Guest Blog: March 10, 4th National Call-In Day and Fax your Health Insurance Bills to Congress!

This is a guest blog by Barbara Grothus, an artist and activist who lives in Albuquerque.

As a worker in the private sector, I was rarely offered an opportunity to receive health insurance. I was young, I didn’t need it. I paid for my annual exams and was never sick. One year I witnessed the death of a friend who had no insurance and the subsequent loss of her property to pay the hospital bills. Around that time, I became a consumer of health insurance as a matter of protecting my investment in my home.

As a self-insured person, I paid a huge price. There was no pool for me, a single payer. But I paid and paid for the peace of mind that in the event of catastrophic illness, my family would have some remains from my hard work over the years.

In 2003, when I turned fifty, I had one of those freak illnesses--encephalitis, most likely from West Nile Virus. I was admitted to the hospital and remained there from Tuesday night around 6 PM until Saturday around noon. The health insurance paid off, not that I saved any money after paying into the system for years. But I was admitted promptly and received excellent care, and the insurance was invaluable in that regard. And I fully recovered.

A month and a half later, I had an accident at work and broke my wrist. The insurance was good for that too.

Since then, I have gone back to my normal routines, including annual exams. I have “mild osteopenia,” normal for my age and gender. My most recent exam predicts the liklihood of a bone fracture sometime in the next ten years at 11%, probably about the same as for any member of the general population. The insurance company doesn’t ask about activities like skiing that would increase the potential of a fracture; I don’t ski.

Recently I tried to switch from a group plan (through our business, 3 people), to a more affordable single plan that would reduce my payment from more than $550 to $203 per month. Lo and behold, after 5 years of high payments with not a single covered event, a non-smoker with no health problems, I am denied coverage for “allergies” and “osteopenia.” I felt so sure I would not need medications that I did not even request a prescription plan.

I remained slightly hopeful that a review of my health records would lead to coverage, but NO. I am now forced into the state insurance pool for people who are denied coverage, but my hospital of choice is not part of the state pool. So, my “choice” for care is effectively eliminated, unless I decide to pay the “out of network” cost myself. Welcome to the US “health insurance” system.

Take Action!

It is encouraging that President Obama has allowed a seat at the table for those of us who want a single payer plan, but I think we are not yet being heard over the louder voices of the insurance companies. Tuesday, I will join with others and fax my letter of denial to Washington. I urge you to act out on this issue as well.

What is needed is Expanded and Improved Medicare for All. On March 10th, we need a deluge of action in support of HR 676. Join with thousands of other Progressive Democrats of America to call Congress and also fax your health insurance bill or letter of denial to Congress. Click here to take action.

Also contact the new Secretary-designate, Kathleen Sebelius. In addition to congratulating her on her nomination, let her know you support HR 676 and single-payer national health care; click here.

And It would not hurt to call your Senator and Representative in Santa Fe. They are still debating our health care access, and change must come. Tell them to support Senate Bill 281. Senator Jennings is the leader of the NM Senate. Bless his late wife who made sure there is a state insurance pool for those of us who are denied coverage. Please call Senator Jennings at 505-986-4733 and ask him to stop lobbying against the Health Security Act (SB 281).

Leave the clear message that you support the Health Security Act (Senate Bill 281) and want to see it get to the Senate Floor. That's all you have to say.

This is a guest blog by Barbara Grothus of Albuquerque. To submit a piece for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link on the upper left-hand corner of the page.