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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Heidi
Clinton, WA
My husband and I are self-employed, middle class people around 60 years old who have both endured long-time chronic conditions because we could not afford to address them. We are both very health-conscious non-smokers, who eat right and exercise regularly. We do what we can out-of-pocket and over-the-counter, but mostly just endure. I have year-round allergies which become severe in the summer, skeletal imbalances which have resulted in painful bunions and a tilted hip joint, which causes pain in my upper leg, and increasing vision problems due to cataracts. My husband has serious sleep apnea, severe pain in his Achilles tendon and shoulder from old injuries, pain in failing hip and knee joints, tendonitis and arthritis in wrists and fingers.
Our health insurance for a family of four cost $129.60 every other month in 1982 (that's $65 a month!), rising to $201.60 in 1985. Since then, increases have come in $10-50 increments, often twice a year. The last couple of years, our combined monthly premiums for two people has been around $800,with high deductibles and little preventative. My husband and I have two different policies, because he needs work coverage and is in more danger. The last two years, we have paid over $12,000 for our high deductible, low coverage policies and out-of-pocket medical expenses. That is one fourth of our total after-taxes income. We have no preventative, no dental, no vision care. We really don't know if we can make it to age 65, nor do we trust that Medicare, etc., will still be in place when we get there. My husband's physical health is in jeopardy, and I am scared. I feel as if I live in a third world country, and that after age 60, we should just wander off into the mountains and die.
The latest outrage was that Blue Shield refused to apply the charges for my colonoscopy (which cost $1600) to my deductible, and raised my deductible from 1500 to 1750 without my knowledge. Shortly after I paid my bill, I got a notice saying my policy will now cover colonoscopies, and will be going up $30 a month. Our monthly income has not increased in five years, and suffers when gas prices rise and the over-all economy is in trouble. Aarrgh.
*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.
