Gripping stories from America’s heartland. Next on NOW.
As Congress hammers out legislation that will determine the future of health care in this country, NOW travels to the nation’s heartland to see what reform could mean for the middle class. On Friday, December 4, at 8:30 PM (check local listings), NOW Senior Correspondent Maria Hinojosa meets two tight-knit Oklahoma families whose problems with private health insurance left them unable to get proper medical care – and on the brink of financial ruin.
One of those families – the O’Reillys – grapples with the issue of how to cover needed respiratory therapy treatment for their eight-year-old daughter, Sophie, who was denied coverage for what the insurance company labeled a “pre-existing condition.”
“People pretty frequently say, ‘Oh, you know, my plan works great for me’,” says Sophie’s mother Natalie O’Reilly.” And my answer to that is – insurance works really well until you need it. Until you really, truly need it.”
A quick message before you keep reading
We’re proud to publish real news 365 days of the year, completely free of charge to our readers. But producing high-quality, independent work is not cost-free – we rely heavily on your support.
If you found the piece above useful, informative, or inspiring, please consider supporting Truthout with a tax-deductible donation. A gift of any size makes a difference and helps keep this unique platform alive.