March 3, 2010
Health Insurance Benefits Wanted
Blonde Woman Offers Her Hand Receives 7,000 Offers
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – President Obama has placed a national health insurance overhaul at the top of his agenda. The House of Representatives and the Senate have fallen in line --- albeit along party lines. Residents of WV likely welcomed the initial concept --- it would insure those without insurance and make insurance affordable for those with pre-existing conditions.
However, as politics in D.C. continues with Obama scheduled to make another strategic plan adjustment today, March 3, individuals and their illness plights continue.
During an internet search, one stuck out as particularly clever in this harsh, near depression economic environment, where (according to experts) at least six people apply for any job opening.
Recently divorced, Terri Carlson has a chronic, pre-existing condition. Treatment requires continual antibiotics. The 45-year-old single mom knows that when Cobra benefits cease, she will not be able to afford medications or treatment. Those benefits run out in 2011.
She has a part time job, but it does not offer health benefits. The disorder could kill her and insurance companies do not want her business.
As for government assistance, she was a stay-at-home-mother for 24 years prior to the divorce; thus, she does not qualify for Social Security lacking the required number of work quarters.
So, with $1.99 for Go Daddy, she personally branded her YouTube page --- will marry in exchange for health insurance page. She has been deluged with proposals. The gorgeous blonde has not made a selection; in fact, rumor has it that her selection process will become a reality TV show. Meanwhile, she has created a website for others sharing the same plight: http://www.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com.
Terri Carlson’s story has become a media sensation (MSNBC, NY Daily News, Fox) as can be read/viewed by clicking: http://www.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/Links.html or http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6162366n. Briefly, she has a genetic immune C-4 complement disorder. As one reporter wrote, “Her disability leads to frequent infection, severe pain and forced her to be hospitalized earlier this month and also last year.”
The plea as of a February NY Daily News story has filled her email box with 7,000 responses. But, to borrow the Daily News phrasing, “not all are from well-insured men who’d like to take her to the altar.”
Ms. Carlson told the News that half are from suffering people, many in insurance limbo like herself.
“They have the most heartbreaking stories,” she said. “They’re saying things like, ‘You’re a voice for us’ and ‘Please help us.’ It just breaks my heart.”
She decided to share some of the stories of people denied health coverage. (Editor’s Note: Not explicitly stated, but discussed in other articles, the cost of the 20 meds she takes monthly. And, even, if a company would cover her in a ‘high risk’ pool, she would not be able to afford the monthly premiums.)
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2010/02/09/2010-02-09_married_with_benefits_calif_mom_terri_carlson_starts_will_marry_for_health_insur.html#ixzz0h4xo4q1D
A visit to the site does tell Terri’s story, but reading a selection of profiles, her free site seems to have little superficial difference than others. The profiles do NOT contain a “why do I need insurance” topic. The profiles I checked do not appeal to circumstances of near health desperation. They do not tell if the single person has a family. (Hence, exercise caution as it appears one cannot discern the members following the mantra and those signing up because it’s free. I completed a profile without any screening for insurance or health conditions. As of Tuesday, March 2, there were less than five women from WV.)
Inspired by the response, the new health insurance crusader wrote on her site:
“My hope is to bring those that are compassionate, caring and willing to share there health insurance ,together with people that have pre existing conditions and cant get insurance . I have had thousands of e-mails asking me to pass onto them some of the wonderful men that have offered to marry me. This help could come from marriage or domestic partnership. If enough people reached out to help those in need with the gift to share there coverage with someone desperately needing it ,insurance companies would be forced to cover those that they would never agree to insure without Healthcare reform. The best part is, they can’t stop it.”
Actually, there’s a closer connection.
Since my late father worked for the federal government, he had one of those so-called Congressional similar high end insurance benefits. That served my mom well who had numerous illness. Along came Tony, who has asthma and allergies, including one to bacteria. Add, the P.T.S.D. from the fiery car accident and, well, I’m not an insurable candidate. Except for the ACCESS WV plan --- which is tremendously expensive . I can’t afford it. But mom pays the monthly premium.
What non-budget busting magic can Obama put forward? Will it assist those of us like Terri with pre-existing conditions? Will it be affordable (or, filled with threats of fines for not carrying the coverage?)
