[Gailete]

I was a college student in Canada for four years in the 70's. While there I was covered by their National Insurance. It was wonderful and I never 'took advantage' of the system. Currently, I'm on disability, but haven't been on it long enough for my Medicare to kick in, yet my COBRA has run out. Just trying to be sure I have and can afford my various medicines is an interesting experience. My hubby is self-employed and due to herniated discs in his neck no one would insure him even if we could afford it. Hard to afford insurance when we we are already laying out $6000 or more each year to pay for our own doctor, meds, and hospital bills. Last year while paying COBRA our out of pocket payment for health care was around $10,000.

We are not eligible for Medicaid as we are the working poor, so to speak, that owns a vehicle, property, etc. We are trying to care for our own financial needs, yet if we were sitting around picking our noses, Medicaid would have stepped right in and paid my hubby's $7000+ hospital stay from 3 years ago that we are still paying on.

I don't know what the answers are, but something needs to be done.

Gail