Guaranteed Healthcare

Young, Insured Cancer Patient's Parents Risk Bankruptcy for Treatment

"I was 20 and knew I needed to pay a visit to my gynecologist because it is something very important for women to do, of course. I did go and I was given a routine pap smear," said Crystal Wagner of Grayson, Ga. "I received a follow-up call that pertained to this visit telling me I had level 1B2 of cervical cancer and needed surgery as soon as possible. I had the cancer cells for quite some time and had no idea as cervical cancer has no real symptoms."   Read more casualties

"The surgery was a little over $1,000 and the lab fees were $400. I am only 20 and obviously don't have that kind of money lying around. My parents had to take out a credit card to pay for my surgery because since the economy is so poor I couldn't qualify for a loan."

Crystal now has health insurance through her employer, but her cancer diagnosis came before full coverage for her treatment. "Now my parents because of the recession are near bankruptcy because they wanted to help me out. If I had waited on the surgery it (my cancer) might have spread within a month, and I would have had to have chemo—and if I couldn't afford that I would have lost my life. I have to go every three months for follow-up checks to make sure it doesn't come back and that only adds up more and more money."

"If something isn't done then I may not be able to continue being checked. I would be forced to leave my life in the hands of hope and just pray that my cancer doesn't come back," Crystal said.

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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.