Why this health bill is so important to me....

[vaberella]

Now I'm not someone who likes to spout out my personal information too much. Aside from my studies, and that I'm Haitian-American who's from New York (most of which can be found in my profile)---I keep my full personal stats on the dl. It's the net and such rut so I'm not into displaying so much.

However since Obama has become President, I have realized that I am politicized. To be honest, I've always been aware of it, but I think when I started following his candidacy and of course Madame Clinton (^_^); it became more prevalent to me. More apparent. I always said the 2008 election was a crash in the Civil Rights movement of the late 60s and early 70s. Dealing of racism, sexism, ageism, and even religion-ism (is that even a word) you kind of feel as though you're thrust into something you've only read about. The high emotions, the high tensions, people going out door to door, people getting killed, harassed, and attacked because they're fighting for something more. I mean, I was born in 1980. I always felt connected to that because of my Haitian background and while being raised in America because I'm a Black Female. The connection is there.

This is, of course, not to say that White Females or White Males don't feel this connection. Far from it....I'm saying that I feel this urgency and anxiety to fight nd become more aware of what's around me. The election defined me not as an individual but as part of the political process and a monopoly piece or accessory to the process. Not so much the candidates, but the media. I wasn't the aspired vote....I'm a Black female which means I vote by color and automatically being Black I was with Obama and lumped as the Black vote. Not part of the women's vote Obama so needed, or the White Women or White male votes he would win or lose.

That was the first step of politicization. Or realization of what I am really in this nation for the media and probably for some candidates or politicians. I'm either a demographic statistic, a number on a page, or a story they hear about---show a bit of pity and say, "I won't be swayed." This goes in to the topic if health care reform.

Now here comes a bit more information about me. I'm female and 29 who lives in NYC and happens to have been a student studying Economics, Anthropology, and French as second degree/masters. I am not wealthy by any means I have worked throughout most of my studies in school. I live with my mum and sister---we can't leave mum after my Dad died in 2005. My sister takes turns of sorts with traveling and the like. I don't have health insurance. Most of the time my job won't cover me since I worked part time because of school. Or when I did have a job that offered me full coverage, I lost it because of downsizing. I couldn't pay cobra, and New York has healthy New York program to promote affordable health care----that's if you consider $350 (at least) once a month affordable and you don't get dental or anything like that. I lost insurance or regular insurance when I was 21, cause I wasn't covered on my Dad's plan or my mum's plan. They changed the law to 23 when I became 24. Go figure. I don't have much luck.

I came to find out, about 3 years ago---although it was suspected that I have a condition. It's genetic. It's called PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)---some info on it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycystic_ovary_syndrome. I don't know if any women here have it...but it mainly affects women of Eastern European lineage. I am Haitian but of mixed racial lineage---a few Germans, French, and English helped along my eventual creation. ^_^ Anyway after an expensive blood test at a specialist I found out.

I'll give the story about how this happened, because it bears repeating. The symptoms of PCOS are high levels of male testosterone. Most women tend to be barren, we have high risk of ovarian cancer (very high---and recently a family member died of it), prone to diabetes---I'm borderline (my mum has it--my ENTIRE (no joke) family male and female on my mum's side has it. My mum's sister died from it at 26.) and I'm borderline and so I take Metformin and diabetic medication. <---It's a bitch, I hate Metformin, plus there's obesity (yeah I have it), not to mention facial hair and just an excess of hair--yeah I got it too. Ugh. This is extremely embarrassing to divulge.


In any event, I was telling one of my friends a few years back about my condition and some of my systems. ie Facial hair and the fact that I don't get my period. Yeah...I can go YEARS without getting my period and I have. If I don't get meds, ie the pill I don't get my period. I told her this and she was like....you might have PCOS and you need to see an endocrinologist. At the time I had no insurance or money, I told my sister who did have money to go and get the tests taken care of. I found out it was hereditary because my friend found out when her sister was tested. So I told my sister to get tested because she was still my dad's plan and can be covered. She did and found out she had a bad case. I was like if my sister has a bad case, mine is worse. When I was covered for 4 with health insurance I was tested and my doctor did say I have a very bad case. Obese, facial hair, no period, and borderline diabetic. He even wanted to see our mum because our mum has a very bad case of facial hair as well and we have 4 aunts with the same problem and a few cousins.


