Surviving cancer, but not healthcare.

Check out Krisja Hendricks’ story on Rock The Vote.com.* At 22, while on her father’s medical insurance, Krisja survived a thyroid cancer diagnosis. A year later, unable to obtain coverage due to her pre-existing condition, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

“During my second flare up of Crohn’s Disease I had to move back home with my father because I could no longer work or take care of myself. This was because I had waited too long to start the medication needed to control the flare up. There was no generic brand of the steroid I was prescribed and one bottle that lasted a little over 2 weeks cost around $250 for self pay individuals like myself. All of this could have been prevented if I had had prescriptions covered and the proper care needed for such a degenerative disease.”

If Krisja’s struggles to obtain real medical insurance coverage don’t convince you of the changes needed in American healthcare, I’m not sure what will.

More here: rockthevote.com/krisjas-story
And here: reuters.com

*Rock the Vote is an organization whose mission is to engage and build the political power of young people, and I love their healthcare motto: “You will care when you need it and can’t get it.” (well put)