I have been dealing with debilitating back pain for almost 25 years. When I started working for the state, I finally had insurance and tried to get relief. I was always told that my weight was the cause of back problems; it wasn't. I had severe curvature of the spine, which as a child would have meant a brace for a couple of years, but as an adult...it involved a lot of pain. After years of getting the runaround, United Healthcare finally agreed to surgery (I was losing control of my legs and had several falls). I went on a leave of absence (LOA) late last year and had 11 vertebrae fused. Another surgery was required last month to relieve pressure on nerves in my lower back. I am currently on the mend and anticipate restarting physical therapy again next month.

When I left on my LOA, my employer's policy was that they would continue your insurance coverage for up to a year, and the employee portion would be paid back with payroll deductions when I return. That policy changed sometime during my leave. The policy was changed to cover only 6 months per calendar year. At the end of those 6 months, the employee is transitioned to a self-pay (I was specifically told calendar year). The day after Memorial Day, I got a letter that basically said all that was wrong. It was 6 calendar months AND I would be responsible for the full premium (not just the employee portion), retroactively to February. I will owe United Healthcare $6300 in about 3 weeks.

I'm not sure what the repercussions would be if I can't pay the premium, but I would anticipate being charged for all of my doctor's visits, physical therapy, prescriptions, and most likely my last surgery.

I'm still on temporary disability, but things are tight. I still have copays and travel expenses to see my surgeon (he is 3 hours away as no doctor in-network was able to perform the surgery). Some people have advised me to apply for Medi-Cal, which can cover me retroactively since I'm not able to work, but I don't think that the government should have to pay for a million dollars worth of surgeries when United Healthcare will be on the hook for it as long as they get their premium.

So here I am, internet, my hat in my hand asking for help. Whatever I can't raise from GoFundMe and bake sales will need to go on a credit card, but any little bit will help. Thanks for reading and helping,

Tom