Guaranteed Healthcare

OK, here we go. I am 58 years old. I’ve lived in Austin since 1982. I do a creditable job teaching the finer points of percussion to an average of fifty students a week at the Austin School of Music. (www.austin.schoolofmusic.com). I play gigs, do yoga, and cycle. I no longer drink alcohol, and I am not a drug addict, rapist, criminal, or a viewer of Internet porn. I own my home where I live with my cat Molly and am engaged to the girl of my dreams. I’m a good guy.

Three years ago, I started Bopworks Drumsticks www.bopworks.net, a small company dedicated to drumsticks specifically for Jazz drummers. I had the highest credit score achievable, and a substantial line of credit for the business Manned by myself and Molly the Cat (who achieved rapid promotion to customer service representive) the company’s products caught on surprisingly well and begun to ship out of the US to Jazz drummers in Japan, Italy, Australia, and, well, you get the idea, I’m sure. Although I wasn’t ready to retire on it, the company was making enough profit to sustain itself. It was a good idea and providing drummers with a viable service and generating a good “buzz” in the retail drum industry.

In April 2007 Friday the 13th at 1:15 pm I went to a drive through at a burger place. I turned around to get my wallet out of the back seat. When I turned forward again, the L 5 vertebrae in my back broke. Fractured, actually. This event set forth a series of medical issues so bizarre that I honestly doubt the most noteworthy soap opera writer could pen a comparable script. The lurid details are at the end of this letter should you want the blow by blow.

I am now bankrupt, having lost my business, my credit, and a good portion of my physical well being. I owe this blessing solely, entirely, and without reservation to the Texas High Risk Insurance Pool currently underwritten by the redoubtable company Blue Cross. Two year’s worth of co-pays to this company took literally half my income. To make ends meet, I borrowed from Bopwork’s business credit lines. More medical issues came up and, viola! Bankruptcy!

Last week, my endocrinologist, Dr. Simone Scumpia, denied me service. The bankruptcy had left me with a $400.00 something balance due and rather than work out a payment plan, it appears I will be bumped from her patient roster. At this point, the reader may start to detect traces of irony: the very system meant “insure” an individual’s health causes a financial crisis leading to care denial of said essential care. Aha! You may exclaim.

What about these co-pay balances? Weren’t you able to work out arrangements with the medical facilities? After all, not everyone can deny you service… Yes, indeed, I did. In fact, before contemplating bankruptcy, I requested deferments, arranged payment plans, got credit counseling (“hmmm, Mr. Bennett, I see… Well…Hmmm, I would say you’re screwed.”). Hours of phone calls and paperwork. Hours and hours. Musicares is an organization funded by the Grammy Awards. Musicians in crisis, whether emotional, chemical, or financial, can go through an application process and receive aid if approved. More phone calls and paperwork. God bless them, they pay almost $3000.00 directly to the labs and radiology places. Unfortunately, too little too late. I filed for bankruptcy March 13th, 2009.

Something tells me I am not alone in this situation. It is obvious to anyone that the health care system in this country is seriously unjust when it bankrupts the very people it is supposed to care for. I pay $702.00 a month for health insurance with the Texas High Risk Pool. No other insurance will consider an applicant with issues like this. While politicians may bellow about the evils of universal health care, ignore the actual facts presented by shooting whatever messenger they choose, the middle class in this country is falling like dominoes. I hope you will be inspired to do something. This transcended politics a long time ago and people in this county are suffering.

Thank you.

Chris Bennett Austin, Texas .

August 2006- Rear ended by another driver. Shoulder injury and emergency room visit.

December 2006 - Shoulder Surgery for impingement syndrome caused by accident.

April 13 2007. - Broken back Compression Fracture of L5 Vertebrae Cause- Osteoporosis. Two weeks off, then back to teaching with back brace and loaded with pain pills. Unable to play gigs.

May 2007 - Endocrinology tests reveal abnormalities in Thyroid and abnormally high protein levels. Diagnosis: Lack of testosterone production prevents calcium/vitamin D absorption causing the Osteoporosis. Abnormally high protein in blood leads to referral to an Oncologist.

June 2007 - Oncology tests reveal high protein levels are caused by the incredibility rare Waldenstrom's Lymphoma. Diagnosis: not immediately life ending- 50% chance nothing will surface, 1/10th of 1% on white males.

July 2007 - Thyroid gland removed due to follicular cells. No cancer. 6 months of extreme fatigue follow with temporary weight gain. February, 2008 - I settle for the auto accident just in time to pay back taxes.

June 2008- Another bone marrow biopsy reveals it is not he incredibility rare Waldenstrom's Lymphoma, but the incredibly rare Systemic Cellular Mastocytosis. I'm told I have one year to live unless I start chemotherapy. There are 3 doctors in the United States that specialize in this disease. In a rare turn of luck- one of them is at MD Anderson Cancer center in Houston. My system reacts to this news by causing immediate vomiting and I begin to run a high fever. Apparently, high stress can trigger serious episodes. I spend 5 days in the Oncology floor of Seton Medical Center.

July- 2008- I spend a $10,000 day at MD Cancer Center Anderson in Houston, I am informed there are two versions of this disease- one gives you a 3 year life span, and the other an relatively normal lifespan. I am lucky to have the latter.

Symptoms remain, however. These include: Abdominal pain Hives & other rashes Anaphylaxis Inflammation of the esophagus Cognitive difficulties/brain fog Degenerative disc disease ( I have arthritis in neck, hip and back) Muscle pain Dizziness/vertigo/lightheadedness Faintness Osteoporosis/ Osteopenia Fatigue Peripheral neuropathy and paresthesias Gastroesophageal reflux Vomiting