LETTER: Health insurance has reader worried

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February 6, 2010

Anonymous The News and Tribune Sat Feb 06, 2010, 08:03 PM EST

I am a retired teacher from Greater Clark County Schools who is plagued by medical problems. As a member of the teaching profession since 1969, I mistakenly trusted that my caring for our youth would be rewarded in my retirement. Instead, I have found that our government has been more concerned with helping large corporations instead of people like me.

Blessedly, I did start receiving Medicare coverage at age 62 because of my disability. When I looked for insurance companies to supplement this program, I made the mistake of getting an “advantage” plan. I found out, before President Barack Obama discussed them, that it was only an advantage to my insurance company.

In the past year, I have incurred large medical costs. I also have seen friends and family go bankrupt because of health care costs. Some have suffered because of job loss, others exorbitant medical fees.

I am grateful to some hospitals and doctors for their kindness in approaching me as an individual and allowing me to pay extensive medical bills over time. Some, however, have refused treatment if I could not pay in advance.

Because of such practices, I am planning my ex-husband’s memorial service, because he was afraid to incur any medical bills and stopped taking his necessary medicine and seeking medical help.

I strongly encourage our government to change how they approach the job and health insurance market, so they are better able to approach each person as an individual as opposed to a profit margin. This way, we can prevent others from finding themselves trapped in the situation in which I find myself.

— Rebecca Gaskill, Sellersburg

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