Guaranteed Healthcare

My husband and I survived Katrina in Jefferson Parish, but our property suffered considerable damage and took almost a year to recover from it. We're self-employed and lost many customers to points unknown, and even some to death, as an indirect result from the disaster of Katrina. In 2007, I was diagnosed with cancer, and it was serious, stage 3, I should have sought help sooner, but there were no doctors I knew here that I would trust, and the fear of the cost of getting care weighed heavy on my mind.

By the grace of God, I sought out a friend who moved away, the wife of a physician, who lost their home, and his business in New Orleans. She searched around to people she knew, and found the name of a doctor, a surgeon, which led me to get care from his recommended associate, an oncologist. Eighteen months later, I'm clear as well as they can tell, but I still need therapy, there's damage from the chemo, and will require more surgery.

While we're still struggling financially, our deductible has increased each year since the storm, as well as the deductible. We've had to borrow money to make it, and we're extremely concerned we will not be able to continue to keep the insurance. And even with it, the deductible and premiums are financially burdensome. I know people have it much worse than we do, so except for very close friend and a family member, we don't tell anyone how difficult it is for us.