Retiree With Rare Debilitating Disease Fears Her Insurance More Than Her Illness

Juanita Anderson - Los Angeles, CA

“I have a very rare and incurable disease called systemic mastocytosis, which very few doctors even know about,” said Juanita Anderson who resides in Los Angeles, California.

“It has changed my life totally. I had to stop working last year when I was 62 and able to retire. My health insurance is very expensive and is taken out of my retirement check. I spend a lot of time in the emergency room and have had to call 911 for help on more occasion than I can remember. This disease just takes your life away from you.”

“I live on $1,500 a month – a mix of Social Security, pension, and help from my family.  For the first three months of the year, I had to put my medical costs on credit cards until my prescription drug coverage starts.”

“Last year, my premiums were going to double so I switched to a plan that was $30 to $40 cheaper but I am worried that the coverage won’t be adequate. And the medications I have to take are very expensive because I can’t take generic drugs; they all have to be name brand.”

“I've lived with this disease since the year 2000. I know that I am one of the lucky few Americans who even has retiree healthcare, through my union. Without health insurance I would be dead now I'm sure. I still live in constant fear that the premiums and plan can change at any time, or be eliminated altogether.”

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Sponsored by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee

Eighty-two percent of Americans think the U.S. healthcare system should be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt (Commonwealth Fund, Aug. 7, 2008). America's nurses know that only single-payer, improved and expanded Medicare for all will fix our broken system and the tragedy of our devastated families. HR 676, by U.S. Rep John Conyers, is the most comprehensive, cost effective way to achieve guaranteed healthcare for all.

For more information, or to contact this patient: Liz Jacobs, RN 510/273-2232.