Cassandra Wilson, a bubbly 14-year-old, is underinsured simply because she is sick.
Cassandra has nearly 200 petit mal seizures every day, and no insurance company will cover her due to her pre-existing condition. Cassandra receives treatment for her seizures through Ohio's Bureau for Children's Medical Handicaps (a special state program for children with special health needs), but her family is on their own when it comes to paying for Cassandra's basic medical needs and costs add up quickly.
Mounting medical bills drove her parents to sell the family’s home, as well as virtually everything else they own, just to keep her healthy. They have even put $30,000 on their credit cards paying for her care.
Ice skating is a passion Cassandra has held since she was young. She is ranked within the United States Figure Skating Association and has skated with World Champion Michelle Kwan. Unfortunately, even after selling their home, the Wilsons simply did not have enough money to pay for her care. They made a heart-wrenching decision -- one no parent should have to make: They decided to sell her ice skating equipment on e-Bay.
The Wilsons go to great lengths to protect their daughter: They bought dim lights, for example, and installed black-out drapes to reduce light since light triggers Cassandra’s seizures. But there is little they can do to protect themselves from the huge medical bills coming their way.
Without health reform, the Wilsons are stuck with the status quo -- which has left them with very little but costly medical bills.
The Experts Weigh In: How Health Reform Will Affect the Wilsons
Under health reform, Cassandra’s family will no longer be “on their own” to provide for Cassandra’s basic medical needs. First, insurance companies will not be allowed to reject Cassandra for coverage due to her pre-existing condition. Her family will be able to find a plan that covers both her seizures and her other medical needs without any pre-existing condition exclusions. Second, not only can they find it, they can afford it: Her family is likely to be eligible for subsidies to help them purchase coverage -- not just for Cassandra, but for the whole family. Third, their new insurance plan will have out-of-pocket spending limits: The Wilsons won’t have to spend an unreasonable amount out of their own pockets on deductibles and co-payments in order to get Cassandra, and the rest of the family, the care they need.
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