I am almost 50 years old with a chronic health condition.

[Horse with no Name]

I have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in my lifetime on insurance premiums, copays, and things that the insurance didn't cover.

The payment of that money has greatly affected my life and the creature comforts in my life, especially noticeable as I grow older.

I have stayed in abusive work relationships STRICTLY for the insurance...no other reason.

I have paid close to $900 a month in premiums for COBRA insurance.

The ONE beacon at the end of the tunnel was...that when I was 65 I wouldn't have to worry about qualifying for insurance, or working through an illness to stay employed--or, if I couldn't do that--at least I wouldn't have to pay astronomical fees for COBRA insurance.

Medicare was the light at the end of my tunnel...and after the long, hard journey I have taken through my adult years with this illness...the promise of Medicare is evaporating before my eyes.

So yeah...I take this REALLY personally....even though I know that my story and my situation is repeated many times throughout this country and is not unique.

ANY politician that DARES to touch Medicare...will NOT have my vote or my support.

[fascisthunter]

1. Some Folks have no Shame

When I hear people state some cuts will need to be made, I imagine folks like you in your situation and am blown away by the audacity.

[Horse with no Name]

4. Thank you.

I feel like I have earned that respite.

I have maxed out TWO policies that were capped at $1 million apiece.

I've born a good part of that cost too...and many times, the stress of keeping myself insured was more stress than the illness.

[roguevalley]

24. hang in there, horse. something has got to change.

[femmocrat]

2. I am hanging on my by fingernails waiting to go on Medicare!

And dammit, it better be there when I turn 65! We need to be very vocal on this and write, call, organize, whatever it takes!

[Horse with no Name]

7. Our stories are not unique

which makes me think they might have overstepped just a tad.

Hang in there sis!

[WonderGrunion]

3. What if they just cut fraud and overpayments to insurers

and don't touch benefits in any way like President Obama did with the Affordable Care Act?

[Horse with no Name]

6. Honestly the majority of that has already been done

In fact...republicans involved in hospital corporations have shown to be the biggest abusers of the fraud...ie...Bill Frist.

There are actually policies in place now that makes it much more difficult (although not impossible)for the fraud to incur.

It is definitely a red herring, IMHO.

[salin]

12. +1

there is a healthcare crisis here - that is once again disappeared.

My relatives in Norway - have such a different experience. Yet the rightwingmedia keeps pounding into the public's impression ... that we have the best health care system in the world and Obama and the dems threaten it. Sure we do - If you have 500,000 in the bank and can afford it (premiums for plans without exclusions and the out of pocket expenses.)
(

My heart bleeds for you - and my head fears that myself and many others will find ourselves in similar situations. It doesn't appear that there is anyone poised for positions of power and authority has any recognition of how deep this problem is - and how severely it effects our economy. ((hugs)).

[W_HAMILTON]

5. I support you.

I will never vote for anyone that pushes back the Medicare eligibility age under the current system where people are basically just trying to hold out to get to 65 so they can finally get healthcare insurance and get the medical care they have deserved all along.

[Horse with no Name]

8. Thank you!

I've missed every cent that has been pulled from my paycheck and I could have put it to better use than our government did.

:hug:

[Wait Wut]

9. I'm in the same boat...sort of.

I don't have insurance. No COBRA. I make "too much" to qualify for aid. I suffered a minor stroke a few months ago (truly screwed up my short-term memory...ugh). I'm losing my eyesight, have heart palpitations and chest pains (had heart attack at 34) and to add to the fun...fibromyalgia which isn't fatal, but damned annoying.

I'm 46. I probably won't survive to 65, much less 67. My fight is not for myself but for others. I'm not willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater and say I "won't vote for...". Instead, I'm going to remain calm (I can't afford not to) and wait to see what comes of this. If they extend the age to 67, I'll be glad the Rs didn't get a chance to take it away completely and then I'll focus on the coming elections.

I'm confident enough to have faith that our President knows what he's doing. Changes may need to be made, may not. I'm not privileged enough to have all the inside info on our countries finances and I'm not smart enough to understand some of the info I do have.

I don't believe your light is burning out just yet. My word of advice, relax. You'll need less medical care.


NOTE: Now that I've exposed my medical history to some of you I have some more advice. If you have LOW blood pressure, do NOT take it lightly. I only had one doctor many, many years ago that actually told me to take it seriously. I didn't listen to her. Too late for me to fix most of it, but not for one of you. ---This is an unpaid announcement sponsored by the letter "D"

[rbnyc]

10. It is personal.

Your story reminds me of all the stories that were shared in election 2008 of all the people with no health insurance, with inadequate health insurance, with no access to health care. These stories were told with the promise that things could change for the better and we could have fewer of these stories in our future, not MORE of them.

It is personal.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

11. I mean this in the most sincere manner, please don't take it the wrong way. I only hope that

there may be worthwhile information there that could help improve your situation...


http://www.lef.org/protocols/

[nashville_brook]

13. amen to that.

i'm right there with you. 45, chronic serious situation that can rear up at any time. the thought of working until 65 is a joke. there's no way.

[CTyankee]

18. I recall reading that the Catfood Commission had actually recommended a "hardship" exemption

for folks such as you and the OP. Of course, I believe in single payer, "socialized" medicine, so that you and the OP and the rest of society in our country don't have to jump thru hoops to get decent care...but I did want to put that out there...

[Pooka Fey]

14. K&R

:hug:

[BiggJawn]

15. I'm with you, Horse.

I don't want to work till I'm 70 just to get SS or Medicare.
And you KNOW they'll jack the threshold up to 70 before I get there (I'm 54 now)

[raccoon]

16. ITA. I haven't had group medical insurance since 1993. I am counting the years & months until I

turn 65.

Those durn politicians better keep their hands off mah Medicare!

[xchrom]

17. Recommend

[Ganja Ninja]

19. I think more of us in our 50's are in your position than aren't.

Heart disease and the general wear and tear of a lifetime has taken a toll on me too.

[bigmonkey]

20. So, you'd rather have a politician who wants to gut Medicare than vote for one who'd "touch" it?

I really don't understand. That would be petulant, and hurt you. What's the upside?

[Horse with no Name]

23. For people in my position--those are mere semantics

it is not petulant to want what you have worked for and paid in to.

I do not support personality over party over people.

Bottom line...my vote put Obama on the 50 yard line.
It was up to him whether he took the ball forward or fell backward.
From where I am sitting--he is on the 10 yard line...and he better damned well do something spectacular for me to throw any support his way this time around.

BUT if he touches Medicare--then he just suffered a touchback...and he isn't a good enough ball player to even deserve another chance.
But--make no mistake--that is HIS fault and HIS fault alone.

[bigmonkey]

25. No, no. Not mere semantics.

I'm saying what you propose to do will hurt you in a totally pragmatic, everyday way. It will make your financial and health situation worse. So what's the upside, besides making a statement?

Your situation could be much, much worse, and I don't want that for you or anyone.

[DainBramaged]

21. My situation is identical and I am five years away....

:hug:

[area51]

22. +1

There are so many reasons why we need health care as a basic human right, including national security and having a healthy workforce that can not only work, but not spread disease, not to mention the obvious morality of it.

For the lurkers who may be reading this -- why don't you think having police and fire care isn't socialistic, but having a right to health care is?