I’m a divorced single mother. I’m a part-time adult education teacher. With 2 districts to work in, consulting, and extra projects I make ends meet. I don’t have health insurance. With the relatively low pay I receive and lack of benefits, I can’t afford it either. When it’s absolutely necessary, I pay for doctor visits out of my pocket.

Last year I had a student in my esl class who had a bad toothache. She hurt for a couple of weeks and couldn’t stand it any longer. She was afraid to seek help because she wasn’t here legally. In five minutes, I found her free dental care from a clinic that would not ask her legal status. I do not qualify for such care. I spent over $7,000.00 last year just on dental care. What am I doing wrong?

A government that legally requires health care does nothing to guarantee it. Since my primary employer hires me only part-time (of course with the extra work I do, it’s about 30-40 hours a week anyway), they are not required to cover me. I see a huge loophole developing if a bill is passed requiring employers to provide health care. For years, employers have hired people part-time to avoid paying benefits. I guarantee the numbers with skyrocket if the state requires all full-time employers to cover their employees. Then the state will have an even bigger health care burden.

I have friends who are aging, and some of them have gotten sick with heart disease and cancer. I tell them I don’t worry about it. Since I can’t afford comprehensive checkups, by the time such a disease is discovered in me, it will be too late. I tell people that’s okay. I won’t have to go through difficult surgery or chemo. Pretty fatalistic, isn’t it?