Anyway I'm put on spironolactone, metformin, Yasmine, and I take a prenatal for much needed vitamins <---Yeah I got to take the one for pregnancy, even though I'm not pregnant. Anyway, I pay for that out of pocket. To see the specialist it's $250, each time we take blood tests, $350, meds on average per month $160. <---- I can't pay that. Yes I work, but I work in work study or as a teacher's aid and also a docent in NYC. Yeah, 3 jobs, along with over the top amount of classes and then I'm watching out for my mum and sister on top of it. I was able to get medicaid, and I still paid doctors appointment and tests out of pocket---because I would the doctor once every 3-4 months. However, when I started working I made $106 dollars over the minimum on medicaid and when I told them it was seasonal and because of my school. I was then denied. So I went back to paying this out of pocket.

I worked 3 jobs and for 2 years so I can save enough to make it to France so I can continue my studies. No help from my parents or anything. I saved up and ensured I'd have a place as an au pair so I don't have to pay rent here and barely for food.

My sister on the other hand, back in the states has no insurance. She's working part time in her dream job and unfortunately because of the economy they couldn't offer her full time or any sort of coverage on their plan. So she's not getting it.


When I read some of the benefits of this bill I called my sister up and told her she might be able to stay at the job and not leave it because she'd fit on the PO. I would fit for the PO and we'd get our medication without having to take one pill every other day. Yes...I do ration my medication because I can't afford it. Yes, I don't know how my ovaries are because I can't afford the tests. I have to get this taken care of and I can't. My sister even found a cyst in her ovaries early on---luckily. I have a cousin now dealing with breast cancer and I haven't gotten tested for anything in 4-5 years. When I say tests, cat-scans and MRIs. I haven't done any of those, I had my last blood test 2 years ago.

So to me this bill is personal. To me this bill is important for my own survival and for my sister. When I read people on this board hoping that the bill would fail. Or saying that I obviously don't care about women's rights because I'm willing to suck up the Stupak----> Let's just say I take it a bit personal. I'm not one to disclose myself so freely onto the board, but I want to make clear that some of us are dealing with some serious shit and yeah it's urgent for us. Next to health care repealing DADT/DOMA is an important issue, for various personal issues which I won't go into here.

To me, I'm politicized in many ways. I would love a panacea to health care. If I was a British citizen, I would be in paradise right now because I'd go there to get myself taken care of...shit I'm in France, I might as well. ^_^ When I come back home I want to have coverage. Under this bill I would have that coverage.

Read here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8723453

Am I happy this bill passed?! Hell yes. Am I upset about Stupak---sure but not so much since laws have been in place already so that federal money doesn't go to paying for abortion. Not to mention this is the first round and we still have to see what happens after conference. I'm going to let my Congressmen/women know where I stand. I was upset at Kucinich and some of the people here because fuckin' hell. That's like voting against me. You don't like it, I respect that...but at least 85% of the bill is not bad and does a lot of good for people I'm one of them. I donate when I can to my politicians and to this board. When the actions from people like Kucinich and the other 38 Dems and DUers...I get upset.

I'm not to trying to give a sob story here, but to let some of the people here know, who they're talking too and what's going on with them. I agree staying true to one's ideals because I have a few of my own. However I do support compromise and the pros are more than the cons so far. I know this bill doesn't say it all, and it could get better or worse. But so far I see this as a good step forward and I support it. Because not supporting it, is just betting against myself.

[POAS]

1. Kicked and rec'd

I am now a fan of vaberella for being a voice for me and others who either will or may be helped by this bill and who have themselves or in their families conditions that keep them from being insurable under the present system.

Thanks for your post.

[vaberella]

13. No problems. I remember going to the GD section and seeing so many posts.

So many people uninsurable or who can't afford it. And then I come to the GDP thread and see people saying they hope the bil fails or this bill won't do anything for the American people. It was so upsetting and really heartbreaking. These people are clinging to somthing we definitely, those of us who are in need, don't have the luxury to hold on too. This is giving us something substantial and I couldn't handle the talk going on here any more. More of us who stands by the bill but realizes what's deficient have to be louder. Thanks for posting.

[Jennicut]

2. vaberella, your story is heartbreaking and I feel for you

I take Metformin too, even though it makes you want to throw up. They want me to take up to four pills a day, I can barely manage the one.

I pay $110 a month for my medications for the diabetes WITH insurance. If I did not have a group plan through my husband's employer I have no idea what I would do. This bill has it's faults but there is good things about it too. The people that will qualify for the insurance exchange, not being able to drop people with preexisting conditions, the banning of lifetime limits on coverage.

