I live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.  Where the streets are paved with gold and where having a dream can change the course of history.  Here, democracy rings and all voices can be raised.  There are so many reasons why the United States is a great country to call home.  But its healthcare system is not one of them.  At least not in my case.

Despite putting in my necessary hours at work and paying my union dues, I can’t go to the doctor.  After checking the insurance website to confirm coverage and then visiting the doctor, it is infuriating to receive notification that my claim can’t be processed.  Even though the claim from another doctor that I visited in the same month made it through.  I haven’t had prescription coverage for months, and no one knows why.  I’m hesitant to get check-ups, fearing I’ll be assured coverage only to get a bill I can’t afford and shouldn’t have to pay.  Something is very wrong with this situation.  Perhaps a name change is in order for medical insurance because health care is not their business.  It’s the screw-you-repeatedly business.  I understand an error now and again or crossed communications between employer and insurance once in a while.  But with the rate of occurrence in my particular case, you’d think Ashton Kutcher was using me for a spin off of Punk’d!  Having separate medical, dental, vision, and prescription benefits isn’t helping my odds either.

Inscribed on the Statue of Liberty is the phrase “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free….”  This famous quote was applying to immigrants in search of freedom and refuge, not to Americans in search of health insurance we so desperately and justly deserve.  Sadly, we are once again tired on account of exhaustive hoop jumping and red tape tripping.  We are poor due to paying exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses for drugs and procedures not covered by our insurance.  We are huddled masses enduring more severe illnesses because treatments aren’t insured.  For now, the only refuge for me–and my sniffles–is in a box of tissues and homeopathic remedies.  Wish me luck.

Update:  I do have all my health benefits at the moment, miraculously.  We’ll see how long that lasts…