[HM2Viking]

Story from the MPLS Star Tribune

[IMG]http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/177*260/1flu0301.jpg[/IMG]


One of 18,000 deaths each year d/t lack of health insurance...

"This reminds all of us that we still need to protect ourselves and our families from the flu," said Mary Ann Blade of the Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency, which is running the clinics.
Jasmine, who had asthma, had not had a flu shot, according to Alonzo, because her mother had no health insurance.

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http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle.../16134657.html

Share your stories....

[TheCommuter]

I will be without employer-sponsored health insurance for the next 90 days, as I will be starting a new job tomorrow. I simply hope and pray that I do not become ill enough to require hospital care while uninsured, because that would suck my personal savings dry.

I did not work while attending school, and was uninsured the whole time. I suffered a relapse of Graves disease (hyperthyroidism) while I was a student, and could not afford to get treated. I simply had to suffer with the palpitations, pulse rate of 140, insomnia, diarrhea, hair loss, anxiety, etc. I am thankful for not dying before my life had even begun.

[ingelein]

I am still alive, not really kicking though, well , not physically kicking anyway. I worked as a nurse for almost 30 years, could no longer work D/T, DJD and DDD muliti-level, lumbar and lower thoracic spine. DJD bilateral knees, RA+, RA in bilat. hands , Autoimmune Inflammatory eye disease which has caused cataracts to form in both good eye and already blind eye.Good eye also had a Posterior Vitreous Detachment which left me with Cellophane Maculapathy.I can no longer drive.

I could not afford the Cobra payment, plus Cobra lasts only 18 months or so.I lost ALL my savings D/T MEDICAL debt, now go to free clinic( I am not eligible for Medicaid in my state of WI.) until I am approved for SSDI. free clinic is good but cannot give more than basic care D/T cost constraints. I will get Medicare when approved. My wonderful children are now paying me back , by supporting me financially,for all the years I worked like a darn dog to support them after my divorce. All 4 kids college grads, one a lawyer. We are decent hard working folks who never have taken a dime of assistance from the government except for student loans, which my children except for the lawyer have already paid back.