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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pamela
kailua-Kona, HI
i live in Kailua Kona, on the Big island of Hawaii where there is a huge health care crisis. Doctors are leaving because their reimbursement from insurance companies is inadequate and their high cost of insuring themselves against litigation makes it difficult for them to survive.
There are two hospitals near where i live. Both are doing serious cut backs in employees in order to stay afloat. The reason, they say is that Insurance companies do not reimburse them enough to cover their services. And their emergency rooms are filled with patients every day that they treat who cannot afford a doctor and with no insurance coverage. Everyone here knows that the cut backs will put a strain on the already overworked doctors and nurses and affect patient care.
I developed a serious heart condition 4 years ago and i have been on disability since. Even though i was covered by my job. i still had to pay transportation and lodging when i flew to the mainland for the four surgeries i needed there. I receive 800 a month for disability. i now have to spend 200 a month for insurance coverage out of my pocket because my job will no longer cover me. When this temporary insurance expires in January, who will take me on with such a pre existing condition?? Can you imagine what i will have to pay to be covered? Also i pay out at least 300 a month in mounting medical bills and another 50 for medications. So 550 of my 800 a month goes to medical bills. That leaves me 250 a month to live on. And i have a "good policy with great coverage". Truth is no matter how much money you make and how well you are insured. the coverage will not be enough if something like this happens. i applied for social security 3 years ago and they are still processing my claim. it will be another year before they make a final determination.
it seems like my last surgery in January is working and i am going to be well again soon. It will take me years to dig myself out of the debt i now have.
my husband and i had to declare bankruptcy because of my mounting medical bills and my inability to work because of my condition. If i lived in Canada, or England, France or Australia my story would not be the same. Our system is broken. It doesn't work. Private insurance companies have created havoc on the system. They need to be removed from the equation altogether or seriously regulated. We live in America. We can do better than 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.
