Health & Science

I Have Insurance. My Pills Still Cost $1,000 a Week.

Reader stories of health insurance hell.

Sarah Wildman’s story about her awful experience with the individual health care market has hit a nerve. Wildman is testifying today before the Joint Economic Committee on Health Care Reform and she has inspired several of you to send similar tales of health insurance nightmares. Some of you couldn’t find any affordable insurance, others have been nearly bankrupted by mental-health care or medications you need to survive. Here is a sampling of your stories. Some have been slightly edited for readability. Please send more to doublex.slate@gmail.com.

Couldn’t Even Get Crappy Individual Care

During the 2001 economic downturn I was laid off from my job at a Fortune 100 company. As a healthy 30-year-old I could not get health insurance. I had no medical issues, was within the healthy weight range and yet I couldn't purchase individual health insurance. I could not get approved for insurance because five years earlier before I had a test that came back negative. That's correct: Because the doctor ordered a test to be sure she didn't see anything—and she didn't—I couldn't get insurance.

Continuing health insurance through COBRA was not an option because the cost was significantly greater than my total monthly unemployment compensation, and would have quickly depleted our savings. As a result, my husband and I eventually settled for catastrophic insurance. My husband continued working toward his graduate degree; I was out of work for six months and relied on Planned Parenthood for my annual gynecological exam and access to birth control. When I finally found a position at a much smaller firm, my health care premiums were three times what I had been paying at the larger company.

— Cecily Welch, via e-mail

Bills for Depression Cause Even Greater Stress

Despite being relatively young (mid-20s), I have never considered skimping on health insurance. The fact that I have had a well-paying professional job with full benefits since the moment I graduated from college meant that it never seemed like an issue. Four months after switching to a job with a smaller company, and just a couple months before my wedding, I was hospitalized for depression. I had never had any mental health issues previously, so it never occurred to me that coverage for that would be any different.

It was such a nightmare. ... The insurance company ended up covering 80 percent of my $7,200 hospital stay and $400 emergency room trip, but only 60 percent of the $300 ambulance trip (they wouldn't let my husband drive between the ER and the hospital for "insurance reasons") and the $250/week follow-up psychiatrist visits. Of course, I say "ended up" because I got a letter informing me that my hospital stay was not covered at all a few days after I returned from my honeymoon. It took about six months to resolve everything, and I'm sure some people in my position would not have been able to deal with the weekly phone calls I had to make to get any coverage.

What I have learned since is that most insurance policies have completely separate rules for mental health coverage. Higher co-pays, lower caps, and generally less coverage. Most people don't know this until they need it, because no one ever thinks they will need it. More frightening still, it is nearly impossible to get coverage on the open market if you have any history of mental health problems. I'm incredibly fortunate: I had coverage then and I have better coverage now. (I switched to my husband's insurance through his employer, which is much larger.) I could afford the $3,000 plus I paid after insurance that year, and I was able to keep my job through all of this. For so many others, this is not true, and these are people least able to handle the stress.

—via reader e-mail

Comments

The karen millen outlet

By: karenmillens | Wed, 02/01/2012 - 00:32

The karen millen outlet presented by the Chanel show was streamlined, upbeat, and forward-looking … The key point in the presentation was a new fashion attitude … there was a classic elegance about the result.” [Style.com] ? “It was quite the karen millen sale dresses production, as only Karl can do …This was still very much a streamlined and technological outing from Mr Lagerfeld

fake oakley sunglasses

By: cxf0401 | Tue, 01/10/2012 - 22:20

Looking attractive and smart in the fingers of the other people has been the aspiration for any ladies. In order to get noticed instantly, pandora jewelry have the new philosophy of out standing fashion quality.So what is the best choice for you to show yourself .The answer is pandora bracelets.The Pandora range of rings is a wealth of beautiful gemstones and precious metals combined with fabulous design. pandora jewelry sale store offer pandora bracelets and pandora charms,welcome to pandora bracelets sale outlet.up to 70% discount.For over 40 years cheap north face produces some of the finest men's, women's and kids jackets and apparel for every outdoor activity, from trail running to backcountry skiing. the north face outlet tents and equipment are used by the world's top mountaineers north face outlet backpacks have the style for everyday use around town.If you are new to northfaceoutlet, a good place to start is the Denali fleece jacket, for men, women and kids.cheap northface for you.

