Stories of Health » Every face has a story

Alicia

Alicia, a marine corps veteran, suffers from chronic back problems.
Amanda

When she was a student, uninsured Amanda was sent to the ER—and left untreated.
Angela

A car accident left Angela with nerve damage—and two hours a week of insurance paperwork.
Anne

Anne’s insurance company tried to deny coverage...for her brain tumor.
Betty

A lab accident cost Betty her job, her immune system and her health insurance.
Bruce

Bruce is unemployed and uninsured and can’t get his teeth (or his eyes) fixed.
Carla

Carla’s patient lost his job, then his insurance…and then his house.
Chris

Chris’ grandmother’s insurance company refused to treat her lung cancer, a “pre-existing condition.”
Christopher

Christopher’s sister, a pediatrician, is being squeezed by insurance companies from both ends.
Chuck

Chuck, who was born blind, relies on medicare. But it’s not enough.
Dale

Dale was able to get his disability treated, thanks to medicare.
Dan

Dan knows from personal experience how important healthcare is to union members like himself.
Debra

A dancer and photographer, Debra’s agammaglobulinemia can’t keep her down. But Blue Cross can.
Diane

Diane’s son’s leukemia left him with a million dollars in medical debt.
Diane

An insurance company pressured Diane’s family to pull the plug on her father.
Eddie

Eddie tried and tried, but couldn’t find affordable health insurance.
Elaine

Elaine’s sister insurance won’t cover post-operative care for her hip replacement surgery.
Eleanor

Eleanor used to travel the world. Health care costs have limited her to a five-mile radius.
Evered

Evered’s family’s health care costs have more than tripled.
Forrest

Forrest has been fighting for two years to get his arthritis treated.
Frank

Frank rode along with his injured friend in the ambulance. They billed him, too.
Gerry

Gerry, a diabetic and a veteran, couldn’t afford insurance, but gets covered by the VA.
Grace

Grace lost her husband. And her health insurance.
Gregory

Gregory, a musician, can afford treatment—only when he’s on tour in Australia.
Jackie

Jackie’s husband was kept in the hospital for 11 days, and in debt for years.
Jeff

Jeff doesn’t have health insurance, had to get treated in the ER and was overbilled by $800.
Jennifer

Jennifer’s father died. Without health insurance.
John

A motorcycle accident left John in chronic pain and a $900/month health care bill.
Joyce

An on-the-job injury forced Joyce into early retirement with only partial benefits.
Judith

Judith’s family grew up next a nuclear facility. Much of that town—including dogs—has cancer.
Kristen

Kristen can’t afford insurance and hasn’t seen a doctor in four years.
Laurie

Despite having insurance, Laurie’s family is facing a $100,000 dental bill.
Lisa

An MS scare left Lisa wondering if how she’d be able to keep her home.
Lisa

Lisa’s grandson can’t get the help he needs because he lacks health insurance.
Lisa

It took Lisa, a student, several years to get the tumor in her finger diagnosed.
Liz

Liz’s sister tried, and couldn’t get insurance; now she’s in the hospital with bills she can’t pay.
Lolita

Lolita lost her job and her insurance and is forced to ration her remaining medicine.
Lorraine

Lorraine can’t get adequate care for her son with special needs.
Lynn

Lynn found her dream job, lost her insurance and never got her COBRA coverage.
Madera

Madera can’t get health insurance because she has the mother of all preexisting conditions.
Margriet

Margriet, having lost her insurance, is now legally blind.
Maria

Maria tuvo un derrame cerebral y su seguro no cubrira todos los gastos de la cirugia de su ojo.
Matthew

Matthew, after serving his country in Vietnam, has to go to India to afford his wife’s hip replacement.
Melissa

Melissa, a nurse, wants to take care of patients, not do paperwork.
Michael

Michael’s mother has schizophrenia and relies on state disability to get by.
Michael

Michael’s family’s health insurance went from $300/month to $2000/month.
My

Talk about indigestion: spicy food and no insurance left My with $7000 in health care debt.
Nina

Nina’s parents had to sell their house to pay their medical bills.
Pati

Pati, an RN, can’t afford her $872-per-month insurance bill.
Patricia

Patricia’s son—attacked on a trip overseas—was rescued by the French medical system.
Patrick

A robbery left Patrick with a chronic illness that almost killed him.
Rajan

Rajan’s family, despite having insurance, spends $10000+/year caring for his autistic brother.
Sandra

Sandra’s niece died during a “routine” operation.
Sandy

Sandy’s daughter’s epilepsy means she can only get expensive, “high-risk” insurance.
Saundra

Anthem Blue Cross is refusing to pay for Saundra’s daughter’s treatment.
Steven

Anthem Blue Cross has increased Steven’s premiums 107% in 30 months.
Summer

Summer, after 15 years of work, still can’t get health insurance.
Susan

Susan is $50,000 in debt, due to Blue Cross’ inadequate coverage.
Susan

One of Susan’s patients lost a leg because he was uninsured.
Suzanne

Suzanne wants to start a business, but can’t do that and insure her family.
Teresa

Because of poor insurance, Teresa has to travel the state to take care of her daughter.
Teri

Teri wants her son to grow up in a fair world, where the sick get taken care of.
Tim

An attorney, Tim knows how hard it is for disabled clients to get the help they need.
Toni

A single mother and cancer survivor, Toni can’t afford to insure her children.
William

William’s care gets patients off disability. Insurance won’t pay—says it’s not medically necessary