Since the healthcare debate / fight for our lives seems to be heating up, I thought I would share my own personal story having received health care through a "public option" for the last 4 years. Pro's and Con's, as while I am strong supporter I feel like having real dialogue.
A preamble: I have been on a NY state program for uninsured people that are HIV + and make less than 43K a year known as ADAP. 5 Years ago I was diagnosed with HIV at age 25 and at the time I had no income on paper (I was doing cash jobs). After a year of going naked and not getting any care of any kind, I remained relatively healthy, but I was encouraged by my then Boyfriend to apply for ADAP.
More on the other side.
To enroll I sent in a letter that included my personal information, proof of residency in the State of NY (a cell phone bill), and a proof of my income level. Since I had no income on paper, my Boyfriend wrote me a letter stating that he was supporting me financially and letting me live for free at his place. The real story was something similar, but more complicated.
I was approved and got my card within 1 week. I then went to find a Doctor for the first time in over a year, and this was a little bit difficult. I ended up getting into a very good practice with a great HIV Doctor, but I had to fight my way in because at first he said he refused to see any more ADAP patients. Apparently, Doctors are only required to see a certain # of ADAP patients and he was already at his quota. Doctors don't like taking ADAP -- the Nurse complained to me that ADAP is a very bad payer, taking a long time to pay -- if at all, he said.
I might have been one of the last ADAP patients taken by this Doctor and that was 4 years ago.
So the good stuff first: Since getting into this care I have had 0 problems. The insurance -- it's technically not insurance, but a program for the uninsured -- covers anything related to my HIV, including visits, medications (for which I have a $0 co-pay), and lab tests, which I need a lot of. At one point I was being treated for testosterone deficiency and was taking injectable hormones. This caused me to break out with bad acne, and since this was related to my HIV, I was able to see a specialist (a dermatologist) also with no co-pay.
Some of the stuff that is less than ideal: I am basically never able to make more than 43K per year, which while it is sufficient to live off of, in New York does not provide a real opportunity to do things like plan for retirement -- (if you are laughing that someone with HIV thinks about that, I would remind you that you have luxury of that cynicism and I do not. I do not keep my mental and physical health together by thinking about when I am going to die). Owning property is out of the question if I want to remain in New York City, as is generally feeling like I can do what I want with my business (I am self employed now) without worrying that it will cost me my health.
So I feel a bit trapped by this income requirement. Unless I am going to make a lot more than 43K that I could afford insurance, I am basically given an incentive not to achieve anything greater than where I am today.
Also I have no coverage for hospitalization or for any health concern that is not HIV related. So the biggest threat to me remains I break my leg or I am in some sort of catastrophic accident, or I get cancer. (Thankfully though I've learned to manage my fear of health crisis, I have lots of practice).
So in conclusion, I wanted to share because I think that we MUST HAVE a Public Option, and my story is evidence against anyone who says that a Public Option will not work.
That said, we should have an a public option that will not force people to keep our incomes low and instead encourage us to become more active and more productive members of society. It must also ensure that it pays Doctors on time, or close to on time, as we cannot have Doctors refusing to take patients because they are not being reimbursed for their work.
Even if our public option covered the basics of what I have -- doctor visits, medications, lab tests -- we would improve by light years the situation where are in now where people live in fear of health problems. A condition of stress that no doubt contributes to our worsening health crisis.