Why Health Care reform should be top priority

[TZ]

I keep hearing that asshole McCain blow off Health Care reform as easily done by more people exercising and eating right. Well MORAN here's why that won't do a thing for most of us.
My story:

I have a rare chronic blood disorder called essential thrombocythemia..a disorder where my bone marrow makes too many platelets(most likely due to a genetic defect/damage)
a normal count is between 100-400. My counts until recently have been between 500-800. Earlier this year, something changed. My counts went way up..to 1350, 1475..Yes thats right 10x normal. Since its a rare disease and not well understood by many hematologists I went to see one of the few specialists in the disease in the country..at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. It was expensive (airfare, travel expenses) but worth getting expert opinions. It turned out that I was not misdiagnosed ( a possiblity) nor am I converting into a more serious disease (a possibility involving both myelofibrosis or even leukemia). But I did need to go back on medication, something I knew was going to happen. However the old meds, hydroxyurea is a chemotherapeutic that was making me nauseaus a lot.


So the Mayo doc wanted to put me on something stronger but more effective..Interferon. However its a bit experimental although well documented in literature as being helpful to my disease. Also expensive.
Sooo, my insurance company is fighting this. My doctor's office filed an appeal with all the research on the drug and why I need it. But the insurance company says its going to take up to 30 days to review my case! Meanwhile my platelets went up AGAIN. To over 1600. That puts me in a higher risk for bleeding/clotting stroke/coronary issues.
Thanks for listening. I'm so frustrated.

Someone here on DU very nicely gave me a gift of $500 to help pay for the meds while I wait out the appeal. Thats great..but I found out that the actual cost of the meds for a month is $1250! What can I do? I'm gonna have to shell it out. I'll still have some savings left over but after this and paying for my Mayo trip..sigh. Yeah, that big 600 rebate is going to medical bills.
I called the health insurance carrier (CIGNA) to see if the process can be rushed. Nope. So I guess if I get a stroke before that or go to the hospital with a bleeding issue, I'm SOL (although the dummies would have to pay much more than $1250 if it happened).
So tomorrow I am going to pay out of pocket for my meds because what the hell is my ability to pay off bills gonna matter if I'm dead from a stroke...
How many people have crazy stories like this? Health care should be what both Congress and the next President concentrate on first thing.:rant:

[Goodnevil]

1. My wife has diabetes type II

and my son has a colon disorder (pretty innocuous one) and we can't afford our group plan through my company. Private insurers won't touch them.

I've posted about this before and it wasn't pretty. It makes me hate our country. I know that's juvenile and knee-jerk but...well...yah.

I'm sorry for your situation.

[Rainbowreflect]

2. My father-in-law died much sooner then he should have

due to insurance company refusing an "experimental" at the time, treatment, which is now very common.
If it was not for MDA my husband would not get the treatment he needs.
No one in this country should have to go without treatment or meds.