Health Care Stories
 Medical care or groceries?
I am grateful for my life, but now we expect to be faced with medical bills which will significantly stress our always ultra-tight budget. The decision so often for people like us is: Medical care or groceries? And we are certainly not alone in being forced to make hard decisions such as this.
My Beautiful Daughter Isabella
My daughter was born on October 24th 1995. I became very ill with toxemia and was told by my doctor that I was going to have to have a cesarean that day because I would not survive. My daughter was born 3 months early into my pregnancy premature and weighting only 2lbs 12 oz. The next day after her birth as I lay in my bed a group of doctors surrounded me and told me that were going to have to perform open heart surgery on my infant daughter. My husband was not there yet and it was very early in the morning I was still groggy and still pretty sick myself.
The Marcia Monroe Story
In 1999 I was in the intensive care at a local hospital due to an acute GI bleed from medicine that was prescribed by a local MD for neck and shoulder pain. I was unable to use my hands. Imagine not being able to write or even click a mouse with either hand. I was given two units of blood. I then had various costly tests.
Two Men in the US Military
This is the story of two men who served in the United States Military.
My husband, Jim, and I lived in Canada for seven years. I was able to locate a doctor who was accepting new patients and I went in for an interview to see if the doctor and I would be compatible. Submitted by Susan Rubner of Crawfordsville, IN
An Canadian Experience
Living in Canada compared to Living in Crawfordsville,IN
My husband and I had lived in Canada for the last seven years and experienced wonderful health care. When my husband retired, we moved back to the United States and settled in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Submitted by Susan Rubner of Crawfordsville, IN
The Tony Steward Story
You’re from the free clinic. You have to go back to the free clinic. I can’t treat patients for free.” Then he sent me a letter saying he can no longer see me as a patient.
The Pengilly Story
Hamilton County, Indiana
My granddaughter has no health coverage. She recently developed a condition for which she did not see a doctor because she had no insurance. It finally became necessary for her to go to the emergency room and her doctor had to perform surgery. She will need follow-up surgery, but she is worried sick about how she will pay for all her medical care.
My Mother's Story
Paoli, Indiana
An Emergency Room Story
Reported in the Indiana Business Journal and is also reprinted on the PNHP web site. The Donna Miller Story
A mother's story about the unnecessary death of her daughter because she could not afford health insurance. The Sandra Story
While in the hospital for two nights, Sandra developed a staph infection. The hospital social worker, following doctor’s orders, talked to me about extended care since I lived alone. Well, insurance decided not to pay, so she had an $11,560.65 bill she could not pay. The Melissa Story
Melissa found herself in the world of maximum inpatient and outpatient days and lifetime caps. The co-pays alone can throw any family into a financial crisis. Paul's Story
Paul lives in pain because he eligible for Medicaid, although at one point he was. The Thomas Miller Story
Thomas has multiple medical conditions but does not qualify for Medicaid so lives without the medications he needs.
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