As health-insurance premium rises, working mom drops coverage

“Family: Kimberly Cecil, 40, of Louisville is the mother of a 17-year-old son and a daughter in the Air Force. She just got married this month.”

“Job: Hotel sales director for Country Inn & Suites”

“Family income: $42,000, plus a variable amount from her new husband’s job as a freelance computer programmer”

“Health insurance: Cecil just bought a family plan on the individual market costing $259 a month in premiums with a $1,000-per-person deductible.”

“About a year ago, Cecil decided to go without the health insurance offered by her company because the monthly premiums had reached nearly $400. That’s about a sixth of her take-home pay, and she said she couldn’t afford it given the cost of rent, food, gas, car insurance, utilities and payments on almost $1,300 in medical debt. Her new, individually-purchased insurance took effect July 18.”

“Medical status: She and her son are fairly healthy, but last summer she suffered a painful underarm cyst that eventually made it impossible to lower her arm.”

“How they’ve dealt with expenses: She and her son have skipped regular checkups and health screenings and decided not to fill certain prescriptions. Cecil tried to treat her cyst with a home remedy, but it kept growing until she wound up in the emergency room.”

“Quote: ‘I believe there should be universal health care. I pay my taxes. I do what I’m supposed to do,” she said. “Everyone should have health care and nobody should have to wonder, worry and deal with bill collectors while there could be conditions going on that are fatal.’”

Full Article: http://www.courier-journal.com/cjextra/healthinsurance/stories/cecil.html