Help! I’m Dying!
With cancer knocking at her front door, Joni Lownsdale didn’t know that she would soon be a victim of breast cancer. Lownsdale was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 (Levy). Breast cancer hit her unexpectedly. She became overwhelmed with devastation. She didn’t know what to think or who to turn to neither she know that breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women (Brandon). Breast cancer is predicted to invade one out of every eight women at some point in their lifetime (Levy). Joni Lownsdale had no idea that she would have to endure more than just her fear of cancer. Surprisingly, her cancer was one that could be treated since she participated in early detection screenings on a regular basis. She began receiving treatment for her pea-sized tumor several times a week. Her medical bills sky rocketed. While Lownsdale continued to fight her battle with cancer, little did she know her insurance would soon be affected for the rest of her life!
Are insurance companies killing cancer patients? Should they be considered the murderers or the homicidal threat to society? Insurance companies have been disastrous for people with pre-existing medical conditions. They have ruined families near and far, only to save their respective companies money in the long run. Cancer patients around the world are denied on a regular basis. These companies claim to deny cancer patients because cancer is considered an expensive condition. Insurance companies can not only deny an individual’s coverage if they discover a pre-existing medical condition within their application, but their condition could also lead to denied coverage for all of their respective family members. They do this because they believe there is a chance his or her family members are prone to the disease now and it will most likely become hereditary. Insurance companies don’t care about people. Business is their first priority and money is the second. People are somewhere down the line next to the footrest of the owners, especially people with cancer. Why do insurance companies deny coverage to the people that need it the most during a crucial point in their life? They expect the patient to die anyway, so why would they waste money on paying for their medical bills if the only have a few months to live at the most. This type of action is a disgrace to American society. These companies are very inhumane towards the human race. Many people with cancer are already in disbelief due to their diagnosis, only to be further in denial, when they don’t have a way to pay for doctor visits or medicine. Not having a solution to these types of issues leads to a depression. Now, imagine Joni Lownsdale trying to fight cancer and deal with a deep depression at the same time? She is already sick from getting chemotherapy several times throughout the week, which is extremely pricey, now she is depressed, and has to purchase depression medications. Joni Lownsdale battled two different obstacles in her life with no help to pay for anything. She continuously tried to get medical coverage from several insurance companies and was denied regularly. Even though Lownsdale has a clean bill of health now she still has a target on her back, one that will get her automatic rejection from medical coverage (Brandon). The only thing the insurance companies told her was good luck, which in reality means f*ck you in a nice way.
Joni Lownsdale eventually survived her battle. She made it out a much stronger woman from all of her struggles. Cancer changed her life tremendously, but there was still one thing that held her back from being normal again. She still wasn’t allowed to get medical insurance! After overcoming a life threatening disease like breast cancer, why would she still have to battle with the companies that left her for dead? The insurance companies don’t want to cover Lownsdale even though she is cancer free. She is seven years past her fist diagnosis and has no sign of cancer in her body, as a matter of fact; there is only a five percent chance that she could get cancer again (Levy). That is a very astonishing number right, but not to the insurance companies. They don’t care if she doesn’t have cancer right now or not at this point, because they don’t care about her life. She is a non factor to them, just like the millions of other people with existing medical or pre-existing medical conditions around the world.
Many people around the world need our help to get a health care system that will cover our family and friends even if they are three hours away from dying, that is not a reason to deny him or her medical coverage. Insurance companies need to realize that it’s not about the amount of money they earn from premiums and monthly fees, but they need to realize they are murdering people by not accepting the individuals that are in dire need of their help. When a company denies a cancer patient that leaves the patient hopeless. Lownsdale was the exact same way in her situation. Now she is still walking around the streets of America without healthcare insurance. Is this what America stands for now? Not teaching kids equality and liberty no matter the circumstance. Lownsdale is now working with President Barack Obama in support of his new healthcare system Obamacare. This system would make sure each American is qualified to receive medical coverage whether they have a pre existing medical condition or not. She is determined and focused in her hopes to spread the news about the horrible malfunction in healthcare right now. Individuals are not seen as humans to insurance companies. They are seen as stomping grounds for better ways to make more money. If a person is fit they will cover them without any problems. That is a form of prejudice in society. It should not be tolerated nor deliberated. Lownsdale is determined not to stop until something is done about the present situation that her and so many others have faced. Seen as nothing more than a piece of trash, Lownsdale is striving to make the life of people with pre existing medical conditions better. Insurance companies should be fully responsible for the deaths of every patient they’ve denied. It is a ridiculous representation of what America stands for. They should stand up and take pride in helping individuals like Joni Lownsdale and stop denying them coverage. Please insurance companies stop killing these important people in America and make sure that everyone has the chance to live a strong healthy life like Joni Lownsdale.
Works Cited
Levy, Allison. “New Health Dialogue.” New America Foundation. The New America
Foundation, 27 Oct 2009. Web. 4 Mar 2011.
Brandon, Alex. “Health, Medicine & Fitness.” Arizona Daily Star. Arizona Daily Star, 24
Oct 2009. Web. 4 Mar 2011
