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Rising Costs
The Price Tag on Insurance
Dana Clancy is a vibrant, healthy 58 years old woman from the north side of Chicago. She has been dancing professionally for over 20 years, and to accompany her physical activity she also maintains a very balanced diet. Most would consider Dana to be a healthy individual. However, three years ago, Dana suffered from an unexpected heart attack that left her medical record tainted.
Before the heart attack she had been buying into the private market for health insurance because she was a self-employed dancer. While in the private market she noticed that after a period of time her insurance company would begin increasing her premiums. As a result of this, Dana acquired a practice of switching from company to company in order to keep her premium fees at an affordable amount. However, after the heart attack, Dana no longer had this luxury and was forced to stay with the insurance she had at the time of the heart attack. Five years later, she is still with this company paying between $700-$800 a month for insurance. Her plan also includes $40 co-pays for doctor visits and a $5,000 deductible. To add to her headache, Dana is transitioning into full retirement, and she has substantially slowed down her workload and subsequently the amount of income she attains. She now has to pay for her monthly premiums out of her savings.
Right now Medicare seems to be the only light at the end of the tunnel. But Dana is not eligible for Medicare for another seven years. By the time she is 65 years, if her premiums don’t increase, she would have spent between $50,400- $67,200 just for monthly premiums not including co-pays or deductibles.
The healthcare system is not coming through for Dana, and she is just one of millions, who have been steamed rolled by insurance companies. The time has come for something to be done. If the state enacts Illinois Covered, Dana will have a more affordable insurance option through the Illinois Covered Choices program. Write to your State Representative to declare that we need health care reform in Illinois this year!
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