Some of you may know a bit of my saga: Cancer diagnosis in 2004, was on COBRA through a former employer at the time and everything went smoothly, except for the stress and anxiety of having a deadly disease of course.
In 2006 I was abruptly dropped by my insurance carrier. No explanation, not even a so sorry, just a short letter that pretty much said "see ya! Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out! Bye!" How rude.
Since 2006 it's been sporadic health care. Clinics, Planned Parenthood, a free mammogram program at my local hospital - not much else.
I live in CA so Covered CA was where I had to sign up. I waited till after all the brouhaha and screeching TV pundits stopped their annoying squawking. I ignored most of the "train wreck" "disaster" "craptastic site" stuff. Waited till it all seemed to settle down and then dove in this week.
Wow! After a few minor computer issues, obtaining a log in, filling everything out, shopping and researching the plans offered and happily learning I qualified for a $146 subsidy, I opted for a Platinum plan with no deductible for $251.30 a month and not too bad co-pays. Yipee!!
What a huge relief. So many years of making attempts to get coverage or health care and being left utterly exhausted mentally and physically in the process. I even attempted a Remote Area Medical event here in Los Angeles in 2010 that involved standing in a line with 6000 people for about 8 hours, in the hot LA sun, just to get a little bit of care and dental work. Exhausting, draining, stressful and completely unfair.
It must have taken me all of 15 minutes to go through the application and sign up process. Super easy and kick ass coverage.
Of course the true test will be when we all start actually using the coverage, calling around to make appointments and getting tests and such, but still far, far better than not having any coverage at all. I'm sure there'll be some horror stories and more hiccups in the near future, but I feel much better than I did before and I know from reading stories here that it's working out for people.
Big thank you to "NYCEVE" for helping me get in to see a doc here in LA when I was freaking out about yet another ominous lump that developed. That was found to be benign at the time, thankfully, but is still growing and needs to be monitored and now I can get proper, regular follow-up care.
Just my little story. It's great to have a huge weight off my mind now.
Best of luck to all the other sickies out there!
8:36 PM PT: Update: Wow, I haven't been on the rec list since 2009! Another reason to do a little dance around my flat. Thank you!!!