Guaranteed Healthcare

I am a 27 year old female who has recently been diagnosed with brain cancer. In fact, the same type as Ted Kennedy himself.

Like Ted, I needed brain surgery to remove the tumor. I had a brief hospital stay of four days which was to do testing and determine plan of action to take care of the tumor. And a second short stay of four days during which I had brain surgery. Between those two short hospital stays I have been sent bills for over $100,000.

I had just started a job so my new insurance would not take effect until a week later. At the time, I had held privately paid insurance which was costing approx. $300 a month only to have them cover practically nothing. I applied for Medicaid to help me with the bills but have yet to find out if we qualify or if my husband makes just enough not to qualify but not enough for us to cover our bills. I went back to work in three weeks time even though the doctor recommended four months of rest.

Why would I go back to work you might ask? Well, it is to have my healthcare premium paid since I found out I had cancer and would need insurance to cover me. Now I have what I thought to be good insurance -- Aetna PPO -- but I was quickly fooled again. At first it was great then I passed my "bridge amount" and although I pay approx. $500 a month on a salary of $29,000 a year, I am suddenly receiving bills for my 20% to which the amount each time is $1600 for an MRI (which I need to get every three months). At this rate since I do not have the money to pay for them I will be denied service and will be unable to get treatment unless I go through the emergency room.

In short, I will have to wait until I am actually dying of brain cancer before I can get treatment through the ER. When I contacted my local state representative who was very kind, the suggestion given was to apply for disability. I do wish to work until I get to the point were I physically cannot. I have pleaded with the hospital and have written letters to my state representatives and governor and to no avail.

Not only do I have to deal with the fact that this disease will eventually take my life but now I have to worry about working ridiculous hours at work to try and pay some debt to get treatment. I am working myself to my death not to my possible recovery.