Idea Management : Forgotten Americans: Like Me

Forgotten Americans: Like Me

Posted by ar_foster 07/13/2008 12:00 AM PDT

I've written to every candidate that I can think of to ask why, in every possible context, in every piece of legislation, in every single respect, people like myself are excluded - completely disregarded. Not one politician has bothered to respond...ever.

Who am I?

I am a 52 year-old disabled woman, completely ignored by my government. I used to be a woman who worked over sixty hours each week from the time my daughter was born in 1979, until I was placed on disability in 2002. I used to be a woman who was the sole support of my child since 1983 when I became divorced. I used to be a woman whose ex-husband died in 1993, after a seven-year battle with AIDS, owing me over $60,000 in child support. I used to be a woman who had a retirement plan and money put aside, who had a savings account, who used my hard-earned money to completely repay the $24,000 I had placed on my credit cards in the 1980’s in order to pay my rent, utilities, daughter’s tuition, and other ordinary life expenses. I did this because my income alone was not enough to provide for her. I did this because I had high medical bills.

I now rely completely on my disability insurance income to survive. It is private insurance (not Social Security, as I've been denied on appeal) from my previous employer and it can be terminated at any time. I want to be clear that it is completely "arbitrary coverage." There are NO “cost-of-living” increases, ever. There are no adjustments and there is no negotiation, lest I run the risk of willful termination. My disability will permanently cease when I turn 62--regardless if I have ever become eligible for SSI, or other aid.

This arbitrary income is nowhere near what’s needed to make ends meet. My medical bills and health insurance combined is currently over sixty-percent of my income!!! What happens if I max out my private health insurance? This is insurance that costs me nearly $10,000 in premium and deductibles, and another $2,000 to 4,000 in out-of-pocket expense.

By the way, am I ever going to be go out to or rent a movie, eat dinner out, buy a book or CD, attend the ballet, or any other form of entertainment besides garage sales? I have not done any of these things and many others since about 1996. I have been forced into a hermit-like existence because I am slowly dying from my country’s complete disregard for people like me.

I am either too poor to obtain much-needed services, or my gross (same as net) income is too great. No public agencies take my medical care costs into consideration when I apply with them. My own government ignores me even when Stimulus Payments are given out. No tax return, no payment. Also, ONLY Social Security Disability is accepted. What about me? I repeat, what about me?

What happens if the company providing my disability income cancels it, or goes out of business? I already had to cash out my insignificant retirement account four years ago to cover my medical bills. If I'm lucky enough to survive and get disability income to age 62, what the heck am I supposed to do at that time? Shall I live in a box on the street?

And, where is the regulation on private disability providers? Why don’t they offer COL increases or income adjustments? Why is it that every calculation for government-subsidized services ignores Americans on private payer disability?

I used to be a hard-working American, quite happy to pay my income taxes. In fact, the higher that payment, the more “real” I felt as a citizen. I’ve asked every presidential candidate to answer me. But they were obviously too busy.

Now, I am asking you.

Why can’t you stand up for Democratic ideals? Why can’t you stand up against the criminals in the current administration? Why can’t you stand-by citizens like me and provide solutions? Will you ever do so during my lifetime? Or, as is more likely…will I die of my government’s complete disregard?

I want to hear a solid plan for taking care of me -and others like me. No one should suffer as much as me. The alternative is to take all of my pain meds at once and put the problem behind me. Of course, someone will have to pay for my funeral, because I can't! Would that be you?

Sincerely,

Ar Foster
Fort Collins, CO

Idea # 260Category/Tags : Issues: Domestic (121) healthcare (2) disability government (3) assistance insurance (5) medical (2) care (13)

Comments

vbyrd6

07/13/2008

Hi! AR, I do hear you. My recent years were similar and their response was similar. But what did help me is when I turned 60 I was eligible for MY HUSBANDS Social security it was only $1,342.00 but it is like 'a god sent' to my mounting bills.

My husband of 21 years died of a hospital Bacteria they let into his brain during multiple surgeries. NO Saint Joseph's Hospital never paid me either. I had $15,000. in legal fees and 'got no where' - as you say they just don't listen to us. I hope perhaps as you approach 60 go see the Social Security office about this coverage so you can wait it out until your retirement age without starving. I do believe that the Social Security Administration may be the one who should answer you. Good Luck. I feel so strongly about these issues like Crime and Immagration rights that I want to write a book about it, so wish me luck and maybe someone will finally hear you. VJ
PS, the benefit above is based on how many years you were married to him/them.

sundance521

07/14/2008

I hear you too. My wife and I are out in the cold, as you are. My heart goes out to you.