Picture courtesy of marryforhealthinsurance.com
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Health Insurance Benefits Wanted
Blonde Woman Offers Her Hand Receives 7,000 Offers
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – President Obama has placed a national health insurance overhaul at the top of his agenda. The House of Representatives and the Senate have fallen in line --- albeit along party lines. Residents of WV likely welcomed the initial concept --- it would insure those without insurance and make insurance affordable for those with pre-existing conditions.
However, as politics in D.C. continues with Obama scheduled to make another strategic plan adjustment today, March 3, individuals and their illness plights continue.
During an internet search, one stuck out as particularly clever in this harsh, near depression economic environment, where (according to experts) at least six people apply for any job opening.
Recently divorced, Terri Carlson has a chronic, pre-existing condition. Treatment requires continual antibiotics. The 45-year-old single mom knows that when Cobra benefits cease, she will not be able to afford medications or treatment. Those benefits run out in 2011.
She has a part time job, but it does not offer health benefits. The disorder could kill her and insurance companies do not want her business.
As for government assistance, she was a stay-at-home-mother for 24 years prior to the divorce; thus, she does not qualify for Social Security lacking the required number of work quarters.
So, with $1.99 for Go Daddy, she personally branded her YouTube page --- will marry in exchange for health insurance page. She has been deluged with proposals. The gorgeous blonde has not made a selection; in fact, rumor has it that her selection process will become a reality TV show. Meanwhile, she has created a website for others sharing the same plight: http://www.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com.
Terri Carlson’s story has become a media sensation (MSNBC, NY Daily News, Fox) as can be read/viewed by clicking: http://www.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/Links.html or http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6162366n. Briefly, she has a genetic immune C-4 complement disorder. As one reporter wrote, “Her disability leads to frequent infection, severe pain and forced her to be hospitalized earlier this month and also last year.”
The plea as of a February NY Daily News story has filled her email box with 7,000 responses. But, to borrow the Daily News phrasing, “not all are from well-insured men who’d like to take her to the altar.”
Ms. Carlson told the News that half are from suffering people, many in insurance limbo like herself.
“They have the most heartbreaking stories,” she said. “They’re saying things like, ‘You’re a voice for us’ and ‘Please help us.’ It just breaks my heart.”
She decided to share some of the stories of people denied health coverage. (Editor’s Note: Not explicitly stated, but discussed in other articles, the cost of the 20 meds she takes monthly. And, even, if a company would cover her in a ‘high risk’ pool, she would not be able to afford the monthly premiums.)
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2010/02/09/2010-02-09_married_with_benefits_calif_mom_terri_carlson_starts_will_marry_for_health_insur.html#ixzz0h4xo4q1D
A visit to the site does tell Terri’s story, but reading a selection of profiles, her free site seems to have little superficial difference than others. The profiles do NOT contain a “why do I need insurance” topic. The profiles I checked do not appeal to circumstances of near health desperation. They do not tell if the single person has a family. (Hence, exercise caution as it appears one cannot discern the members following the mantra and those signing up because it’s free. I completed a profile without any screening for insurance or health conditions. As of Tuesday, March 2, there were less than five women from WV.)
Inspired by the response, the new health insurance crusader wrote on her site:
“My hope is to bring those that are compassionate, caring and willing to share there health insurance ,together with people that have pre existing conditions and cant get insurance . I have had thousands of e-mails asking me to pass onto them some of the wonderful men that have offered to marry me. This help could come from marriage or domestic partnership. If enough people reached out to help those in need with the gift to share there coverage with someone desperately needing it ,insurance companies would be forced to cover those that they would never agree to insure without Healthcare reform. The best part is, they can’t stop it.”
Actually, there’s a closer connection.
Since my late father worked for the federal government, he had one of those so-called Congressional similar high end insurance benefits. That served my mom well who had numerous illness. Along came Tony, who has asthma and allergies, including one to bacteria. Add, the P.T.S.D. from the fiery car accident and, well, I’m not an insurable candidate. Except for the ACCESS WV plan --- which is tremendously expensive . I can’t afford it. But mom pays the monthly premium.
What non-budget busting magic can Obama put forward? Will it assist those of us like Terri with pre-existing conditions? Will it be affordable (or, filled with threats of fines for not carrying the coverage?)
Picture courtesy of marryforhealthinsurance.com
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
