We just got some terrible news. My wife's healthcare coverage was terminated and she cannot get anything to replace it until January. She has lupus and cannot go without at least medication for three months if she wants to be able to function. Admittedly, there was a misunderstanding on our part with regard to the coverage she had, which caused the termination. However, the point is in America, this should not be happening.
Below is an email I just sent to my Congressman, Patrick Murphy.
My wife is 49 years-old and on Social Security disability due to her having lupus. For the past 3 months, she was coverered under the Aetna Medicare plan. On September 15th they terminated her coverage because she was eligible for Medicare Part B but did not have it. It was her understanding that all that was required was to be eligible for Part B in order to have that coverage, which they provided since July 1, 2008.
Perhaps that was her, and my, misunderstanding, however, she cannot reenroll for Part B until January to become eligible for a supplemental Medicare plan.
No other insurance plan in Pennsylvania will cover her without a one-year waiver of coverage for anything related to her lupus. She sees three physicians and requires medication, none of which would be covered for one year. The plan alone would be $576 per month plus whatever any lupus-related visits, treatments and medication she would need.
I am the sole owner of a business that is struggling to get by as it is and I do not have health insurance due to the excessive cost. I do not know whom to turn to at this point but my wife is at her breaking point. I doubt that there is anything you can do but I just wanted to relate my situation to you as another example of how my country has let me down over the past 7 1/2 years.
We are ardent supporters of you, Barack Obama and everything Democratic and sincerely hope that beginning January 20, 2009, stories like our will never be heard again.