news effected me emotionally, they told me not to take it personally. ÒItÕs just the way the system works,Ó they said. Well, folks, it is VERY personal and the system does NOT workÉ.unless you have an upper level position for an insurance companyÉ.then it works very well.
My husband got laid off along with many others at his place of employment so now, our whole family is uninsured. We just hope we donÕt get really sick or injured. The only thing that will really fix the health un-care system in the U.S. is a single payer healthcare. We have to stand up to all the slick multi million dollar marketing campaigns that paint single payer options as a slide toward socialism. Many of our allies in the free world with capitalist economies have single payer healthcare systems which function very well and have plenty of choice for the health care recipients. The public and legislators need to get the word out about this in ways that capture the attention of the American public and stop getting sold a bill of goods by the insurance companies. We must elect people to government offices who have the spine to stand up to corporate influence and have the creativity and intelligence to transform our government and its policies so they are of the people, by the people and for the people rather than of the corporations, by the corporations and for the corporations. For many of us in this nation, Christian values effect our outlook. From that vantage point, our current health care system is extremely un-Christian because it is un-just.
*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.
