Mom with MS: No More Health Insurance, Disability and Getting Sued

Here is an article about the challenges being faced by a few of the many moms with MS having a hard time right now with the health care options available in the United States at this point. Names and identifying details are all changed to protect privacy but are describing real situations being faced as you read this.

One mom with MS who is featured in this article was laid off over a year ago and has not yet been able to find a job that provides health insurance. Fortunately because she was laid off there was COBRA that was an option and with the Obama Administration she was able to qualify for the generous subsidy allowing her to pay 35% of what would normally be required to continue the health coverage her family depends on for medical treatment and prescriptions that cost close to $5000/mo without coverage.

Over a year later, this subsidy is ending, and the price for this family insurance plan is jumping from just over $300 to just over $1,200. Unemployment is probably ending soon as well but is currently providing approximately $2,000.

One irony about this situation is that with the insurance plan, while good for prescriptions, they are still paying 20% of the medical costs, and many of these have not been paid and in the last week, Betty has also received a court summons for two medical bills, one of which is about $55 and the other $350. The irony is that the money which did go toward paying for childcare so she could look for jobs, food for the four person family went toward the insurance which has paid these parties a much higher 80% of the full cost.

Mortgage took third priority under maintaining the health and solutions to remedy the cash flow issue as well, and the papers have been served regarding foreclosure as well.

When I hear these stories, and believe me there are more, about what moms with MS are going through, it raises a lot of questions. I learned for instance, that the balances she is now being sued for were much higher, and that there have been many payments made towards them when possible. Also that in addition to these bills there are many many more that are for higher amounts which she has chosen to put very minimal amounts towards so as to still pay for insurance and the food on the table.

She is fighting depression, anxiety, and the pressure to keep it all calm for the children. To cut costs there she is depending on friends on family to help care for them while she seeks opportunities. She is capable of working but is constantly being asked if she has considered applying for disability so as to 'make money'.

Anabelle, can't afford treatment at all because while she is receiving disability payments, she is putting her disability payments toward providing a home for her son. Her partner has a minimum wage job that barely covers the other part of living expenses and there isn't enough left over for co-pays, and her child doesn't even qualify for any kind of public health insurance, at least not that she has been able to find. For her if she tries to find a job that she even might be able to do from home, she risks the insufficient money she does get from disability being lost. So she can not get her treatment or provide for her son at this point.

Until health insurance becomes a right, these families are struggling. I am confident with the 1 in 5 statistics regarding autoimmune conditions that there are many many more families facing this and worse.

These stories come anonymously from Mothers who are supporting each other through these hard times at MomsWithMS.com