She was finally able to visit a specialist: Hip dysplasia treatment through Health Care for All

Barbara was born with a health condition called hip dysplasia, causing severe pain which affects her life in many ways. She works as a secretary at a landscape company and is a 22-year-old single mother. She can't walk well unless she takes a high number of very expensive medications.

She had been uninsured for two years and suffering without the medications that allow her to function normally when she was helped by a counselor at the Helpline of Health Care for All in Massachusetts. A few weeks after she filled out an application over the phone, she started her Commonwealth Care health insurance coverage and was finally able visit a specialist to take care of her health issues.

Barbara has been in treatment ever since. Pain medication is keeping her comfortable until her surgery scheduled for next month. She will have a hip replacement and the chance of success of her surgery is 98%. She is so excited about her new hip and stresses the important role that Health Care For All played in helping her through the whole process. Here is what Barbara has to say:

"We are so lucky to be Massachusetts residents. My daughter is 1 year-old and she was born with the same problem I have. But thanks to all the health care we receive, her health condition was diagnosed as soon as she was born and she had all the care necessary to fix her hips before she started having severe problems. She used a harness for a period of 4 months which helped to cure her problem. And through MassHealth she has the opportunity to go to the doctor for regular checkups. So I couldn't be happier about the health reform in Massachusetts and all the assistance and care I receive every time I call the helpline."

Advice to Massachusetts residents without health insurance: Call the HelpLine at 800- 272-4232.

Read a story of a young mother in another state who lacked insurance.

Thanks to Monika Lira Malhoit for the source blog post at A Healthy Blog.

It helped to save his life: Universal health insurance in Massachusetts

Tim [not his real name] was not feeling well, but didn’t see a doctor because he had no health insurance. He was uninsured for several years before he contacted Health Care for All’s HelpLine. The counselor helped him apply for benefits over the phone. Tim says, “Without Commonwealth Care, it would be nearly impossible to find an affordable health insurance plan.” Since becoming insured and seeing a doctor, Tim was diagnosed with diabetes and is being treated. It’s clear to him that getting insurance through Commonwealth Care and finally visiting a doctor helped to save his life.

The flip side of Tim's story from the files of Health Care for All is seen in a story from my aunt's life. The timely diagnosis and treatment of diabetes may well have given extra years of active life to my aunt, Anne Troutman, as well. A very high-energy woman into her 70s, she loved to travel. She didn’t treat the poor circulation in her feet, and required an amputation of her big toe late in life. That greatly reduced her ability to get around, and her quality of life. We don’t know how much she knew about her diabetes and self-care, for she died, not long afterward, of a heart attack. Clearly, a doctor could have helped her, as Tim’s doctor is helping him.

Advice: Ask your friends if they have health insurance, and refer them to the HelpLine at 800-272-4232 if not. The HelpLine answers questions about healthcare in Massachusetts, including co-payments, health insurance rules, directions, program eligibility, and much more.

Read another story about care for the uninsured.

Thanks to Amy Franz for the source story in the Fall 2008 newsletter of Health Care for All.

Stories from the Help Line: Universal health insurance

From the files of HealthCare for All’s Help Line:

I have a cataract in my left eye and I'm losing my vision because it needs to be removed. I've been uninsured for four years and I couldn't afford surgery or health insurance. I feel absolutely thrilled that I now have health insurance that will cover this! You have no idea how incredible this is. - New Commonwealth Care Enrollee Joanne

I haven't had health insurance in years. Last time was probably fifteen years ago when the place that I worked closed down. I still owe my doctor for things he has done throughout the years. They just told me I have high blood pressure, and I haven't been taking the pills because they are too expensive. The first set of pills is like $20 every couple of weeks. I can get those now. - New Commonwealth Care Enrollee Irene

I've been going without coverage for probably five to ten years. I was told that I have a cyst on my kidney, but that was over a year ago. They said to check back with them when I have health insurance. I'm definitely going to get that checked out now. - New Commonwealth Care Enrollee Kevin

I have severe medical conditions and I have had no insurance for about a year. I have really bad asthma attacks and I let myself get really, really sick because I didn't have health insurance. I've had to go down to the hospital and it's a lot of bills. I feel wonderful relief [because of her new insurance coverage]! - New Commonwealth Care Enrollee Joan

This is a weight off of my shoulders! I can get this hammer nail on my feet taken care of. It hurts me to walk. I wanted to take care of it before, but I just can't afford it. I went to this clinic and they just cut the toenail, but it grew back weird again. I'm a security guard and I do a lot of walking and my feet hurt very badly. I'm going to get it taken care of now. - New Commonwealth Care Enrollee Arthur


I have let a number of things slide while I've been uninsured the past 3 years. I haven't had any physicals or treatment for my diverticulitis. There just hasn't been the money to get the appropriate stuff done to help with this. My first plan [now that he is covered] is to have a complete physical examination so that I can have the proper treatment for my conditions. - New Commonwealth Care Enrollee Timothy

Having health insurance would make the greatest difference in the world. I have diabetes and really need yearly MRIs and my testing supplies covered. I haven't had any of these things for close to a year. - New Commonwealth Care Enrollee Allison


Universal health insurance in Massachusetts is the creature of many fathers and mothers. At today’s press conference/birthday party in Boston, I was privileged to see many of them. To name and thank a partial list of at least the people I know: Ashley Adams, Cheri Andes, Larry Gordon, Rev. Hurman Hamilton, Nechama Katz, Leslie Kirwan, Ari Lipman, John McDonough, Nahma Nadich, Rabbi Barbara Penzner, Brian Rosman, and Lisa Vinikoor. Bravo!

Advice to people living outside Massachusetts: Organize a coalition like theirs.