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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Heiderose
Efland, NC
Trapped inside the health(un)care machine
Years ago, my then 12-year-old son was hit by one car and run over by the next vehicle when crossing a street.
He spent a month in a coma and I found out how little we really know about brain injuries. The neurosurgeon assigned to his case required CAT scans and later on MRIs to treat my son; however, my insurance company decided that these tests were unnecessary. Just like that. No tests, no treatment. One kid in a coma and no way to find out the extent of his injuries. I had to sign a waiver for the insurance company and pay for the tests out-of-pocket (which took me years) so that my child could be treated.
In a more recent development, my husband has muscular dystrophy and has been confined to a wheel chair for the past 5 years. He works full-time and needs to be independently mobile. He drives a modified van that cost us $42,000. We took out an equity loan to pay for that. In the summer of 2006 he submitted an application to his insurance company for a new wheel chair because the old one was causing pressure sores. (It was a hand-me-down that is not quite right for him because it was built for a shorter person.) He went in for a physical as requested. Months went by and we heard nothing about his application. Finally, we found out that the person who did the intake neglected to forward the application. So we waited some more. Seven months after filing the application, my husband gets a letter saying his claim was denied because there was no evidence that he required a wheel chair. Apparently, the person who gave the physical neglected to include the information about his disability from the MDA clinic! Of course he appealed. So back to square one. The deadline for the appeal was closing in, so he called to make sure the application was being processed. First they told him that there was no appeal; then when he produced copies, they 'found' it on someone's desk. Oops. After a year and half of waiting, he finally got his $32,000 chair (he decided against the option that would allow him to stand assisted by the wheel chair because that was another $6,000-8,000).
We paid out-of pocket for the deductible, co-pay, and the "special options" (like raising the chair to reach cabinets and shelves and reclining to prevent pressure sores). We got some help from the MDA foundation thanks to all of you who donate.
We thought we were all squared away. Now all of a sudden we are getting statements that seem to indicate that our insurance carrier may not have paid their share in full. It is very confusing and we are getting conflicting information. Getting to talk to someone who can adequately explain what is going on seems to be impossible.
*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.
