Guaranteed Healthcare

26 year old healthy female, law school grad, denied health insurance from EVERY company due to history of depression and ongoing need for medication. One pill a day. I would even pay for the drugs($600/month) if I could get an MD to write the RX! Gee, therapy would be really helpful too, but forget that. So depression is escalating of course, and life is pitiful.

I've had heavy bleeding for the last two months, found out in the ER that I have an ovarian cyst and a uterine fibroid. I need to have them surgically removed and can't find any solutions to my problem. Can't get medicaid, and can't find a OB/GYN who will take payments. I feel like i'm bleeding to death. Any suggestions?

I signed up for BC/BS FL on 4/1/08. At that time I was informed by the agent, of 2 year exclusions for my knee cartilage surgery & a polypectomy b/c they found a polyp during my 12/205 colonoscopy. On 3/31/09, per the doctors orders and per the guidelines of the cancer institute as well as every doctor on planet earth, I tried to schedule a colonoscopy.

Recently I was taken to the hospital. I had just gotten off work and when I got home I was in horrible pain in my left Side. the doctor found 3 Large kidney stones in my left kidney that are to large to pass. I was taken and surgical procedure done where they placed a Stent in my left kidney pushing the stone back into my kidney.

I'm a technical writer and editor and am lucky to be working as a contractor in aerospace. I have insurance, but it's so bad it doesn't even cover 10 percent of the total costs of my surgery.

In the summer of 2007, I had a severe skin response on my leg to an unknown allergen -- poison ivy, stinging nettle, or other plant -- and missed the local clinic hours. In the emergency room, I was examined and given a tetanus shot. Prednisone was recommended and a script was given. Since I was going to be going home to a shower, I asked that the wounds on my leg not be dressed.

May 16, 2010

To: California Nurses Association

Via Web Form: http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/node/add/user-story

I am a 21 year old female with health issues that need be adressed. I went to see a doctor who has charged me 100 dollars ( which I have not been able to pay him yet ) for a diagnosis. There is no more that he can do.

I once worked as an adjunctive therapist in a very small private practice. The primary provider was routinely denied coverage for patients in a quite predictable pattern, and it would take insurance companies up to 9 months to pay for care provided that was precertified.

I am part owner of a very small business in North Texas. Our company does well to make payroll each month for our 5 employees but providing health insurance is simply too expensive.

I have been dealing with lower back pain going on three years.I did the pain management that is a joke. Had MRI, X Rays, CT Scans.I went to a Neurosurgeon and he said I needed Pro-Disc-L Total Replacement. But I was denied with UMR Insurance. Said it was experimental. So I am waiting to go back to the doctor to see what is next.

In 1983 I had an aortic graft for an aneurysm of the aortic root resulting from Marfan syndrome. In 1992 I experienced a dissection of the ascending aorta which was repaired the following year. A year or two later, I began experiencing very unusual pains in my abdominal area, which only lasted a few minutes at a time but which were extremely intense.

I am a single father and small business owner who has been operating his own company since 2003. While I could afford healthcare for myself and my daughter, I have opted not to get it until I could offer it as a benefit to all my employees. In the time since I started the company, I have watched costs for healthcare rise annually at a rate that puts it just out of reach for us.

I fell down my basement steps five years ago. As I went down I kept landing on my tail bone. At first I thought I was fine, but it turned out I had an annular tear in L4-L5, L5-S1,with a herniated disc at L5-S1. After doing PT, aqua therapy, accupunture, massage,epidurals, being adjusted, nothing was helping. I'm in a pain management clinic.

I worked for the University of North Carolina, insured by them and I needed 10 infusions for my anemia it cost me $1,100.00 in copays after my insurance coverage. I treated at the University Hospital.

I am a law student who is trying to finish her legal studies. While trying to work full time and go to night school, I found out that an injury I received while exercising and maintaining my diabetes caused more damage than first diagnosed. I started dealing with L.A.

On 9/11 my family was at my cousin's funeral in Nutley, NJ. My brother-in-law was there when the events took place across the river in NYC. Ike returned a few days later for about a few years to his job, working on NYC elevators. Three years ago, he came down with B.O.O.P. bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia.

I was hit by another driver last December. I naively went to a clinic to get checked out. As soon as it came out that this was treatment sought related to an auto accident, the office personnel acted as if I had leprosy. I was treated as if I was some kind of lunatic for coming in to a doctor.

