Health insurance realities

Until I turned 21, health insurance was the least of my worries. Then things changed.

At the time, I had recently switched jobs and the health insurance from my new job had not yet gone into effect. Three months without health insurance may seem like a small window, but they turned out to be the worst three months of my life.

Actual statement and balance

Because my co-pays with my previous employer-offered health insurance were so high and I supported myself financially at the time, I didn’t go to the doctor unless I felt really sick. Then I did, and the bill was outrageous.

There are several health care bills currently before congress and the best is H.R. 3200, sponsored by Ann Arbor’s own U.S. Rep. John Dingell. It would prevent insurance companies from excluding people with pre-existing health conditions, outlaw annual and lifetime limits on benefits and cap out-of-pocket costs so that Americans stricken with recurring health issues won’t go bankrupt. For someone with a condition like mine, where the chance of having recurring issues is likely, this greatly reduces the financial burden imposed by the current health insurance industry.

Healthcare is about prevention, not amputation. It is about having a healthier America now and for future generations. I stand behind my congressman, Rep. John Dingell, and I urge you to contact your congressional representatives in the House and Senate and ask them to support H.R. 3200.