My Healthcare Journey #ExpandMedicaidNow #MedicaidExpansion #Impact

My Friends this is a Post I wrote on Facebook that I am rewriting as a Blog in order to get more attention to the cause of Medicaid Expansion. This is my story of battling the odds beating death once or twice and battling to make the Healthcare System Avalable for All.

The Journey began as a First grader in 1977 in South Florida. I had motor coordination and learning disabilities. Diagnosed by My School Coconut Creek Elementary School in Coconut Creek Fl. Fortunately through the love of my parents and good teachers I was able to overcome some of my challenges. Not Just at Coconut Creek Elementary but Lake Weir Middle and High School in Ocala Fl too. But since childhood I can not ride a bike I can not react if a ball is thrown at me sometimes. Later on I could not and still can not drive a car.i have dislexia a condition I denied to myself I had and will always have.

I outgrew some of my problems but a really scairy one happened in January 1986 I was 15 and woke up una1ble to breathe one night my dad herioically drove me to the ER ! It was Asthma I had my first asthma attack. I would have one more that year. I saw an Asthma Immunology Specialist . That would help but Insurance would not pay for the Hospital or the Dr. I needed Immunotherapy (ALLERGY SHOTS) for the next 7 yrs. So I would continue as an Uninsured Adult relying on Family and friends to pay for Dr visits and Medicine.

Good did happen my Asthma at that time was under control and I went on to graduate from College in Ocala with an A,A. Degree and in New Jersey with a B.A. Degree . But I had trouble finding employment even with the aid of Vocational Rehabilitation. Due to the fact I can not drive and limited public transportation.

But things would go from good to bad in a few years. I would take care of my disabled father off and on from 1999 to now helping him after he tore his achillies tendon in 2005. I did work a brief stint as a Front Service Clerk for Publix Supermarkets for 3 months in 2006 but I returned to care for my dad and had no income again.

I have had to go to the Hospital ER; Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala Fl.at least 13 of 15 times over the past 15 years ! It started in 2001 when I took a medicine for my asthma and it didn’t work. A week later I was back in the ER due to my heart speeding up as a reaction to advair ! A day later I was woken up by a nurse who told me my heart almost stopped it was down to 32 beats. This was very scairy for me. I would go back as I said for asthma issues 11 more times.

As I said I am Uninsured I was lucky that Munroe Regional Medical Center was a Public Hospital and I got Hospital Charity . This was Thanks to the Baker Kerry act had passed creating a LIP ***LOW INCOME POOL. For the poor and Uninsured in America. Therefore my Hospital Bills and Ambulance rides always got written off. But it is no way to live hoping you never get really sick and hoping you do not die. At that time Munroe Regional Medical Center was a Public Hospital in Ocala Fl. Now it is not.

My family relocated back to S.Fl in 2012. Before we left I was having trouble with my eyes. I could not locate objects on a shelf when pointed at ! It ironically was in the same grocery store I worked at . I had Blind Services help me they found nothing. I wrote President Obama for help . I was asking to start a program for caregivers . He recommended in a letter I go to Vocational Rehabilitation for help. When we relocated I did this. It was great advice !

When we moved to S.Fl I did just that. Vocational Rehabilitation sent me to a Psychologist his exam confirmed Dyslexia . The Dr recommended I seek and apply for SSI and STS Special Transportation Service with a bus pass since I could not drive. The STS examiner agreed I should not drive. – We still did not know what the eye problem was ? Vocational Rehabilitation sent me to an eye Dr. She said “My eyes do not move at all” all my life I never knew this but why ? She said see a specialist but I wanted to and could not. I was able to seek help at Nova Southeastern University center for Psychological Services. For my learning Disabilities. I was diagnosed with a NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED COGNITIVE DISORDER. . They too recommended me for SSI and to see an EYE SPECIALIST

I knew I needed an answer I feared blindness ! But being uninsured and not working with no income I could not do this.

But that summer I had another setback ! I had a respiratory infection I went to Hollywood Memorial Hospital ER; in Hollywood Fl. I was told later after I got my bill I wss told I only qualified for Hospital Charity 1 time because I live 1/6 of a mile on the Miami Dade Broward County border; I got Hospital Charity after 5 months but was stuck with a $400.00 Ambulance Bill ! This was geographic discrimination.

I was elated when President Obama signed the ACA into law. I would finally get insurance through Medicaid Expansion. But no our Governor Rick Scott refused to help 1 Million of us get insurance.
I had hoped this would work out so no one would have to go through what I and many others did.

But unfortunately no ! So being a person of Fairh I was praying on this . I watched the MSNBC COVERAGE OF THE MLK “I have A Dream ” Speech . They asked What will you do to advance the dream ? I aswered : Be A Voice for the Voiceless ! I was in Church that Sunday our former Pastor Challenged us as Christians ” to get involved in Government!” I heeded the challenge started a petition to Expand Medicaid in Florida.; It since is no longe active. But I met alot of great activists becsme one too. I started ; or Co Founded 4 Facebook pages Please sign my petition to help expand Medicaid in Fl , People Suffering due to Republicans Refusal to Expand Medicaid , Expand Medicaid Now People Need Help, and “Issues We Face ” plus two groups issues We Face and Expand Medicaid Now and #ExpandMedicaidNow ,

Finally through prayer and persistence I got some help I got enrolled in a County Public Health Program through Jackson Health Systems , I was able to go to The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute In Miami Fl. For a Co Pay of $40.00 I found the money. The diagnosis is a TRACKING DSORDER I will not go blind from it ! It is a form of DYSPRAXIA ! I am on Film in a Film “Entitled to Life Fl” by Paul Gibbs you will see my eyes and hear me talk about Medicaid Expansion !

You see I still am uninsured the program may go bankrupt ! Plus if I get sick any place but Miami Dade I am uninsured ! Denying acess to Doctors is creul and inhumane ! People need answers Doctors Give Them ! That Is Why We need To #ExpandMedicaidNow #MedicaidExpansion #Healthcare #ACA So #SinglePayer Happens So All have Dignity ! Thank You God Bless

Please Note I was not in The Film I referenced earlier …Due to Technical Issues. Paul Gibbs Is An Amazing Activist and You Should Check His Great Work Out.

Good News And Thank You To All Who Read This Blog….. I Finally Have Healthcare… In 2020 After 34 Years Going without It. And I Will Continue to Fight So All Have It…. Got it With SSI .

Thank You All For All Help and Support It is A Blessing….. God Bless

I Added My Picture At The Bottom As I Am A Voice And Face. Of The Uninsured
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