The headlines are now in my lap. The health insurance nightmare faced by over 45 million Americans has now hit me in a very big and very personal way. I came home last night to a notice cancelling my health insurance.
I am self-employed. I suppose I am what Mr. Bush thinks of as the backbone of our country and the economy. I work hard and play by the rules. I buy my own insurance and it is very expensive. I pay $650.00 a month. But I (and everyone else who buy individual polices from this particular company) have been cancelled.
I called the insurance broker who I have used for years and they told me they are running out of options for self-employed people like me. I must have a plan which allows me to see doctors that I choose since I have some medical issues. This is called a PPO (preferred provider organization). Is it too much to expect that in America in 2005, we have the right to affordable health care, affordable insurance and to select health care providers of our own choosing? All I can believe is that the insurance company is not making enough money on me.
Healthcare and health insurance should not be a luxury or a privilege, it should be a right afforded to all Americans.
I feel like the politicians, Republicans, Democrats, all of them, want me to die or leave the country. I do not know what to do or what to think. I want to just give up.
We are spiraling out of control in this country, my friends.
I am terrified because today I feel very much like the Katrina victims, totally on my own. Where do I turn? Should I call Senator Clinton's office? What will her staff tell me? They'll send me some idiot form letter.
I feel totally alienated from this country. Why, would someone please tell me, why do we allow this shameful situation to go on and on and on?
Last night when I received this notice I called my assemblyperson, Richard Gottfried, he is a Democrat who also happens to be chairman of the assembly health committee in the New York State assembly. Mr. Gottfried is tasked with issues such as the one I am describing. I also happen to live within his district. I was literally crying to his clueless staff person. Between tears, I asked politely to speak to Mr. Gottfried. He has been in the assembly for about 100 years, I hope he has the good sense to return my call, if he doesn't, I intend to post a notice in my building and tell my neighbors that we have an assembly person who does not respond to constituents.
If he calls, I'll tell him that I deserve the same insurance he has. All I want is the health insurance every member of Congress has. Is this unreasonable?
People, we are on our own, make no mistake, we are on our own. Our government and our leaders have let us down.
We must not accept this grotesque status quo any longer.
