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Medical students speak for rights of uninsured. - Albany In Images
Emily Becker never needed to be concerned about her well-being. Both her parents had good jobs and every small toothache was covered. That was until her dad, Bob Becker a former CEO of a HVAC business in Jersey, lost his job in August because of the downturn.
When my dad lost his job, I lost my insurance, the senior Ualbany pupil says. For Emily this fall in coverage could not have come at a worst time. A number of weeks after her dad lost his job she was hurried to the hospital with stomach pains. She needed to get her appendix out instantly.
Fortunately I was still covered, she says, explaining that because it absolutely was in the exact same month her dad's insurance was terminated she was still under his coverage. The price of having your appendix out with lately terminated insurance coverage is $17,000, but because Emily is a pupil she was able to get the bill dropped to $2,000. Emily's entire medical debt which has collected in the past year is $5,000.
To make things worse Emily was only diagnosed with HINI. Again she got lucky and went to the University Health Center where pupil's who do not have health insurance can get treated for free. I'd visit the physician more if I understood I was not going to get a $2,500 bill. I am the worst I Have ever been now that I do not have health insurance.
Although Emily has the choice to visit the health center when she's feeling a bit under the weather, she still doesn't have coverage if something serious were to take place, and she cannot get the correct preventative care she wants.
I've been filling out forms for Medicaid since August. I get one done and get another in the email. Once she is able to show she's an Albany resident she is going to then wait 4-6 weeks to understand if she's been approved.
