I am extremely concerned about my health insurance future. As many of you know, I have recently gone through both a divorce and breast cancer treatments. I had excellent insurance coverage for my medical care and still do -- that is, I do until May of 2008, when I am no longer eligible for said fantastic coverage because I will have come to the end of COBRA transition period. Here's how the U.S. lack of a national health care system is affecting me:
I had been out of the workforce for over 20 years and had only a high school diploma at the time of my divorce. Fortunately, I had started to attend college with a view of earning a degree a few years prior to the divorce. So I was at least on my way to future self-sufficiency when my diagnosis arrived a month after I learned my ex- was cheating on me.
Many of you have applauded me for carrying on in my studies despite having to undergo chemo, Herceptin, and radiation treatments. Really, I had no choice in the matter (although I concede having schoolwork to concentrate upon left me less time to be morose and too self-involved). My COBRA would run out 3 years from the finalization of my divorce. I wanted to become a teacher -- a 5 year degree. I have just about killed myself for the past two semesters so that I will graduate in May of 2008. If I did not have the insurance gun pointed at my head, so to speak, I would have taken another year to accomplish my goals. (I am also working part-time.)
Presently, I pay a little over $4,200. per year for health insurance that includes dental and vision. Just about what those nchc stats said was right for a single person. Once May of 2008 arrives, I will have to find someone to insure a cancer survivor. I have heard that I can expect my premiums to at least double. I am hoping that I will be able to have some basic coverage through the university until I get my first job. Because there are strong teacher's unions in my state and in the US in general, I will be able to get decent coverage once I land a job in the public schools. From my research, I will again be fortunate, because the coverage offered through the union(s) does NOT exclude preexisting medical conditons. I will be fortunate, but my career options will still be limited -- I will not be able to work in any industry or private school that can only offer insurance coverage which excludes preexisting medical conditions.
I am blessed, because I have VERY generous spousal support, and I can afford to pay my $4200, yearly premiums (although it IS a big chunk out of my income), If I were a person with a financially less successful ex-spouse, I would be struggling big-time. I am already taking loans to defray my educational costs.
Things are tight enough that when I learned I had a lump on my liver this past January, I debated getting the MRI (knowing it would cost me approximately $275 out of pocket) that would definitely rule out metastitization of the breast cancer. All of my other bloodwork and even the opinion of the CT Scan interpreter said it was likely benign, so I was inclined to let things be. My children, however, wanted peace of mind -- no niggling doubts AT ALL -- and so I finally went for the test in March or April... Everything is okay, but if someone at my financial comfort level is postponing potentially lifesaving medical tests because of their costs, something is wrong.
I, too, have lived in Ontario, Canada and in the United States. I experienced the Canadian system (and the high taxes) for 7 years. I have not one complaint about the services received by myself or other loved ones -- and I delivered my son at Etobicoke General -- during our stay. We had some emergency room runs, I had some Witness-related blood issues, and just general pre-natal issues that were addressed professionally and in a timely manner. I had therapy for a wrenched back. The only thing I did not like was that I needed a referral for a pediatric specialist -- I could not choose my own. But that happens daily in the US unless one has top of the line insurance coverage, correct?
I, for one, would gladly pay twice what I am in health insurance premiums, if I could be assured that not only myself, but my children, my ex- (who also has a pre-existing health condition now), and my neighbors would not have to ever lose their homes or businesses due to catastrophic illness, or their lives, due to lack of coverage. It is a grave failing of the supposedly greatest First World Nation, that people are turned away in such an uncivilized manner, because they have no health insurance.
Some more interesting stats can be found here:
http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/p60-231.pdf
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States 2005 (issued 8/06)
Sorry, I can't link, because I have a mac now and Simon's many options are not available to me
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