Living without health insurance can be deadly

Where are the human faces in the health care debate?  Those who are self-employed and have no insurance?  Those who are working two jobs but no insurance?  Those who had insurance until they lost their jobs?  Those who die prematurely because they had no access to medical care?

The Daily Item from Sunbury highlighted some of these in its October 4th edition.  Writer Rick Dandes told the story of seven area individuals.

Tom Casimir, self-employed, avoided doctors because he had no insurance.  By the time his cancer was discovered, it was moving very fast.  He spent the last two weeks of his life filling out paperwork in an effort to pay the medical costs, which totalled over $100,000. 

Tammy and Brad Brought  thought they had everything covered.  They had jobs and health insurance.  But then she got sick.  And the insurance companies started kicking her claim back and forth between them in an effort to avoid covering the costs.  Now the Broughts are behind in their mortgage payments and fear losing their home.

Robert Dodson lost his coverage when he lost his job.  He has ashma and needs medicine.  But he struggles on without it because he can't afford the cost.

Johanna Myers  is a social worker raising her grandchildren.  She makes $7.25 an hour for 30 hours a week and has no health coverage through her job.  She avoids medical care and lives in fear that this way of coping leaves her vulnerable to serious illness.  Her sister has leukemia.  What is that happened to her?

Jack Roberts  has two jobs but no health insurance.  He hasn't seen a doctor in four or five years.  "If I broke my arm and had to take time off of my job, I wouldn't get paid since I'm a temporary workers.  Eventually, I'd lose my job."

Freddi Carlip has health insurance - through a subsidized insurance plan known as adultBasic.  She is self-employed and had no coverage until recentlhy - after a long wait - her name came up on the waiting list.  Now, she can afford to buy asthma medication.  "You have to qualify for adultBasic to get in," she said.  "But if you do, it's a wonderful program."