Burlington woman says federal bill is already benefitting her family.
By WILLIAM SMITH
Cathy Gordon has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Her health is impeccable, her three children are in college, and she's spending this turkey day with her only son, who lives in Minot, N.D.Â
But what Gordon is most thankful for this year is national health care reform. Without it, her 24-year-old son would have to get his own health insurance when he turns 25 next month. Under the new bill, parents can keep their children on their health plans until age 26.Â
"This buys us another year," said Gordon, an art teacher at Southeastern Community College.Â
Gordon already helps pay health insurance for her oldest daughter, who is working on her doctorate degree at the University of California and is too old for the family plan. If it weren't for health care reform, Gordon would have to pay for three separate insurance plans. Now, she only pays for two.Â
"It's been a tremendous relief," she said.Â
Gordon's relief goes far beyond saving money, though. Her youngest daughter recently had a tumor removed from her breast. Though the operation was a success, Gordon feared the pre-existing cancer condition would disqualify her from obtaining health insurance once she was off her family plan.Â
"I was panicked that she would be bumped," Gordon said. "We knew that once she went off the family plan, they would not have covered any kind of cancer condition."Â
Health care reform also was a big relief for Gordon's ex-husband, who has pre-existing heart arrhythmia, which prevented him from getting health insurance until recently.Â
SDLqNo one would cover him unless he had major surgery, which is a large amount of money," Gordon said.Â
Gordon estimates she pays $3,000 to $4,000 a year in health-care coverage and would have had to pay another $400 a month for her son if the age extension had not gone into effect.Â
"Cost-wise, it's pretty outrageous," she said.Â
Gordon, who also is chairwoman of the Des Moines County Democratic Party, said she has plenty of friends who have been denied medical insurance due to their preexisting medical conditions.Â
She said she is thankful not only for the benefits health care reform has brought to her family, but for the benefits it has brought to the entire country.Â
"To me, health care is the one thing that should be given. People should be able to go to a doctor and get medicine. I think it should be a right," she said.
But what Gordon is most thankful for this year is national health care reform. Without it, her 24-year-old son would have to get his own health insurance when he turns 25 next month. Under the new bill, parents can keep their children on their health plans until age 26.Â
"This buys us another year," said Gordon, an art teacher at Southeastern Community College.Â
Gordon already helps pay health insurance for her oldest daughter, who is working on her doctorate degree at the University of California and is too old for the family plan. If it weren't for health care reform, Gordon would have to pay for three separate insurance plans. Now, she only pays for two.Â
"It's been a tremendous relief," she said.Â
Gordon's relief goes far beyond saving money, though. Her youngest daughter recently had a tumor removed from her breast. Though the operation was a success, Gordon feared the pre-existing cancer condition would disqualify her from obtaining health insurance once she was off her family plan.Â
"I was panicked that she would be bumped," Gordon said. "We knew that once she went off the family plan, they would not have covered any kind of cancer condition."Â
Health care reform also was a big relief for Gordon's ex-husband, who has pre-existing heart arrhythmia, which prevented him from getting health insurance until recently.Â
SDLqNo one would cover him unless he had major surgery, which is a large amount of money," Gordon said.Â
Gordon estimates she pays $3,000 to $4,000 a year in health-care coverage and would have had to pay another $400 a month for her son if the age extension had not gone into effect.Â
"Cost-wise, it's pretty outrageous," she said.Â
Gordon, who also is chairwoman of the Des Moines County Democratic Party, said she has plenty of friends who have been denied medical insurance due to their preexisting medical conditions.Â
She said she is thankful not only for the benefits health care reform has brought to her family, but for the benefits it has brought to the entire country.Â
"To me, health care is the one thing that should be given. People should be able to go to a doctor and get medicine. I think it should be a right," she said.
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Comments: 5
The cost of Ins. should come down when all are required to get Ins.
We will see.
Health care reform also provided the biggest lopsided defeat for Democrats in congress since the 1920s LOL! Keep up the good work!
All in all it's still a good benefit considering the costs of a serious medical problem if their child doesn't have insurance but it's another case of Obama overselling and under delivering on his magical plans. Remember the outrage and the presidential approval ratings decline when the cash for clunker purchasers found out that they owed taxes on the rebates they got? I see yet another proverbial pie in the face for this inept administration...
Good response. After the stiff TEA bagging you took on Nov. 2 I'll let it slide. Looks like hope went the way of the Hindenburg LOL!