Access to Healthcare is Personal & Critical

By: Barbara Merola
Submitted: 2009-11-02 16:40:50
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In the healthcare debate in Congress and in backyards across the country, millions of Americans are registering passionate opinions about the issue but not ever experiencing a severe health emergency without access to quality healthcare.  What these Americans are not talking about is how the determination of “pre-existing” conditions by the insurance company is subjective and frequently results in damaging life and death consequences for the patient and their family.

What would you do if your mother had an advanced stage of colon cancer and your parents’ insurance company cancels her citing “pre-existing” conditions?  Since most cancer patients experience unrecognized symptoms prior to actual diagnosis, the insurance company could cancel the patient citing that the symptoms are an indication that the cancer was a “pre-existing” condition.  This situation might seem ridiculous to you; however, this scenario actually happened to my family. 

You are probably saying to yourself, hey, that is unfortunate but easy to overcome.  I would tell my parents to sue the insurance company, deplete my savings and investments to help treat my mom, and ask my siblings to do the same.  As someone who has been through it, it is not that easy.  Cancer patients are overwhelmed with the physical, mental, and emotional toll their illness takes on their minds and bodies. 

My mother was interested in enjoying her last years, not getting caught in legal red tape.  My parents did in fact go to an attorney to discuss the insurance situation; however, they were informed it would take years to reach settlement.  They were not interested in wasting the precious time Mom had left.  As for depleting your savings, while a nice gesture, it would not be enough to suffice.  My sister, Laura, and I pitched in by putting ourselves through college and being all-around good kids so to not add to our parents’ already high-stressed lives.  I sincerely believe Laura and I did everything we can to support our Mom. 

My father estimated that my mother’s medical bills amounted to approximately $450,000 (he said he lost count after $375,000).  Imagine being stuck with that bill after your insurance company cancels you?

Uninsured and underinsured patients have to choose between making a mortgage payment or purchasing a $1000 prescription.  Due to mounting medical costs, patients frequently miss doctors’ appointments, prescription refills, and necessary treatments due to the inability to pay. 

My mom has been gone for over three years and I am just now gaining the courage to speak out and educate others on the importance of access to health care for cancer patients.  More than 560,000 Americans will die of cancer this year alone.  I hope that one day soon not one of those deaths will be due to lack of access to quality healthcare.  Sadly, that is not the case today but we have the perfect opportunity to make significant strides with prudent healthcare reform.

We might be unable to cure cancer today; however, we definitely have the ability to save and prolong lives by ensuring adequate, affordable care can be accessed by those battling this life-altering illness.

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