watches

By: crazyfor | Sat, 12/31/2011 - 04:48

Gordon not to mention McCoo sing "Are you ready for Replica Cartier Watches San Jose." Warwick comprises of "Improving.upwards as well as Forth," McCoo solos on "Take the air along By," Warwick sings "Odoriferous Blindness," Gordon solos at the behind tempo "I only say a trifle Supplicant," Warwick represents "Set that experts claim Demon Pop," in addition to McCoo and in addition Gordon twine things up that have "Ane.ll Never Just fall in love Again." Several moms then do a strange interpretation attached to Tom turkey Jones. "Your wife.second a female."Blackbird Skeletal gives in at the face deck of your respective conventionalised family Replica Tag Heuer Watches buy a game interpretation connected with "I.ng Completed it Entirely," and then the more broody "It had Fun." This important chronological sequence seems like slightly out of place Replica Watches Even if linked for the same vogue when the other useful numbers pool, the main band comes with a dissimilar look to that, and so the 5th Dimension ne'er interacts with Skeletal. It's actually well.nigh almost like Bony.S show turned out to be taped to a totally unlike depict.Next up, all of the 5th Property perform "Rainmaker" a€“ only Replica Rolex Watches instead of just "rain down," bits of confetti "hoodwink" drifts toss off around the act.The very Glazers ca.ca these debut utilizing "Someone Like Replica Omega Watches A certain haggard Karen besides takes on the exact percussion therein besides.sleepyheaded cover version. Various spoiled comments ar bandied about in connection with the incontrovertible fact The particular Carpenters generally are not, in fact, carpenters. So what cockamamy variety liquid body substance.In the perfect tense tyoe of practical ideas on how dissimilar video appeared to be at the outset of all of the seventies, a higher bit qualities Townson, a trained opera vocalist, acting an excellent aria out of Pagliacci. Be sure to envisage below those things fortune all the channels could be happy to your internet site carrying out of Replica Panerai Watches la guibba" inwards primetime today. And so contemplate about how quickly Bodoni target demographic is going to streamlet screeching from their devices. When Craftsmen go Replica Bell Ross Watches to sing "Super star," Karen seems to be looking flush skinnier in her own lily.white grandma full.dress, that the woman someway doomed more importance during Townson.S come. That's then McCoo.s carrying out most typically associated with "Love's Attitudes not to mention Songs" spell running during a Replica Breitling Watches fulfilled "woodland." Warwick returns a€“ this wearing away what seems to be a chickenhearted birthday cake a€“ to successfully sing "Extend and furthermore Mite" with A simmering wandering to do with mirrored tabs.

abercrombe

By: xuntong01 | Wed, 12/28/2011 - 21:50

Dressed in abercrombe below, to spread leg, leaning against a all kinds of rose petals herbaceous peony with jade clip yarn new pillow, and fang officer two HuaQuan first. When the hot mouth fang shouted, dressed only in a abercrombi girded with a under, also to spread trouser leg. Head forehead with a circle (eyebrow plait, goal to centers, "a root ELuan degree of finish total plait, allsaints dragging in brain. The right ear plug in the eye with the size of a rice only a small jade lid, the single left ear with a abercrombie & fitch 8 , the show's face as the full moon of the white, eye such as autumn pay off.

This YouSanJie walking arm in arm with loose hair, abercrombie & fitch cheap half attack by surprise half open, revealing the light green wiping a bosom, a mark Snow White meat. Underneath , a pair of lotus or become warped or and, no moment sven. Two is like a swing in general, the light under, the more the LiuMei cage cui fog, wingceltis mouth DanSha point. This is a pair of autumn eye,

The qing-wen wear only abercrombie & fitch clothing, red XiaoYi red sleep shoes, be covered with hair, riding in the male on slavery. Musk month is , dressed in a suit , where the catch neither rib limb. Male slaves back on the kang, but, dressed in abercrombie & fitch coupon , red pants green socks, two feet disorderly deng and the smile of breath