I have employer provided insurance for myself. However my deductible is $5000 for hospital stays and outpatient procedures. My family qualifies for medicare with a share of cost. Our share of cost is just shy of 1 month of take home pay. If it wasn't for hyperthyroidism, & asthma I wouldn't even bother with private insurance.

I received a notice from the Houston County Board of Education (in GA) today offering the seasonal nasal FluMist vaccine to students and parents. How nice.

The costs for the vaccine are as follows:

Medicaid/PeachCare recipients: $0

State Health Benefit Plan (United Healthcare/Cigna) $0

I am a schoolteacher and was diagnosed with walking pneumonia today. My doctor prescribed Avelox, a new fast acting medicine to treat respiratory infections.

My usual copay is $10, but Oxford said I had to pay $50 for the medication that my Doctor prescribed me, and the pharmacy suggested another medication (one with more side effects).

I don't know if you will accept this or not, but I thought I'd tell you a story that you could share with your fellow Americans. It is about the Canadian Healthcare system. No healthcare system is perfect, and ours certainly does have "SOME" things to iron out. But I love our system.

I have tumors, we are assuming they aren't cancerous, but we can't tell because I can't afford to go get them checked, but they want them removed anyway. I had an ultrasound as the pain is so bad that I couldn't stand it. That I will be paying for a long time through the hospital. I can't afford the doctor's bill so I can't have surgery. Life isn't fair.

September 8, 2009

I am a 54 year old woman who was diagnosed with ovarian and uterine cancer. I was terminated from my job as an assistant store manager of a local thrift store that professes to spread good will throughout the community.

I have worked for over 30 years and have the option to retire from the State of Virginia, but the cost of the monthly insurance premium for my family will take most of my retirement money. What is left is not enough to pay for food and other living expenses.

Hello, my name is Shelly Fortner. I'm searching for an oral surgeon in Kansas that could possibly help me. My 53 year old father recently discovered a mass in his jaw on a recent visit to a dentist here in Arkansas City, KS.

Let me preface this with the fact that my husband and I are happy, healthy, mentally stable, non drug addicted average everyday American folks that were just living our lives, paying taxes, raising a family, etc. In the summer of 2004 my husband was not working due to a serious injury at work when he crushed both of his hands in machinery on the job.

I am college educated and worked from the time I was a teenager until the age 34. After a car accident involving a deer, my life changed forever. A spinal cord injury and a seven month stay in the hospital, Would change most peoples opinion about healthcare. Reassured that I had health insurance I concentrated on rehabilitation.

My 14 year old daughter tore her ACL during the first soccer game of her season. After surgery, she went for physical therapy for 6 weeks and then a follow up visit with the surgeon. Surgeon writes detailed prescription with multiple diagnosis codes for 4 more weeks PT. CIGNA denies additional therapy stating: her rehabilitation goals have been met.

During my 5 year employment at a company here in the U.S., I could not afford healthcare for the last 4 years spent at this company. Here is why: At the time of my initial employent with this company the premiums were barely affordable based on my pay rate at the time.

Middle America: 49 year old father of 3 boys, ages 17, 13, 10. Married twenty-five years. Self-Employed. Over $100K per year. Living the American Dream. Carving out a living for my family and doing it my way. The self-paid way. The American Dream. Being what I want to be. Living the dream.

My parents were farmers and had the same health insurances for over 40 years. My dad was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer. after a few months of various treatments his doctor determined he was terminal and released him to a care center since he needed professional care. she gave him a few weeks to live.

All I know is I don’t have healh insurance because I can’t work, I have stress seizures from on the job injury 30 years ago, I have an arachnoid cyst on the left temporal lobe of my damaged brain, a tracheostomy with paralyzed vocal cords, and I can’t get coverage to help me with my problems because I weigh too much.

I made the mistake of choosing MHBP as my insurance for 2009. To date, I still have not found a doctor. I did find one who will write prescriptions but after taking my co-pay, his nurse told me he did not perform routine exams. What doctor will write prescriptions but not perform exams. If I had been a drug addict, I could have gone to town w/this guy.

In May of 2007, Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, told me I must have bypass surgery or I would die. Period. And so, being ignorant and stupid at that time, I went. I had five bypass coronary surgery. God watched over me, for I wasn't one of the 2 to 4 percent that died right there on the table.

