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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Mary
I became disabled in May, 1993. At the time I was a single mother of 3 school age children. After being approved for SSDI, I was placed into the 2-year waiting period for Medicare. Based on government estimates, over 16,000 of the 1.5 + million stuck in this waiting period (that only applies to the disabled) will die this year.
In addition, my SSDI benefits were $5.00 too high for my children to qualify for Medicaid and the only coverage available for them included a $1500 PER MONTH deductible which was more than my total monthly SSDI benefit.
Anyone who is disabled must wait 2 years after Social Security approval to covered by Medicare and is excluded from any supplemental coverage by nearly all insurers. There is no coverage for dependent children.
In my case, my monthly income went down more than 75%; my family medical coverage was gone; and my income was $5.00 over the state cutoff for medical coverage for my children.
My children are now grown. I remarried and have excellent secondary coverage through my husband's employer. But I cannot forget that there are millions of American's going through this., I became disabled in May, 1993. At the time I was a single mother of 3 school age children. After being approved for SSDI, I was placed into the 2-year waiting period for Medicare. Based on government estimates, over 16,000 of the 1.5 + million stuck in this waiting period (that only applies to the disabled) will die this year.
In addition, my SSDI benefits were $5.00 too high for my children to qualify for Medicaid and the only coverage available for them included a $1500 PER MONTH deductible which was more than my total monthly SSDI benefit.
Anyone who is disabled must wait 2 years after Social Security approval to covered by Medicare and is excluded from any supplemental coverage by nearly all insurers. There is no coverage for dependent children.
In my case, my monthly income went down more than 75%; my family medical coverage was gone; and my income was $5.00 over the state cutoff for medical coverage for my children.
My children are now grown. I remarried and have excellent secondary coverage through my husband's employer. But I cannot forget that there are millions of American's going through this.
*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.
