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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Tina
Falls Church, VA
My neighbors are average blue collar workers living in the 'high rent' suburbs of Northern Virginia. For 25 years, they managed to survive paycheck to paycheck with a little money set aside for emergencies until she became disabled from her job as a county school bus driver. Her husband drove a dump truck for local development and construction companies until the most recent recession struck the industry and he was laid off. They had always depended on her medical insurance through the county to cover their health care costs. Since she became disabled in December 2006, she received a disability payment of approximately $2400 per month. I was appalled and shocked to learn that out of that meager $2400, she had to now pay $1500 to keep her insurance coverage (for the family). Because their need for health care has been so great (her back and leg problems due to her employment, as well as her diabetes and their son's undiagnosed migranes), their health insurance premiums took precedence over all of their other bills. Most of these other bills (primarily utility payments) have now slipped into non-payment and money for food and gas are in critical shortage. And recently, the ultimate sacrifice was made --- they now have their home on the market with hopes that it will sell in time to avoid foreclosure. Imagine how their lives would be different today if the health care that they desperately NEED were affordable to them.
It's an abomination that a country as 'great' as this ignores the basic needs of its citizens while succumbing to the greed and distorted power of its corporations. PLEASE do everything that you can to provide this simple human right - right here in the United States.
*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.
