Recently, I looked around at my colleagues, at least 5 of them had had cancer in the past, but were working full time in demanding careers. Other colleagues have had cardiac events. Others had ongoing medical challenges such as rheumatologic diseases. Two of my medical school classmates had multiple sclerosis. One of my professors was quadriplegic. A good friend, my daughter and I were all premies, and all have negligible residual difficulties. Another good friend and another family member have suffered from depression, yet go on with life.
Fortunately, we are all survivors. Yet, we all have preexisting conditions. And, that may put our financial lives at risk (https://www.npr.org/2018/06/08/618263772/trump-administration-move-imperils-pre-existing-condition-protections), and thus, our real lives. We might be forced to pay much higher premiums, or accept a cutout for a potentially expensive disease. And, spend down our savings until we are eligible for Medicare.
No one gets out of this world alive. And, for most of us, death is preceded by illness or injury, which is also very costly. So, elimination of the protection for pre-existing disease will affect most of us. When I was going through active treatment, I became close to several other patients. One had a recurrence of a similar type of cancer to mine. He had lost his business and his house. He opted to not continue with treatment lest his wife be left bankrupt. Another was a young man, a single father. He, too, lost his house and his job. He started driving for Uber on days he felt well enough. A woman, barely 30, was also facing recurrence. She and her husband were struggling to prepare their children for the inevitable. I had costs that would bankrupt most. So far, I am afloat, but, may need to sell my house and downsize sooner than anticipated, before my children are out of high school. Some of this is due to my job forcing me, since my cancer, to continue to work part time, for half the pay I had before. This is also not uncommon, but adds to the financial stress faced by patients.
Facing death is part of the disease. Facing bankruptcy is not. It is a societal cost, which those in no other developed country must pay.
Fortunately, we are all survivors. Yet, we all have preexisting conditions. And, that may put our financial lives at risk (https://www.npr.org/2018/06/08/618263772/trump-administration-move-imperils-pre-existing-condition-protections), and thus, our real lives. We might be forced to pay much higher premiums, or accept a cutout for a potentially expensive disease. And, spend down our savings until we are eligible for Medicare.
No one gets out of this world alive. And, for most of us, death is preceded by illness or injury, which is also very costly. So, elimination of the protection for pre-existing disease will affect most of us. When I was going through active treatment, I became close to several other patients. One had a recurrence of a similar type of cancer to mine. He had lost his business and his house. He opted to not continue with treatment lest his wife be left bankrupt. Another was a young man, a single father. He, too, lost his house and his job. He started driving for Uber on days he felt well enough. A woman, barely 30, was also facing recurrence. She and her husband were struggling to prepare their children for the inevitable. I had costs that would bankrupt most. So far, I am afloat, but, may need to sell my house and downsize sooner than anticipated, before my children are out of high school. Some of this is due to my job forcing me, since my cancer, to continue to work part time, for half the pay I had before. This is also not uncommon, but adds to the financial stress faced by patients.
Facing death is part of the disease. Facing bankruptcy is not. It is a societal cost, which those in no other developed country must pay.
