Stories

John’s Story

Every year, I worry about falling into the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” as I treat my diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma. A fair amount of my income goes toward my medical expenses and falling into the “doughnut hole” can cause me to make tough choices between taking my medicine and filling the fridge. [...]

Lew’s Story

I’m the co-owner of Vintage Vinyl, a record store in University City, Missouri that’s been in business for 32 years. We have 16 full-time and 6 part-time employees. As our business grew, we decided that providing health insurance to our employees was good for productivity, good for our relationships with our co-workers and the moral [...]

Bryce’s Story

I have worked on my family’s dairy farm most of my life. Three years ago, I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis that affects the spine and causes severe swelling of joints. I was in a lot of pain, but couldn’t think of leaving the farm. Fortunately, I am able to stay [...]

Ava’s Story

My daughter Ava was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, at age 5 – every parent’s worst nightmare. During and after eight months of treatment, from surgeries to chemotherapy, we faced financial challenges and worried that Ava would be marked with this pre-existing condition for the rest of her life. A [...]

Bob’s Story

Like so many college graduates across the country, my son has great dreams about his career and future. As a recent graduate, he is working hard to start his own business in a field he is passionate about. Fortunately, our son has been able to stay on our insurance plan until he turns 26. Had [...]

Ernestine’s Story

My daughter graduated from college in May 2010. At the time, I was worried about what she would do for health insurance since she didn’t have a job. When I learned that young adults could stay on their parent’s plan until age 26, I worked with my employer to keep my daughter on my plan. [...]

Mary Jane’s Story

My 10-year old daughter is anemic and has severe allergies to certain medicines and foods. She is covered under my health insurance now, but I have always worried that it would be difficult for her to find a health insurance plan that would cover her once she was an adult. When I learned that insurance [...]

Ralph’s Story

This past January I received my free wellness exam through Medicare. I scheduled the exam after my doctor told me I could receive it at no cost as a result of the health care law. The exam was just like the full physicals I’ve received in the past when I’ve had to pay out-of-pocket. It [...]