Kate Michelman in The Nation

I was listening to NPR today and heard an interview with Kate Michelman about an article she wrote for The Nation this month. Its the gut wrenching story of her personal experience with family illness - her husband and daughter - at a time in her life when she should be enjoying the fruits of a long life having worked hard, paid her taxes and saved for her retirement. Instead she faces complete financial loss. Here is an excerpt:

"Our story also illustrates the unique challenges women face in the healthcare system, as in the economy at large. Women are paid less and given benefits less frequently--yet they are the ones on whom the responsibility of caretaking disproportionately falls. In addition, women disproportionately, but hardly exclusively, understand the perverse economic choices the healthcare system imposes. In my case, I had to quit working to care for my husband, only to arrive at a point at which he needs care I can afford only if I can find a job. The bills, meanwhile, are often inexplicable, sometimes contain mistakes and are always impossible to resolve without encountering a thicket of red tape. " Click here to read the full article...

I posted an entry on March 12 on a panel discussion hosted by Legal Momentum about the subject of women and families and how our country's financial situation is disproportionately affecting them. Ms. Michelman's article really brings those issues home to all of us in a most personal way. As in Ms. Michelman's family, more and more families are becoming dependent on women's income, but that income and any benefits it may bring with it rarely cover the day to day living expenses of their families.

I relate to her situation on a personal level. I, too, have experienced the life changing effects of serious illness. My husband had an aneurysm rupture 10 years ago. He survived and recovered better than anyone could have dreamed. But it changed our lives forever, in so many ways, financially being one of them. I know some of the stress Ms. Michelman is experiencing and the bewilderment at a government and society that sees this happening to so many hard working citizens, and seems to be at a loss to do anything about it.

Health insurance is NOT healthcare. If there is anything that we can glean from Ms. Michelman's article, it is that. I don't know if the solution is universal healthcare but it is obviously not a system of health insurance that pays for only a fraction of what healthcare costs.

I know, as does Ms. Michelman, that what is happening to her is happening to many people across America. I hope those of you that read this and read her article in The Nation will share your stories with us. The web letters following her article are also worthy of attention. Several healthcare providers share their experiences and conclusions.

Together I believe we can exert enough pressure on our legislators and our President to really tackle this problem so that no one has to face financial ruin later in life because of one health crisis - at that rate, each of us is just one crisis away from devastating loss.

Posted by Kate Tinnan, WRC Volunteer