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Mary DeLongfield

I am a 58 year old woman that was born in California, and have worked and paid taxes here since 1972 (35 years). My parents came to California from Texas during the Depression in 1936, and also worked and paid taxes here in California all their lives.

I have just been laid off from my job as a clerk working for a sub-prime mortgage broker. This was no fault of my own, it was due to the sub-prime mortgage mess here in California. When his Ofiice Manager laid me off, I cried and begged to keep my job, even offering to work more hours for the same pay. It did no good. My job was eliminated on June 13.

I now collect $270.00 a week unemployment, and was being treated through my work’s insurance company for glaucoma and was just told that my liver readings from a blood test were too high, they wanted to see me for further testing ( I do not drink). My CalCobra payments are $388.00 a month, about one-third of my income. I have a mortgage and HOA fees on my condo, and I cannot in any way afford to pay this amount this month on health insurance.

What do I do now? Lose my vision? What about my liver? Why do immigrants (many who are illegal) and their children who have only been here a few months get free Medi-Cal and I get no help? Does this sound fair to you? Can anyone explain to me the logic in this situation and what should I do?

field poll
There is Widespread Support for Reform
81% of voters agree with the statement "it should be public policy that government guarantee that all Californians have access to affordable health care insurance or other health care coverage."
Source: Field Poll, "California Voter Views of the Health Care System (Part 1 of 2)," January 3, 2007.
did you know?
Over 75 percent of those filing medical-related bankruptcies had health insurance at the onset of their illness.  Recent studies have found that nearly half of all personal bankruptcies in the US are related to medical causes, that those facing bankruptcy due to medical costs face average out-of-pocket costs of nearly $12,000, and that over 75 percent have health insurance at the onset of their illness.