I was forced to leave the Providence Clinic in Monroe in February after 32 years of family practice because of pressures to see more patients. I can’t blame them because primary care reimbursement is so low that the alternative to the treadmill is going under.

I am 62 ( three years from Medicare ) with many health problems, I sell health insurance and I can't get a policy to cover me. In my past, I was a small business owner with around 50 employees we always had health insurance for our folks so I have spent millions on insurance but now the company is closed due to the economic conditions and I can't get insurance.

WORKED AT UPS FOR 10 YEARS AS A SUPERVISOR. 50-LB ITEM FELL FROM 20 FEET ABOVE AND LANDED ON THE BACK OF MY NECK/BACK/AND LOWER BACK AND HIPS. NOW HAVE SEVERE NEUROPATHY, NO BENEFITS, CANNOT GET INSURANCE. LEGAL LITIGATIONS ONGOING FOR PAST YEAR. SUFFERING TREMENDOUSLY. CANNOT OBTAIN MEDICAID BECAUSE SSI HAS BEEN APPEALED. NO TREATMENT, CONDITION WORSENING. CANNOT FIND ASSISTANCE OR HELP.

I was diagnosed with Rhuematoid Arthritis at 30, then after 3 more doctors and several tests, told I had Lupus. Then i started a new job so I got new health insurance. I had to go to more different doctors within their "network". My new Rhuematologist seems to think it is Psoriatic Arthritis, which actually fits my symptoms a whole lot better than the first two.

We have so called "good insurance" that the federal government supplies for a small fee as my husband works for the post office. It is alot better than many plans and would help many but there are more that would still sink into debt as we have.

I paid premiums for almost 30 YEARS between $550 and $750 each month. Thank G-d I am in good health and it was a way for this insurance company to make a killing of my hard earned money--laughing all the way to the bank.

The following story is found on rxvette.blogspot.com/2009/05/healthcare-reform-touches-home.html The national debate over healthcare reform is hotter than ever right now. And as we all get passionately worked up about our own individual views on what's right and what's wrong we tend to forget what this cause is all about.

Riding my bicycle home from work after a night shift, I crashed after someone opened their door from a parked car. My bike and I were a bit banged up, but I didn't make a big deal of it. I took care of the bike myself and figured I'd heal OK. She was a college student and I figured she didn't need the headache for a simple mistake.

My father was a successful and ethical lawyer. He started his own law firm in Arizona and at the time of his retirement his firm had approximately 40 partners and around 100 employess, who were all insured. It was soon after his retirement that he had a recurrence of lung cancer. The insurance company that insured him after he had retired from his firm denied him coverage for treatment.

My children and husband have no healthcare insurance, and I live in fear that one of them will get sick or injured because we are poor and cannot afford health care. I became disabled a few years ago, and had to wait two years before getting Medicare, paying $600+ per month for medications. This destroyed my family financially, as we could not pay other bills and eat with this burden.

One of the lies we're told about single-payer is about wait times for necessary treatment in Canada. Well, I've only had one major procedure: a knee surgery. And I'd have been happy for the wait times they claim for Canadians.

Just this month:

RATIONING

I'm a 62 year old female with a 61 year old husband. We are self-employed, and have been without health insurance for thirteen years. We are helping a son with disabilities get through school, and have other family expenses we are dealing with. Buying health insurance at its highly inflated price is not an option for us.

Back in 2007 I retired from 30 years of nursing to care for my Mother who died in Jan 2008. I tried to obtain cobra insurance and they quoted me a monthly cost of $580.00. I was in shock and with my limited income could not afford that much. I am in good health with only a mildly elevated cholesterol and beginning osteoporosis.

I need surgery for a life threatening condition and my HMO wants me to see a doctor that has only done the surgery one time ever. I have been appealing and in the mean time I am on ever increasing morphine for pain. My jaw is fused shut and there is a danger of brain being exposed because of bone loss. My HMO is Blue Care Network of Michigan

My husband was in the Air Force and is getting excellent care. I worked for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and was promised health care, but it was diminished every year, and I now pay $460 a month for a bridge loan! Has become unaffordable!