My wife was in a very bad car accident (near fatal) in '01, and her medical bills were astronomical. I had insurance, still do... even with the insurance, the medical bills were bad enough that I had to swallow my pride and file bankruptcy. That was three years ago. The following year, I had two heart attacks (and triple-bypass surgery). STILL with insurance, supposedly great insurance.... yet we are back to where we were before we filed bankruptcy, with one exception.... bankruptcy is not an option because we already did it. I have only a small balance on my mortgage, less than 10% of the market value of the house... yet, I could sell the house and still NOT be able to pay off the medical bills I have. Again I remind you, that I HAVE medical insurance, have had it all along. Our mail mostly consists of threats from collection agencies. We are already paying more than 20% of our income toward accounts that have placed judgements on us, and we are about to be sued again. I am back working, still have insurance, and our financial future is bleak indeed. We have to be careful with every penny, and that gets tougher every day. We need our phone service, how could my wife (who is still disabled and homebound) call 911 without it? I need my car, or I don't work and therefore we don't get my salary... that means gas, insurance, upkeep... I guess the only luxuries we have are internet and cable TV, but I don't consider them luxuries as without them my poor wife would only be able to stare at the walls 24 hours a day.

We have done everything right, decent, and honest. And where has that gotten us? One small step away from homelessness. Don't take what you have for granted.... and whatever you do, DON'T get yourself injured or sick in America, if you do your financial life is OVER!!

debbie.wonderkitty

07/14/2008

Don't look to the Democrats for help on this. They won't do a damn thing about it. Obama and Clinton BOTH have health insurance plans that amount to subsidizing the insurance companies. What we need is UNIVERSAL SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH INSURANCE. Kucinich and Gravel proposed this. Nader proposes this. So, in my book, at this time, Nader is the only choice. I think we need to get rid of the health insurance companies altogether. They are only looking for ways not to pay for health care and maximize their profits. We need a system where profit is not a factor in our health. It shouldn't be. And the Republicans are only worse.

Nader is the ONLY choice now.

sundance521

07/14/2008

I understand what you are saying Debbie and I would probably have agreed with you a while back, in the days when I was a little more idealistic than I am nowadays. There was a time when I refused to vote for someone that I didn't think deserved the job 100%. Consequently, I didn't vote much, for most of my life.

Well, my feelings on that have changed. Here is reality... either Obama or McCain is going to be the next prez, period.... and Nader has no realistic chance whatsoever. A vote for him is tantamount to a vote for McCain (just as it was for someone else not too long ago...), and I will not do that under any circumstances. Unlike my younger, more idealistic days, today I realize the reality of the situation... it's either Obama or McCain... and I will NOT support the party that has systematically driven my beloved USA into the toilet, therefore Obama gets my vote.

debbie.wonderkitty

07/14/2008

sundance521 - I do understand how you feel, but I am tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. I don't consider it a matter of being idealistic. I think Obama is only slightly better than McCain. Honestly, they're both fairly bad. McCain is a repeat of Bush. Obama is already backpeddling on nearly everything he ran on in the primaries and he isn't even officially the nominee yet. I don't trust either one of them. They'll both end up being bad for the country in the long run. I don't like to vote just along party lines. I did that in 2004 because I felt as you did. The Democrats wanted a majority in congress and they got it. They haven't done ANY of the things they said they would: we're still in Iraq, health care is worse than ever, our economy is a shambles. I don't blame them for all of it. But the bi-partisanship continues to whose benefit? Certainly not ours. They lost me when they refused to stand behind Kucinich and Gravel. I got tired of them calling and asking me for money and none of them even knew who Gravel was. Someone who did more for progressive values than most of the jokers in congress today. It got so bad that he left the party. He's disgusted with them and so am I. Now that Gravel is no longer in the running, Nader is the only choice for me. Nader also FULLY supports the National Initiative. He's the only one with the guts to support it. He's got my vote 100%. The Democrats and Republicans are two heads of the same beast now. Just look at this board. Look at the vitriol. People are ANGRY. Our representatives no longer represent us.