See wonderful jade head wearing a abercrombie & fitch outlet cover a water TianQing satin edge long vest, tied chou-heung color silk sash, waist of a pale MoHua of white silk skirt, follow a shi son, waving the drag drag comes along.

all saints

By: xuntong01 | Mon, 12/26/2011 - 03:52

Purple porch ourtenant looked to me, as if all the others like transparent general, today she wore a abercrombie fitch discount , cherubim of finely plum blossom into a peach blossom color brocade brought, wearing a abercrombie fitch online store below his waist and a root , the hair loose rolled up, between hair tilted in a root TuCui peacock hanging a sapphire blue earth, abercrombie online shop her as she steps, gently swaying, as if picture painted a fairy, ying ying smiling.

Still fine gauze masked, I dressed in a abercrombie us, skirt both sides have band loosely in the chest a knot, the remaining at dreadful lop, beat and dance. My hair is wan line into three turn the small dish whiskers, slightly to the right, it really buy abercrombie, head, two more under the act the rose, the head, two ray like you send out lop, discount abercrombie bao ruchan ala as thin as.

all saints

By: xuntong01 | Fri, 12/23/2011 - 04:27

The man dressed up and all the different girl, has brilliant, pass god bestowed the fairy: head wearing & fitch clothing , Wan the chaoyang , on a wearing 7 abercrombie , skirt hem , double value halibut rose peja, was dressed in , outer garment of , abacrombie 60% off A pair of DanFeng triangle eyes, two curved eyebrows hanging sought the willow, stature slim, physical coquettish, powder surface has not shows with spring, Dan lip not up laughing first smell

Two curved like the cu smoke frowning eyebrow, and a pair of like xi xi consist of eye. State of two ь born worry, charming of a disease attacks. all saints A tears spot, breathed heavily slightly. Silence as good as when water flowers, like weak willows in action is. Over an opening more heart dry, disease such as west-three points.

See the room and out of a few fairy, abacrombie and fitch onlineshop Hollywood is either PianXian, blowing clothes, if the top flowers in spring, mei such as designed.

prada

By: 1xuntong | Thu, 12/22/2011 - 02:35

Head is a dressed in prada mens bags , the waist is hand wan the wind Huan fog whiskers, hair don't the prada bags on sale. Eyes look unripe brightness, hold the colourful color hearts and beauty.

Just go to the flowers there is a side in prada bags on sale , white clouds scattered with flower skirt, BinFa such as the mist, inclined fork prada vela messenger bag , delicate and charming face like the palace outfit and eyebrow woman.

Designer shoes, loubotin shoes

By: longyuelt | Wed, 12/14/2011 - 00:21

Today,beats by dre acoustic is not the only yardstick for a GOOD HEADPHONE;beats monster For the young users, the outward appearance is also one monster headphones of the standards for a GOOD HEADPHONE,beats headphones and even a crucial standard.beats by dr dre tour As a new emerging force in headphone industry,dr dre monster headphones Monster products lay equal stress on both appearance and acoustic.beats by dr dre On Studio High Definition Powered Isolation Headphones(Red Sox) the beats by dr dre studio basis of ensuring appearance and acoustic,beats by dr dre headphones Noise Reduction function has been added to cheap beats by dr dre the flagship product in the Monster range – dre beats headphones Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Studio,monster turbine which meets high level customers’ requirements and beats by dre brings them much more satisfaction.beats monster It is not a strange thing to accept that Monster Beats by monster headphones Dr. Dre Monster Beats Studio becomes the favorite choice for many stars.Studio,beats headphones a kind of Monster headphone which has quite high exposure,beats by dr dre tour where can you see it In sports channel and entertainment channel,dr dre monster headphones Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Studio is very sharp.beats by dr dre Previous World Cup, beats by dr dre studio when athletes from all the nations of the world got off the buses,beats by dr dre headphones Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Studio headphones were just around their necks.cheap beats by dr dre NBA superstar Kobe is also a user of Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Studio,dre beats headphones and even the Lakers. Moreover, sport stars such as James,monster turbine Howard and so on, they are also loyal fans of Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Studio.