I too think Stupak's amendment is horrible and have said that here already. I hope it comes out in conference. But the many good things about the bill make me want to support it.

[vaberella]

8. Oh God...Metformin horror.

I can't stand it. I don't know how my mum takes the stuff without water. Ugh. I read what you said in another thread about your healthcare problems and I felt I needed to share mine and a few of ours here. A lot of us are in a bind or dependent on other's and what happens when they lose theirs, we're screwed too. Both my sister and I became too old for our parents. Actually did you know, Pelosi said it last night, now parents can have their children on their plans until the children are 27 years old. That's 4 years longer than currently. My sister would really benefit because she could go back on my mum's plan. Besides being able to get the public option.

[Jennicut]

12. Thankfully I was 28 when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and had insurance through my husband.

I have tried all kinds of meds for the diabetes and once tried one that made me throw up every single time I took it. My husband was horrified. That one did not last long, LOL! Never try Byetta if don't have a strong stomach.
I feel very dependent on Chris, my husband. And on how well his company does. I am even luckier with my parents being incredibly and sometimes paying for my meds when we are tight with money (like when the furnace broke down this month).
I really hope this gets through the Senate, and it is pretty much intact. Your sister and you need the help ASAP.

[vaberella]

15. We all need it ASAP. Do you think you'll join if it's offered?

I've been wondering if individuals who are on a family plan can still join the PO as a secondary insurance for things. I know medicaid does that in NYC.

[Jennicut]

16. If would if Chris lost his job. We might be able to get Cobra

but it is incredibly expensive, I had it once for awhile. But I doubt any private plan that we personally had to buy would cover me. Most don't. I want the plan there in case anything happens to us. He has worked at the same place for 10 years and you just never know. There have been some issues at work with his department but luckily things seem to be working out.
As of now, I don't think anyone on another plan could use the insurance exchange offered in the House bill.

[vaberella]

17. Thanks for letting me know. I'm happy you have health care.

My mum is a diabetic as well and gets insurance from my dad's job (even though he passed away) they take care of the widows. He used to be a longshoreman mechanic. I understand how expensive the meds and keeping up your health is. I've seen what the bills are before the insurance comes through---so my mum wouldn't have been good without my dad's plan and her job pln 1199 doesn't even want to look at her bills at the hospital.

[boobooday]

3. I so hope that you will get the health care you need

:hug:

[vaberella]

9. Thanks. Luckily in France I pay a one time fee of about 300 dollars for the year that I'm here.

It covers everything apparently. So I'm actually benefiting more here. Hopefully when this bill is passed and I come home, I'll come home to health insurance.

[Clio the Leo]

4. (((Hugs and Prayers for my Vabs!))) NT

[annabanana]

5. Thank you for that post, Vaberella.

I appreciate your candidness. That took some guts.

I'm pleased it passed too, though for far less searing issues. You and others in equally dire situations are the reason that ALL of us have to keep a reasonable perspective on the battle. There is much to like in this imperfect bill, and much that can be built on.

As a veteran of the 60's protests, I can understand your recent politicization and am more than glad to "have you aboard".

[tomm2thumbs]

6. an inspiring post - thanks for writing it and posting

folks seem to think there is a magic button you can just push to change the system but in reality, nothing that looks easy ever is.

The Democrats would have done it long ago if it had been even remotely easy.

[vaberella]

11. Exactly. n/t

[lxlxlxl]

7. Thank you for sharing...It's a shame we cant find those meds for cheaper

I've been in New York working and not for the past ten years without health insurance and with diabetes. It has not been easy for me, and the past ten years without real medical treatment will take years off of my life. I completely sympathize and wish you the best.

[vaberella]

10. I understand. There are a few clinics around Harlem.

I mean I can recommend you go to see a Dr. Hemant Patel on 33 West 125th street. He takes everyone and every plan. I don't go to him often because it's 75 an appointment. However, you can pay what you have and pay them later. They give lay away. So you can try him. Good doctors and medical care...plus they have a pharmacy connected to them (I think it's family associated) and you can get discounts on meds there. But you're right the expense is too much. Even with all that it was too much for me...so I rationed...or just didn't bother.

[dkf]

14. Gosh if I were you I'd find a Govt job ASAP.

I've been thinking maybe I should so I can get health insurance after I retire. Otherwise, I won't be able to afford it until I qualify for Medicare and I don't want to have to work that long.

[vaberella]

18. Yup, once I get back to the States, that's basically the plan.

I can't do it otherwise and the fees are expensive with regular MRI's and catscans that are needed in my case.