I wanted to bring up a situation that I am sure many people with a history of cancer is facing, have faced, or soon will face.  This issue is health insurance.  I am having a BIG problem right now keeping health insurance and affording it!  I would like to share my situation and see if anybody would have any advice or is feeling my pain and would like to share their problem as well.  I think this is a huge situation that should have something done about it, and it is going to take all of us to be behind it!

I started working for Publix Supermarkets in November of 2005 while I was going to the University of West Georgia.  I was part time, and in order to receive benefits, I had to work there a year, or 1,000 hours, which ever came first.  My 1,000 hours came first and I received full health care from Blue Cross and Blue Shield.  When I got this health care, I was dropped from my parents, because I was covered for myself, and this way, I could go to school part time and do better in the classes that I took.  I decided to change my major and then go to Georgia State University and move back to my home town of McDonough.  When I moved, I transfered to another store.  This store treated me horribly when I asked for special treatment due to my health issues from cancer and said that I was using it as an excuse not to do certian tasks of my job.  When I complained, they cut my hours and in turn, it was harder to make ends meet, since I was out on my own.  I finally got a transfer to another store, and they got worse.  I called in sick one day, and my manager cussed at me, telling me that she should have known that I had cancer and she didnt want to hear excuses about my immune system and slammed a bottle of medicine on her desk and said for me to go home, after I drug myself in because I was scared I was going to loose my job, and I couldnt afford to do that!  I finally had enough of this because the store manager was just as bad, and he wouldnt help me in anyway!  I heard of a position open at Wal Mart that would pay more and would give me more hours.  They would also work with my school schedule and give me scholarships toward my school.  I went with Wal Mart, going back down to the bottom with benefits, so now I have to wait a year, being part time, to get my health insurance back again.  I had to get individual insurance through BCBS and they are charging me $180 a month because I have a cancer background, even though I have been 16 years off!  Normal rate for this plan was $100!!!  $80 dollars is another bill I can make, just because I have HAD cancer! 

Here is the kicker!  I applied to United Healthcare for cheaper health insurance where I could possibly afford it!  I applied for a plan that was going to be $120 a month, which is not great, but better.  I then got a letter in the mail stating that I was denied health coverage because of the following reasons:  *history of leukemia. 

I am just going to say, What the hell?!  I called them and a man told me that I was a high risk and that they will not cover me because my health is too bad!  Well, it wont get any better if you dont help me in the first place, I just might as well die!

I cant afford the individual health care while I am going to school because I dont make enough at my job, because I am effected by my learning problems due to chemotherapy.  It is taking me longer to get my career because of problems I have received due to therapy, hense, I cant afford the healthcare, even though none of this is my fault!  How can I be denied for something that I couldnt help and was not my fault?!  I can be denied health insurance to keep me alive, but someone that self mutalated themselves from drugs can get any help that they need to get better, even from the government!  I just want to stay alive!  I am better, just help me stay alive! 

Please help me and help others get affordable health insurance and health insurance period!  Go to www.acscan.org and read others stories and see how you can help the cause!!!  It is a big issue that needs to be addressed! 

What are you going to do when you are released from your parents insurance?  What if you loose your job?  How are you paying for your insurance now?  Help the cause!

Hello all!  I am so glad that we have finally got a site that could bring us together like this.  Thanks Preston!

So, what is going on here...just about anything and everything.  I am looking for a better job then what I have now that might make more than 7.00 an hour.  Anybody know of anything?

I really want this semester to be over with.  The first semester at a new school is always hell!  I really am worried about graduating because its hard for me to study and remember everything.  Does anyone have any suggestions or are they going through the same thing?

Well, I am sitting in anthropology right now watching a stupid movie about this study about aborigonies.  It makes no sense, but alrighty then.  Class is about to end, so let me go ahead and jet.  Hope to hear from all of you soon.  Please keep in touch!

Shannan