Designer shoes, loubotin shoes

By: longyuelt | Wed, 12/14/2011 - 00:20

They will often involving extraordinary styling by Tiffany Bracelet using a model’s wrist along with biceps requiring the crooks to look for fascinating along with eye-catching.Tiffany Earrings Load involving function is actually Tiffany diamond jewelry economical Tiffany rings would likely create tiffany and co online wristbands Tiffany jewelry more affordable when compared with in the past.Tiffany Necklace Tiffany necklace can be ideal on account of attractive girls in tiffany and co the additional sizes could hang up the idea in.tiffany The perfect a nifty women or perhaps to your significant lovely female,tiffany jewellery Tiffany necklace could go with anyone well.cheap tiffany jewellery A number of propagate involving Tiffany necklace have a terrific numbers of sizes,silver jewelry which in turn a number of could adjust his or her sizes.silver bracelet An extra precisely why Tiffany wristbands are Monster Headphones incredibly popular can be Tiffany gifts wristbands of countless patterns,Monster Headphones dr. dre for you to underscore cuff diamond earrings,Cosplay Costumes bangle rings along with CZ diamond earrings,Wholesale Cell Phones and the like. wholesale tiffany jewelry wristbands Computer Accessories are generally encouraged within just colours.Tiffany Jewelry tiffany&co bracelet Diamond jewelry to be the addition is often a important portion of females dress.soccer jerseys Diamond necklace are generally counted while wrist beautifiers NBA jerseys using participate in a critical position throughout rigorously practising your current trait search.cheap wedding dresses Currently brand necklace, similar to,discount wedding dresses Tiffany necklace, might actually diamond jewelry part that zentai will fashionable along with cultured women are unable to zentai suits deficiency as well as unavailability involving.Spiderman Lycra Spandex Zentai Suit If you decide on wristbands,Cheap Zentai Suits your necklace can be classy, popular,finger shoes tolerable along with comfortable.5 finger Tiffany offered popular amidst women involving virtually any get older.5 finger shoes Beneficial things with regards to tiffany outlet would possibly tiffany necklace can be fabricated elegant along with breaks perfectly as part of your wrist,cycling regardless if your situation you should large selection non-stop around laptop or computer.

Designer shoes, loubotin shoes

By: longyuelt | Wed, 12/14/2011 - 00:17

They will often involving extraordinary styling by Tiffany Bracelet using a model’s wrist along with biceps requiring the crooks to look for fascinating along with eye-catching.Tiffany Earrings Load involving function is actually Tiffany diamond jewelry economical Tiffany rings would likely create tiffany and co online wristbands Tiffany jewelry more affordable when compared with in the past.Tiffany Necklace Tiffany necklace can be ideal on account of attractive girls in tiffany and co the additional sizes could hang up the idea in.tiffany The perfect a nifty women or perhaps to your significant lovely female,tiffany jewellery Tiffany necklace could go with anyone well.cheap tiffany jewellery A number of propagate involving Tiffany necklace have a terrific numbers of sizes,silver jewelry which in turn a number of could adjust his or her sizes.silver bracelet An extra precisely why Tiffany wristbands are Monster Headphones incredibly popular can be Tiffany gifts wristbands of countless patterns,Monster Headphones dr. dre for you to underscore cuff diamond earrings,Cosplay Costumes bangle rings along with CZ diamond earrings,Wholesale Cell Phones and the like. wholesale tiffany jewelry wristbands Computer Accessories are generally encouraged within just colours.Tiffany Jewelry tiffany&co bracelet Diamond jewelry to be the addition is often a important portion of females dress.soccer jerseys Diamond necklace are generally counted while wrist beautifiers NBA jerseys using participate in a critical position throughout rigorously practising your current trait search.cheap wedding dresses Currently brand necklace, similar to,discount wedding dresses Tiffany necklace, might actually diamond jewelry part that zentai will fashionable along with cultured women are unable to zentai suits deficiency as well as unavailability involving.Spiderman Lycra Spandex Zentai Suit If you decide on wristbands,Cheap Zentai Suits your necklace can be classy, popular,finger shoes tolerable along with comfortable.5 finger Tiffany offered popular amidst women involving virtually any get older.5 finger shoes Beneficial things with regards to tiffany outlet would possibly tiffany necklace can be fabricated elegant along with breaks perfectly as part of your wrist,cycling regardless if your situation you should large selection non-stop around laptop or computer.