KARINA
MY FRIEND OR LOVED ONE'S NAME IS
My grandmother
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LOVED ONE
Depending on the time of the year, her insurance will only pay a certain amount for her medication. Sometimes it will cost a couple thousand dollars per month.
WHEN I SAW MY LOVED ONE SUFFERING, I FELT
sad because she will suffer without her medication
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
Nobody should be in pain when we can help it.
LEVITA
I AM FROM
Philadelphia
I LEARNED THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TREATS PEOPLE LIKE ME DIFFERENTLY WHEN
Sometimes I can't pay my copay, so sometimes I don't go to the doctor because of the copay
WHEN MY RIGHTS ARE DISRESPECTED, I FEEL
bad because they will be wondering why you took so long to go
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
Everybody should be healthy and have healthcare
ANTOINETTE
I AM FROM
Baltimore
I LEARNED THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TREATS PEOPLE LIKE ME DIFFERENTLY WHEN
I have been disabled since 2001. I am on Medicare and Medicaid. I have had the same fillings in since 1984 and they need to be replaced, but I can't afford it. My teeth are falling out.
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
Everybody should have the right to their health.
JACKIE
I AM FROM
Baltimore
I LEARNED THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TREATS PEOPLE LIKE ME DIFFERENTLY WHEN
In 1978, I got hurt and had to wait all day to be seen in the ER because I didn't have insurance.
WHEN MY RIGHTS ARE DISRESPECTED, I FEEL
angry
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
Whether you have insurance or not, people are obligated to treat you.
THOMAS
I AM FROM
Baltimore
I LEARNED THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TREATS PEOPLE LIKE ME DIFFERENTLY WHEN
In 1975, I was shot by police during an armed robbery. Hospital staff were harassing me for the bill and started harassing my parents because they couldn't pay.
WHEN MY RIGHTS ARE DISRESPECTED, I FEEL
Honestly, I didn't feel anything because I was in a really bad place at that time. But I still should have been treated differently.
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
Nobody in regards to how they're living should be mistreated or stigmatized.
VIOLETTA
I LEARNED THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TREATS PEOPLE LIKE ME DIFFERENTLY WHEN
they don't have proper insurance or none at all
WHEN MY RIGHTS ARE DISRESPECTED, I FEEL
disrespected and I feel that the system does not work for me
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
we are citizens and as citizens it is a human right to have insurance
DEVON
MY FRIEND OR LOVED ONE'S NAME IS
Sue (my mother)
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LOVED ONE
My mother had Hepatitis C. This was a few years ago, before the new drugs were available. She got three months treatment of Infuron, which made her sick. After three months, her insurance wouldn't pay for it anymore. When the new treatments came out, it was too late - she had experienced hepatitic encephalopathy and liver failure. They refused to put her on transplant because they considered her an at-risk patient. She suffered the last year of her life in pain.
WHEN I SAW MY LOVED ONE SUFFERING, I FELT
Helpless and angry. When she died I was relieved because she was no longer in pain.
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
It is. And it should be free like in other countries.
MICHELLE
MY FRIEND OR LOVED ONE'S NAME IS
Gisella
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LOVED ONE
She was not able to get help when she really needed it.
WHEN I SAW MY LOVED ONE SUFFERING, I FELT
Sad, lonely and disappointed.
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
Nobody should be in pain when we can help it.
OHU
I AM FROM
Lagos
I LEARNED THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TREATS PEOPLE LIKE ME DIFFERENTLY WHEN
When I do not have insurance
WHEN MY RIGHTS ARE DISRESPECTED, I FEEL
bad
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
It enables everyone to be healthy.
SIMONE
I AM FROM
Baltimore
I LEARNED THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TREATS PEOPLE LIKE ME DIFFERENTLY WHEN
I've always known - there was that one time I got a really big bill from an ER visit
WHEN MY RIGHTS ARE DISRESPECTED, I FEEL
I felt so mad that I had to take a walk
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
The [the government] have got the money for everyone to have it!
TERRELL
I AM FROM
Baltimore
I LEARNED THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TREATS PEOPLE LIKE ME DIFFERENTLY WHEN
I went to the hospital with the flu. I had no insurance and was made to wait for hours while people with Blue Cross Blue Shield went straight through.
WHEN MY RIGHTS ARE DISRESPECTED, I FEEL
disrespected and upset
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
Everybody is human and it doesn't matter how much money you have
DAMIEN
I AM FROM
Baltimore
I LEARNED THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TREATS PEOPLE LIKE ME DIFFERENTLY WHEN
I had low level Hepatitis C and my insurance wouldn't pay for the drug to treat it. I was able to get the drug by participating in a medical study.
WHEN MY RIGHTS ARE DISRESPECTED, I FEEL
I was upset because I had insurance
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
we are already putting money into it
VANESSA
I AM FROM
Baltimore
I LEARNED THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TREATS PEOPLE LIKE ME DIFFERENTLY WHEN
As I got older, I noticed a difference. There used to be more free stuff - dentists, glasses, etc. University of Maryland dental school used to provide free care. They don't now.
WHEN MY RIGHTS ARE DISRESPECTED, I FEEL
Sad, hurt and angry
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
Everybody should have the same care
CHARLES
I AM FROM
Baltimore
I LEARNED THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TREATS PEOPLE LIKE ME DIFFERENTLY WHEN
I broke my left clavicle gwhen I was going to college. My mom's health insurance didn't cover it and I couldn't pay for it because I was attending college instead of working. They kept harassing her with bills she couldn't pay and it it went to a collection unit.
WHEN MY RIGHTS ARE DISRESPECTED, I FEEL
I felt bad because it made credit score go down
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
At the end of the day, humans should care about one another.
URSULA
I AM FROM
Chicago
I FOUND MYSELF IN MEDICAL DEBT WHEN
I have been blessed to have insurance AND knowledge of how to care for myself
HAVING TO DEAL WITH MEDICAL DEBT MADE ME FEEL
incentive to learn acupuncture
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
Every human being needs to have their health to live a healthy, successful, satisfying life.
PAMELA
I AM FROM
Baltimore
I LEARNED THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TREATS PEOPLE LIKE ME DIFFERENTLY WHEN
A few months ago, a caseworker told me that in order to get insurance and housing I would have to drop my doctors for in-network providers. I did not want to drop my doctors, so I did not sign up for the insurance.
WHEN MY RIGHTS ARE DISRESPECTED, I FEEL
Annoyed. I wondered what was wrong. Pathetic.
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BECAUSE
Other countries are doing well with universal healthcare systems.