Open Letter to President Obama, 2013

First, Mr. President, let me give you some background on me.  You always tell such lovely personal stories about other people to prove your points. So let me tell you my story:

I am 49 years old and female.  I'm a Navy veteran of 4 years (I tracked Russian Submarines during the cold war) and am married to a Navy veteran of 20 years.  I have 2 children who are at home.  My oldest is almost 23, Down Syndrome and autistic. He also has hypothyroid and occasional gout.  My youngest is 14 and is extremely ADHD, but gifted. 

I am also a cancer survivor.  Eight years ago, I was diagnosed with stage III Breast Cancer.  I went through surgery, chemo and my lifetime dose of radiation, 35 treatments.  Two years ago, my cancer came back in my lung and on my spine (Stage IV) and I've been battling it ever since.  I spent the first 9 months in a recliner, because chemo was much harder because they had to use a stronger one than the last time.  I had cooked my first 5 meals in a row, after my husband taking almost total care of me during that time.  That Friday, my husband broke his leg in a motorcycle accident, and I was taking care of him before I was ready. I had just been listed as in remission.  In December, 2011, it was back and worse.  They decided not to do chemo, since it didn't work last time. I developed an allergy to the med they were giving me. They switched, or tried to, but my insurance company wouldn't approve it.  Then they found a new chemo that is supposed to be gentler and put me on that one.

Meanwhile, my husband's hardware broke, which re broke his leg.  He had to start going to the VA.  I have Bill Clinton to thank for gutting that program, I guess).  He's been non-load bearing (on crutches) since September, 2011.

My insurance is through my husband, Tricare Prime.  You may have heard about it, it's a government insurance given to veterans.  I have to thank you for your "Affordable" health care plan, often referred as Obamacare.  I now have to decide whether I want to continue my cancer treatments and possibly win this battle, thereby bankrupting my family, or choose to die.

Let me explain that last statement.  I just got an email from Tricare stating that they were (against our will) transferring us from Tricare Prime to Tricare Standard.  Now, you may think that's no big deal, at least we're still covered.  The first step was when my son turned 20 and they kicked him off our plan all together, even though YOU said, Mr. President, that our children would be covered until the age of 26.  We're lucky in the fact that he gets SSDI, so now he's on Medicaid.  But let me explain to you the difference between Standard and Prime.  With Prime, which is what we'll have until September 30, 2013, when they force us out of it, we pay a yearly fee, and then one price every time we go to the doctor.  It was a great deal for us, back when the government actually reimbursed at a fair rate.  It was great, even having to pay for every radiation treatment, when I had cancer the first time. Of course, since you took office, Mr. President, I've seen reimbursement for an MRI drop from 20% of what was billed, to about 11% of what was billed.

With Standard, you don't pay a yearly fee, but you pay 20% OF WHAT THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS.  I go to the doctor 3 times a month, every month.  I guess that will only cover the co pays, I will still have to pay for the medicines, which have also gone up. 

I distinctly remember YOU, Mr. President, telling me I would get to keep my insurance plan if I liked it.  I like it, but I'm not getting to keep it.  You, Mr. President are a liar.  So, now I will have to stop my cancer treatment on September 30, 2013, or bankrupt my family.  But, you see, Mr. President, the decision is actually easier than you might imagine.  I love my family.  I would sacrifice myself for them.  So the decision is easier for me.  I'll stop the treatment and cherish the time I have left with them.  But I do want you to know something.  You, Mr. President, with your "Affordable Health Care Plan" will leave my husband, who gave 20 years to this country, a widower in a very short time and having to take care of two special needs children on his own.  You, Mr. President, will leave my children without a mother.

But I'm sure you'll sleep well, even knowing that.