This past summer, my family faced the daunting task of switching health insurance plans due to my partner Ben’s job change. His new position offered insurance too, and all we had to do was select a plan and transition over. Sounds straightforward, right? Wrong.
First off, because Ben is a teacher and had the summer off, it was unclear for months whether his previous employer would continue covering our family during this time. We made countless phone calls, enduring long wait times, just to get clarity on our coverage. Even when we thought we had an answer, it was often met with the vague response of “wait and see” from the payroll department.
We considered COBRA, a federal program that allows you to purchase health insurance from your previous employer during employment gaps, but quickly discovered it was prohibitively expensive. As parents of two young children with asthma, going without insurance was not an option.
These financial and health-related dilemmas kept me up at night—night after night. Finally, when summer arrived and we learned that our coverage would continue (thank goodness!), we had to navigate the new plan. For the first time, even though Ben’s new job provided insurance, we were responsible for contributing to our premium, and it was significantly higher than I had anticipated.
This led to yet another round of sleepless nights as we adjusted our budget and applied for government-sponsored health insurance for the kids (thanks, Congress, for CHIP), which was only marginally cheaper. Yet again, we were met with endless phone calls and customer service representatives who offered conflicting information. On top of that, it turned out there would likely be a week when no one was covered, forcing us to choose between COBRA or wrapping our kids in a protective bubble during that time. Cue the anxiety attacks.
Amidst all this chaos, I took to social media to share my frustrations, only to find that many of my friends had their horror stories to tell as well. A friend from Canada offered a perspective that left me stunned. “In Canada, while health insurance isn’t perfect, I’ve never had to fill out paperwork to access it. I simply go to the doctor, receive treatment, and leave without worrying about a bill.”
This contrast made me realize just how broken our health insurance system is in America. I recognize that I’m one of the fortunate ones; I’m not among the approximately 12% of Americans without health insurance. I can afford it, and I have the time and knowledge to navigate the convoluted maze of options to find the best possible coverage for my family.
While we’ve made strides—such as eliminating the “pre-existing condition” clause and allowing kids to stay on their parents’ plans until 26—much remains to be done. People are dying in our country because they lack access to fair and adequate health insurance, and that is simply unacceptable.
Health insurance should be treated like other essential services that are publicly funded, such as police and fire departments, schools, and parks. We don’t question the need for these services; so why should health care be any different? Healthcare is a right, and it should not be so challenging or costly to obtain basic coverage. Families shouldn’t have to worry about coverage gaps, exorbitant deductibles, or uncovering that lifesaving treatments are excluded from their plans.
Dealing with a serious medical condition is already stressful enough. Why should we add the burden of wrestling with insurance issues on top of that? The situation is intolerable.
I may not be a lawmaker, and I don’t fully grasp the intricacies of the insurance industry, but I do know that a significant majority of Americans desire improvements. Recent polls indicate that around 60% of people support some form of universal health insurance. Just as no family should worry about affording emergency services, we should all be able to rest easy, knowing we’ll receive appropriate care in times of illness or injury.
It’s time for America to do better. We can and must make changes for the betterment of all.
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Summary
The current health insurance system in America is fraught with complications, leaving families stressed and uncertain about their coverage. The experience of switching plans reveals the numerous challenges and emotional toll involved in navigating insurance. In contrast, some other countries, like Canada, offer more straightforward health care access. This disparity highlights the urgent need for reform in the U.S. health insurance model to ensure that all citizens receive fair and affordable health care without the added burden of complex systems.
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