AFSCME Speaks Out on Health Care
Tell Your Health Care Story
Gidget Cook - Tieton, Washington I do depend on my health care. I do not go to the doctor a lot myself, but I do have a child that is ADHD and bipolar who requires going to the doctor often, and has costly medicine. It seems like every time a raise at work comes around the medical insurance cost goes up also. We need to keep the cost of health care down. Joanne Berta - Crossing Guard, Flushing, New York I am writing my story because I am having trouble paying all the co-payments on my high blood pressure medication. As a crossing guard, we really don't make that much money to afford making $35.00 co-payments. When I was out of work due to a work related injury, my coverage ended and I was paying out of pocket for my medicines and was forced to return to work due to the expense. It just isn't fair. Ellen LaForest - Philadelphia, New York My family hasn't has health insurance for five years. We have three children and two adults living in the home. My husband works full time with no ins and I work park time with no benefits. My nine-year-old has never seen a dentist and my eighteen-year-old hasn't seen one in five years. We pay out of pocket when someone is sick and if it is an emergency we pay three times the amount. I pray that none of us needs an operation or a stay at the hospital because we would lose our house to the medical bills. And Congress just vetoed another minumum wage raise. None of them make minumum I am sure and none of them worry about getting sick... Antoinette Feltenberger - Forestville, Maryland When I had insurance it cost so much each month, I realized I was working for health care. The deductibles and the items that weren't covered were more expensive and most often the out-of-pocket expenses were more than the monthly premiums. It was like the health industry was at both sides of my paycheck taking my money. Now I don't have health insurance through my job because I can't afford it and I only go to the doctor when it is really necessary. My medical deductions far exceed the 7.5 percent the irs allows that's with or with out the health care premiums. Michael Beninanti - Springfield, Massachusetts I was working for a company for three years and had obtained health benefits. I went skiing with my friends one afternoon and during the trip was injured pretty badly. I had torn my ACL, a ligament in the knee. The recovery of said injury takes 6 months. I was unable to return to work but my job was being held for me. The insurance offered is based on the fact that you have to be a full time employee averging a certain amont of hours a month. But because I was not able to maintain my average hours my insurance was cancelled when I needed it the most. Heidi Cochran - Kingman, Arizona My job offers health coverage, but because I am listed as a "flex" employee (part time) the charges per paycheck are $190.00. The insurance for flex employees also only covers 50 percent of the bill. I am listed as flex, even though I work 45 hours per week. I can't afford $380 per month for medical, so I only go to the doctor when I am very ill. I work in Arizona which is a right to work state, so that means that I can work 45-50 hours per week and still be a part time employee. I am currently looking for a new job that offers reasonable benefits even though I love my job and my manager is fantastic. My company is willing to lose a good, loyal employee to save some money on benefit payouts. Ellen Clark - Des Moines, Iowa I have health care insurance but still owe a lot of money for "co-pays". After having to undergo emergency surgery and a follow-up a couple months later, I now have to get a second job to help pay for it all. Granted, the insurance foots most of the bill, but the thousands left over are all on our shoulders. And we pay a pretty hefty amount each month just to have the insurance. Can't we do something to standardize the amount a company must kick in for its employees? Mary Lawson - Day Care Worker, Auburn, New York I suffer from chronic migraines, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis and herniated discs. My daughters also suffer from migraines. Because of our high co-pays, I have to choose every month whether to regulate my thyroid or keep my migraines under control so that I can keep my daycare business open. Ofcourse, I will foregoe my medication so that my children can have theirs. Something has to be done soon. The elderly are truly suffering, as well as our young. We need something to be done as soon as possible. Please!!! Rene Doucette - Stow, Massachusetts I am a diabetic and a seasonal employee. at the end of the season, I can cobra my health insurance but it's way too expensive. Diabetes is new to me and without insurance, i can spend up to $400 a month on meds. Susanne Jones - Blossvale, New York I am a single parent with an eleven year old daughter who was diagnosed with asthma at the age of six months. Within the past two years I have been diagnosed with asthma also. I cannot afford the co-pays for maintenance medications for the both of us. I do not take my medication as prescribed by my doctor. I even switched to using the cheapest route for our medications....mail-in. Normally when I get a raise I increase my Deferred Comp. I did not do this this past raise. The increase in co-pays along with the increase of fuels, utilities, etc. are not allowing me to plan for my future. I am really worried about where we will be when I retire...if I can afford that luxury. What is going to happen to me without taking the required medication? Will I see retirement age? Does this save the State of New York money?
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