At the very least, even if you still want to vote for Obama, please look into voting for the National Initiative. www.ni4d.us. It might just be the only way we can save this country.

bojo1235

07/15/2008

Why is it the responsibility of the government to provide for you? Where is that iin the U.S. Constitution?
Personally, I think the government has way overstepped its bounds, and entered into area that at one time
were the function of the Christian Churches and charities.
Our government has usurped certain church functions, which means there is not a
separation of church and state here, and the government is now looked to by many, as if it were
the moral, i.e., religioius duty of government to care for its citizens.
Our government has expanded into areas it was never meant to, and in so doing, has taken money from us, in taxes,
to be used in programs of their choosing. In other words, it runs charities I have not chosen, using my money.
The country would be better if government was returned to the limits our founding fathers set, and
we ourselves managed the churches, charities, and schools, without them. Forntunately, in spite of the taxes
we pay, many people still contribute their time and money to their church and charities. But I contend, we
could do even greater things for one another, if we were not forced to contribute to the socialist programs
which do not help.
Finally, to paraphrase St. Paul, true religion is this: to care for widows and orphans.

sundance521

07/16/2008

Spoken like a true repuke. It is wonderful that you apparently have several hundred thousand dollars put away just in case you have serious medical problems, and will be able to simply pay cash. I would guess that the vast majority of Americans, especially in these economic times (ie, bush's America) do not.

My wife was in an auto accident that nearly killed her, and I had two heart attacks. Neither one of us asked for these things, trust me. Keep in mind, that we have insurance, did the whole time. Between the two of us, our bills are well over half a million dollars. Closer to three quarters of a million (medical costs are a whole seperate issue). Insurance did not pay anywhere near all of that. We are left with enough degt that our net worth is a negative number, a very large one at that (and we own a house that is 90% paid off!!) I guess your solution is to just euthanize us, and all the others like us? Because we don't happen to be among the elite class who has that kind of money to just pay off the bills??

I am not asking for any charity from you, you can take your money and guess where you can put it, pal. I only ask that the insurance that I pay through the nose for should do what it's supposed to do, and that perhaps the medical industry should not be something akin to legalized rape.

Thanks for your comments, now go back into the hole you crawled out of, and in spite of your assinine comments, I hope you never have to find out the hard way that doing all the right things (being a productive citizen, paying your taxes, having medical insurance) will be of precious little help to you if you do the unforgiveable in America; get sick.

ar_foster

07/16/2008

Hello to all of the folks who've been responding to my post.

I feel a sense of community, albeit a sad community, when I hear of others in the same situation as myself.

I am very worried, possibly upset though, when I read a post that says things like this: "I am not asking for any charity from you, you can take your money and guess where you can put it, pal." Or, "now go back into the hole you crawled out of, and in spite of your assinine comments, I hope you never have to find out the hard way that doing all the right things..."

We need to keep the discourse as respectful of each other as possible. It is only then that we can truly bridge the wide gap of the "haves" and the "have nots" who, by the way, are the majority of Americans now.

It's obvious that you are all as passionate about this topic as I am especially having lived through some horrible medical and financial traumas like me. I really wish none of us had to deal with all of this and that we had a brighter facing us and our children. But, we don't. So, let's use our passion and really hammer those in power--those that control a large portion of our destiny--and keep doing whatever we can to change things, even if it's just writing on a message board like this.

Every time I get one of these responses in my inbox, I pray that it's from Speaker Pelosi or her staff...of course, I'll probably NEVER hear from anyone in our government. I will, however, not stop trying and I encourage each of you to keep trying, too. Just tone down the rhetoric with each other, okay?

Sincerely,

Ar Foster
Fort Collins, CO

sundance521

07/16/2008

Ar;

I am sorry that my comments apparently upset or offended you. That was not my intention. Perhaps I did word my post a little strongly... I did so only because I was VERY insulted by the comments of the prior poster: "Our government has expanded into areas it was never meant to, and in so doing, has taken money from us, in taxes, to be used in programs of their choosing. In other words, it runs charities I have not chosen, using my money."

I take STRONG exception to his/her insinuation that I (and you too, for that matter) would like to be a leech on society by demanding that the government pay my bills. If you are going to throw an accusation like that at me, you had better expect a response, because you ARE going to get one. I never asked for anything from him/her and don't want anything from him/her. I want only that my government do what it is supposed to do, which is act FOR THE PEOPLE (not for the special interests, ie insurance companies and the medical industry). Sound familiar? It certainly should. I suggest that the prior poster do a little research, as he/she apparently never saw those words.

My point is that if our government did not allow the blatant ripoffs of the insurance and medical folks, I would not be in the fix I am in. If that person has enough money to pay off in cash the kind of bills I have, more power to him/her. He/she can go to the country club, shoot a round of golf then retire to the lounge and toast the little people. As for me, I have done everything I am supposed to do and I still have very real problems and a government who apparently could not possibly care less. And people with the mentality of the prior poster are not helping any, but are contributing to the problem.

Again, sorry if I offended you, it was certainly not my intent.

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