By: Jacob Skahl
Last December, I lost my health care for three months. It felt terrible. I knew that if anything happened, the out-of-pocket expenses would make it impossible for me to pay rent or buy food. I spent over $100 just to go to a routine doctor’s appointment and get a prescription refilled. I was in a constant state of fear that something would happen.
When I didn’t have access to health care for those three months, I worried about how I would get the care I needed. Now that I am on MinnesotaCare, I worry about how I will afford it. Even with coverage, I’m constantly asking myself if I will be able to survive a medical emergency.
Every day health care is on my mind. And every day I make hard choices between making ends meet and dealing with pain.
This lack of health care access is both systemic and intergenerational. Many of my family members have medical debt that they will never be able to pay off, and they have been forced out of their homes because of it. My dad is a retired veteran. After 18 years of working in labor, he is physically disabled. He worked so hard for so long, and all he has to show for it are his medical bills.
My dad had little access to preventative or dental care, so he lost most of his teeth. I live in constant fear the same will happen to me. I would have to pay out of pocket for anesthesia to remove my wisdom teeth, which I don’t have the money for.
If I can’t deal with some of my health care needs now, I know they will become more costly and painful in the future. The Governor’s budget proposal, which would address disparities in dental care for Minnesotans, could increase access to dental care for Minnesotans and prevent emergency care later down the line.
Every day health care is on my mind. And every day I make hard choices between making ends meet and dealing with pain. Can I afford medication that would make my life easier? Can I keep putting off this pain until I can get a better job? Can I put off getting groceries so I can go to my appointment? Can I afford to stay home from work when I am sick?
This winter, I came down with a serious cold. My employer required that I bring in a doctor’s note, or else I would lose my job. I ended up going into work sick because my copay was too expensive. My employer saw me as a body in the room, and not a person who needed care.
Not having health care, and then not being able to afford the health care I have, makes me feel like I’m being punished. Punished for being a student, for being poor, for getting sick— all things I can’t control. When I go to the doctor’s office, I should be asked what care I need—not what insurance I have and if I can afford the copay.
Affordable, accessible health care is important to me because I need it. My family and my community needs it. We would all be better and healthier if we could access the care that we need.
We have the resources to take care of each other. I know we can do better, and I hope that I’m around to see that happen. Not just for me, but for future generations who will also need care — like we all do.
We all have a health care story, because health care is a basic, fundamental need. This is part of a weekly series during Minnesota’s legislative session where we share the health care stories of Minnesotans like you. Share your story here.
