Share Your Story: Thanks to the Health Care Law...

It has not helped me at all. I am 61 yrs.old and totally disabled. It took 4 yrs.plus an attorney to get before a judge and employment specialist. I 'won' my case. - if you consider getting Soc.Sec.Disability 'winning'. Despite a ton of medical records I was turned down by a government worker the first time I applied.. I have  used all my savings,unemployment benefits,pension plan,cashed in my life ins.,borrowed money from my daughter & her husband,borrowed from my best friend and so forth to simply EXIST. I now rent a room in a barn with shower and microwave. I actually voted for President Obama because I believed UNINSURED patients would be helped. If you are uninsured,there is no "fee schedule" limitations/protections so you can be charged whatever medical providers want. I have a bill from my physician for a follow up routine exam - so I can get my medications - for $192. and need to follow up in 6 weeks.Then I applied for Medicaid. I take 10 prescription medications a month. I was turned down because my Social Security Disability check is too high. Absurd. They do NOT consider my necessary medical charges. I sat in the Social Services Office amongst many infants and people not speaking English. I READ where illegal aliens would NOT be reported to any other agency AND that United Sates Social Services would HELP them obtain a green card or Social Security card. WHAT? I was born and raised here, paid taxes,worked 45 years & I was not able to get Medicaid in my time of need?? Then there were the many babies & toddlers(& school age children not in school so they could translate). More deductions and a larger Welfare check.  I actually asked a caseworker "So if I had worked less I would be eligible for Medicaid?" Answer was YES. Those on Welfare get Medicaid, Food stamps,housing,childcare,educational grants,etc.I am a 61 yr.old Grandma & qualify for nothing because I had actually worked & had a house = pd.taxes. ALL I asked for was Medicaid - help paying for the 10 prescriptions I pay for monthly. Medicaid to see my physician and obtain the tests she wants me to have. DECLINED. I guess I am now DISPOSABLE.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act Pre-Exiisting Conditon Insurance Plan (PCIP.org) my son is able to have insurance coverage although he lost his job last year.  He has severe pancreatitis and high blood pressure and when we tried to get him insurance the quotes were $1200-$1600 range if they w.uld even talk to him. In other words they didn't want to insure him, so they made it unaffordable. I know the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan cost varies by state, but here in Arizona he is able to have coverage (at age 40) for $188 a month...I believe it is about $109 a month for children until age 19 and goes up from there.  He will be at his current rate until age 44, then it will go up about $20, but hopefully he'll be working then and have insurance with his job.    He had a 6 month wait after he lost insurance before he qualified for PCIP, so that was my only quarrel with the program.  He was hospitalized during that time at a cost of $60K which, of course, he'll never be able to pay off, but at least now he can see a doctor, get scans, and have surgery if the doctor decides he needs it for his pancreatitis.  It also comes with a drug plan with $3 or $4 co-pays for generics and about $20 for brand name. His co-pays are $25, which is cheaper than I pay with Medicare. My only real complaint so far was the 6 month wait which someone with cancer would not be able to do, so I think that needs to be fixed.  I have a friend here in AZ who had a stroke, and was on AZ Medicaid but our Governor cut Medicaid back and he lost that, but the 6 month wait still kept him from getting on the PCIP insurance which made no sense at all.  I think the qualification for 6 month wait should be waived in the case of people who lose their jobs and insurance or who get dropped by state programs through no fault ofo their own.  Even so, it has been a blessing for my son.

Thanks to the health care law...I could afford to retain my health care insurance after a crippling injury at work.  I fell at work, breaking both femurs. I worked in critical care in an acute care hospital in Las Vegas,NV. My employer fought me in court and won, thereby dening me worker's comp. I had long term disability insurance and that was my only income. My COBRA payments were exhorbitant until President Obama made them affordable. It is 3 years and 4 surgeries later and I am still disabled but getting better. I lost 60% of my income and have been reduced to a below poverty existence. Thanks to President Obama's Affordable Health Care Act, I have had insurance coverage and can afford my medications and rehab. I hope to back at work this year. Cecilia Lee Slaughter, cardiac monitor tech

What happened to all the states that appealed to the Supreme Court because this law is unconstitutional? Mandatory Health Care, still, only benefits the wealthiest people in the country.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/dec/14/healthcare-ceos-americas-be...

Meet the new 1%: healthcare CEOs replace bankers as America's best paid No bankers in top 10 of America's best-paid executives, but those in charge of healthcare and drugs firms are in the money.

My state has even made it mandatory for self employed independent contractors through L&I! Just another case of the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer.