Guaranteed Healthcare

My breast cancer went undetected for 3 years because I couldn't afford a mammogram. The cancer finally became large enough to create a dimple in the surface of my skin.

Without health insurance, I went to the county health department. Through luck I discovered that they could help with the expense of a mammogram. They had teamed up with the Susan G. Kommen Foundation to offer mammograms free-of-charge to poor women. I was told that if the result of the mammogram turned out to be cancer, that Oregon had been mandated by the Federal government to fund treatment through medicare.

I had no idea about this program and I waited three extra years because of the unattainability of a test that every woman over 50 should have yearly as part of a well-woman exam.

Luckily, the cancer was caught before it had spread and with the help of the program I went through complete treatment.