Medical Bills
Donazione protetta
2014 has become the year from hell for the Keller family. Thirteen years ago, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer and as a result needed to have my left kidney removed. We thought we were in the clear after so much time, but this year the cancer resurfaced and has metastasized to my lungs. It is not lung cancer, it is the renal cancer that has returned and spread.
I have been self-employed as the publisher of East Coast Biker magazine for the past 13 years so our health care coverage has come from my wife’s job. In January, she was abruptly laid off from her job after 12 years and our health care coverage was gone.
Because of the downturn in the economy, I took a day job about three years ago to bring in some much needed extra income, but it isn’t much. We explored the Affordable Health Care options, but since I have a job with a company that offers health care benefits, we are not eligible for any subsidies. The Affordable Health Care option would have cost us $1,300 per month. I took a healthcare plan from work but the plan that we could afford came with high insurance deductible.
For 2014 we have accumulated $10,000+ in hospital and medical fee deductibles. When I go back in the hospital in January 2014 we will have another $10,000 in hospital and medical fees
I am fortunate that there are treatments available that will, hopefully, diminish the cancer in my lungs enough to surgically remove any remaining cancer cells. The treatments are administered over a 4 to 5 day stay in the hospital and they make me pretty sick. I go home for a week to recuperate and then back in to the hospital for another round. This treatment schedule is done three times over a six month period.
I lose a month of work with each treatment and I do not get paid for the time off. So far this year I will have lost over two months of work without pay.
My wife has been diligently searching for a new position since January but despite her exceptional resume, skills and qualifications she has been unable to find new work. We have been able to squeak by paying our bills, but in September her unemployment ran out and we will no longer have enough money coming in to cover just the mortgage or utilities.
At 64 years of age, and being self-sufficient for my entire life, I find myself in a position where it's hard to ask for help. Now I need the help and support of my friends, family and readers. Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated.
I have been self-employed as the publisher of East Coast Biker magazine for the past 13 years so our health care coverage has come from my wife’s job. In January, she was abruptly laid off from her job after 12 years and our health care coverage was gone.
Because of the downturn in the economy, I took a day job about three years ago to bring in some much needed extra income, but it isn’t much. We explored the Affordable Health Care options, but since I have a job with a company that offers health care benefits, we are not eligible for any subsidies. The Affordable Health Care option would have cost us $1,300 per month. I took a healthcare plan from work but the plan that we could afford came with high insurance deductible.
For 2014 we have accumulated $10,000+ in hospital and medical fee deductibles. When I go back in the hospital in January 2014 we will have another $10,000 in hospital and medical fees
I am fortunate that there are treatments available that will, hopefully, diminish the cancer in my lungs enough to surgically remove any remaining cancer cells. The treatments are administered over a 4 to 5 day stay in the hospital and they make me pretty sick. I go home for a week to recuperate and then back in to the hospital for another round. This treatment schedule is done three times over a six month period.
I lose a month of work with each treatment and I do not get paid for the time off. So far this year I will have lost over two months of work without pay.
My wife has been diligently searching for a new position since January but despite her exceptional resume, skills and qualifications she has been unable to find new work. We have been able to squeak by paying our bills, but in September her unemployment ran out and we will no longer have enough money coming in to cover just the mortgage or utilities.
At 64 years of age, and being self-sufficient for my entire life, I find myself in a position where it's hard to ask for help. Now I need the help and support of my friends, family and readers. Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated.
Organizzatore
Norm Keller
Organizzatore
Hatfield, PA
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