Hello, My name is Jerone Garland Im from Kosicusko, Ms. living in Chicago, IL was taking care of my grandfather until his death. He stayed on the second flour were it was hard for me to get up and down the stairs. About 8 Years ago my right knee was pop out of socket. So it extremly hard for me to walk with NO Ins.

I am self employed;55;and have high deductible health insurance which might actually be of some benefit when I'm on my death bed. I'm also very frugal by nature so the last thing I want to do is spend money that I don't have to. The result....I never go to the doctor. If I did, I couldn't tell that I actually had whatever coverage blue shield gives me for $300.00/month.

In 2000, my mother developed a serious lung infection and difficulty breathing. She was taken to the local hospital, where she was cared for in the ICU for a day or two, then moved to an ordinary room for a day. Upon release, she was given a bill for approximately $40,000 and asked to pay upon receipt.

This is the second time in my life that I have been without insurance. The first time my children was 7 and 5 years old. My 7 year old broke both of her arms and was airlifted to another state. My husband and I had to file for bankruptcy to save us. Now my girls are 17 and 15 and again we are without insurance because of the economy.

I had a pain in my stomach. I am 74 and I have no insurance. I went to the emergency room of the Marin General Hospital, Larkspur, California. I was diagnosed with diverticulitis. I was prescribed medicine but was then sent to have a CT scan. At no time was I told of the cost of the scan. About two weeks later I was presented with a bill for $8,000.00 which I am unable to pay.

I am a 48 year old male. For the past 12 years I have been a independent contractor. I have been in sales my entire life, it's all I know. I have had insurance in the past but had to drop it due to the slow down.

As a pharmacy technician at a national retail pharmacy chain, I feel blessed and emotionally exhausted at the same time. I feel blessed that I have a job at a union store that negotiated for me a great package of benefits compared to what most Americans have or rather, what they do not have. I get satisfaction knowing that I help raise people's quality of life through my work.

I have three health insurance horror stories in my immediate family alone. Including an uncle whose HMO allowed him to die from prostate cancer (which I've since been told is easily treatable, but treatment was delayed or denied until he died.)

We are relatively healthy people, need to lose a some weight, but our blood pressure is good and we eat healthy food. But if my husband is let go we will not have health insurance. With the hit our 401K took in the last six months, we don't know how we are going to make it all stretch much less insure ourselves.

On March 18, 2009 while walking to Septa station to take train to Philadephia, PA to work, I had a bad skid and a bad fall. I could not get up due to excruciating pain in my right lower leg. I had to call 911 to reach the nearest hospital. Ambulance came to my help within 2 minutes.

I have worked most of my life in another country. Upon becoming a US citizen I had to get health care from a private company. I have only worked part time jobs, paid SS and Medicare premiums but do not have the necessary time to get Medicare.

My daughter Zoe was born in August of 2004. Prior to her birth, she was diagnosed with severe heart defects; hypoplastic right ventricle, pulmonary valve atresia, and Ebstein's Anomaly. These defects are known as "single ventricle defects" and are among the most complex group of heart defects known.

My name is Ingrid, and I have been employed at the Matheny Medical and Educational Center for the last 18 years. We have always had good insurance coverage at a reasonable cost. My husband is self-employed and so relies on my coverage.

I have had a chronic problem with asthma and recently it had gotten worse. I went to see a doctor, and they charged me double than a patient with insurance . Then I go to the pharmacy and end up paying 20 percent more than someone with health insurance .

I just want to list all the people around me in the last six months who have needed healthcare, but been worried about the costs or been uninsured.

Out of work since January '07 when two discs herniated. Spent a year and lots of money in co-pays for useless rehab, chiropractor, pain management, MRI's, X-Rays, blood tests..... January '08 disc ruptured causing severe pain and nerve damage...no longer able to walk or have a bm without enema. March '08 saw a neurosurgeon in another town who would take my insurance.

In 1988, I was diagnosed with M.S. I had no insurance then, but it hadn't gotten bad yet. Luckily for me, I was seeing a wonderful man who shortly afterward got a job with Microsoft Corp. He asked me to marry him, and we moved to Seattle. Bill Gates was very generous with benefits to his employees, so I was covered under my husband's insurance.

My name is Joyce, and I am 34 years old. I am the mother of four, and I have breast cancer. My husband works for a pest control company and their work is self insured. We pay $450 a month for our insurance. I was diagnosed on my 34th birthday.