It was over a year ago when President Barack Obama went on the road to push for a final up or down vote on health insurance reform. On March 28, 2010, an author named Leslie (L.A.) Banks introduced President Obama in Glenside, PA.
Banks told a familiar story: Her health insurance company hiked the premiums for both her and her college-bound daughter by over 100%. Faced with the prospect of finding new policies with less than two months notice, Banks chose to go without insurance, cover her daughter, and put her remaining money toward her daughter’s education. Like a lot of Americans, Banks bet on continued good health until she could find an affordable policy for herself.
Well, Ms. Banks has lost that bet on good health. She recently announced that she is undergoing chemotherapy for late-stage adrenal cancer and the prognosis is not good.
More on the story and how you can help below the fold.
The legislation passed, but still, Leslie Banks’ worst nightmare is coming true. Here are some ways you can help:
Action Requested:
1. Banks’ friends and fellow authors are holding an auction with proceeds to go to her health expenses. Visit the auction site from now until Friday, July 1 where you’ll see a complete list of the donated items and Ebay links to bid on them. The auction items would be of interest to readers and writers of all kinds of genres, including mainstream fiction, romance, and my favorites: mysteries and thrillers. Some of the items are non-book related, such as military coins. Please look them over and if they appeal to you, bid generously.
2. Banks writes under the pen name L.A. Banks. If you’re a fan of urban fantasy (I noticed she writes a series on a Vampire Huntress that you True Blood fans might like), check them out. Book royalties are always a good thing.
3. If you prefer to make a direct donation to her health expenses, check out the donation page.
4. Prayers, positive thoughts, good karma - whatever you've got - send 'em her way!
Leslie (L.A.) Banks introducing the President in better days - first 3 minutes (approx.):
The Video Transcript (Leslie Banks)
Good morning and thank you for allowing me to share my story. I am self-employed as a consultant and a writer, and make an average middle class income. Right now, I’m a divorced, single mother with a daughter in college. But my daughter and I are both blessed not to have severe health issues.
So imagine my surprise after my C.O.B.R.A. ran out and after a year of being on a reasonable health plan, when my insurance company sent me a letter stating that my normal monthly premium would go up from $301 a month to a whopping $659 a month.
Oh, but there’s more [laughter]. And my daughter’s premium would skyrocket from $167 a month to $249 a month, more than double what I’m already paying. Now mind you, they sent the letter in mid-January, explaining that this increase would go into effect March 1. That also meant that if I wanted to shop for a non-existent competitor in this region, I had less than two months – less than two months! – to find a plan, go through the whole onerous process of underwriting, [and] pay for that plan, or else I would fall through the cracks.
Well, when I called my insurance carrier to ask what was going on, they told me it was an across-the-board adjustment. I wasn’t being singled out. Clearly that was true. But it didn’t make me feel better to know that they were gouging everybody!
I was horrified. So I don’t know about you, but as a hard-working parent, I cannot afford to have my standard healthcare insurance suddenly spike to the point where it’s nearly what I’m paying for my mortgage. Now, like too many other people, I’m faced with a dilemma: One, do I simply cover my child and go without healthcare myself, making sure that my child has everything she needs to stay healthy. Or do I place myself in jeopardy, which could mean that the breadwinner in my family – that’s me – could face a catastrophic health issue that would wipe out everything and put my kid in peril anyway.
Look, folks who work hard, play by the rules, pay their taxes, and live within their means shouldn’t have to make these kinds of terrible choices. And, we must get to the root cause of the problem. We must create fair checks and balances.
My story, like countless others, should be a rallying cry for every American, regardless of party affiliation, to support the President’s healthcare reform now. And, it is my distinct honor and privilege to introduce to you President Barack Obama.