Fannie Brown - "
Posted on July 4th, 2008 by Levana Layendecker in Tell Us Your Story
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Fannie Brown - "“…the cost of my medical insurance is skyrocketing through the roof.””
My name is Fannie Brown. I currently reside in Oakland and I am a single mother of six children. Currently I do not work because I am retired. I am a member of ACORN and volunteer for them.
I have five boys, ages: 15, 13, 12, 10 and 9, and a little 8 year old girl.
Although I am retired, the cost of my medical insurance is skyrocketing through the roof. I pay $491 a month for my medical insurance. My union pension is only about $300, so it doesn’t even cover that—and believe it or not, the plan I have only covers me: not the children, dental or vision, just me. The kids’ Medi-Cal is picked-up by Alameda County, but that doesn’t always help. For example, if they need certain medicines, because the County doesn’t cover all medicines, I have to pay out of my own pocket. As you know, medications can be very costly. Sometimes I try desperately to find money for these medications. That expense deeply affects my ability to buy clothing, food for my home, to take the kids on outings—they never enjoy any of that. Even if my medical insurance went down $100 a month, it would greatly help me, maybe allow me to buy more food. But at the rate it is now, I have to cut back on all the things that are essential for my family.
Excerpted from California ACORN's compilation of Health Care stories. Download the PDF. (7.6 MB)
Fannie,
As much as I loathe them, you can get generic meds for $4 a month at Walmart or a 90 day prescription for $10. Ask your favorite pharmacist if they will give you the same deal. My mom takes about 10 medications and last year we ran out of coverage in June and would be in debt but for her wonderful (democratic) doctor who piled us with samples. So the stuff I can get cheap I get cheap or I get stuff through http://www.canadadrugsonline and only use the Medicare if I can't get it anywhere else.
Those drug companies are as bad as gangster drug dealers but even worse because there is a real need out there and not an addiction.
Praying for us all,
mary
Where are the father(s)? You have six kids, no job and you want me to help you?
Sorry, you need to take responsibility for your own life, your own choices.
Hi my name is Mary and I live in Lake Don Pedro,CA
I work part-time and do not get insurance through my workplace. I had to look for Insurance a few years back on my own. I am 47 years old and I started out with a premium of $149.00 and then within a few monthes they raised my premium to $192 a month, then probably 7 montes later they raised my premium again to $212 a month for the same coverage. I then was beginning to wonder if I could afford the insurance. Then just a few short monthes after that they raised my premium again to $256 a month, they offered me the same plan with a higher deductable for the same $212 a month and since that was all I could afford working just parttime I changed to that plan. It included just the bare minimum of dental and eye care as well. Just about a couple weeks ago they sent me notice that my premium was going up again in less than a year from my last increase. So I will be paying $276 a month. Then they offered me the alternative plan which is less coverage for about $226 a month without the dental or eye, or continue with the plan I have now for $276 a month. They have now cut my hours at work again and I just work 2 days a week. I just can't afford it anymore. I am never really sick and only see the doctor once a year for my yearly exam and maybe one other time a year. I am as healthy as I can be, maybe just a little high cholesterol but I am working on that. What is wrong with our system? We just keep getting the shaft and made to pay more. Someone is sure making a profit, but I know it isn't me.
What do I do if I can't afford this insurance anymore? What options are out there. None…President Obama needs to make this health care reform work. I would be ok with paying $150 to $200 a month maybe that might be stretching it a little.
We need Reform now…Thanks for letting me comment. I am not retired and have 5 grown kids.