Health Care Stories: "Living Was More Important Than Keeping My Home"

One of the most common issues facing HIV positive Americans when it comes to accessing adequate health care is fitting the “proper” eligibility requirements for state assistance.  Caught between categorical poverty and prohibitively expensive private insurance, many individuals are forced to simply go without coverage because they cannot afford private care.  Without expanding the eligibility requirements for Medicaid and other government health assistance programs to low-income individuals, necessary treatment will continue to be out of reach for many chronically ill Americans.

“I was experiencing night sweats (literally soaking through the mattress) and chills…I ended up in the hospital mid January 1998 with three types of pneumonia, clinically dead twice, was placed in a drug-induced coma with a feeding tube and was traced and diagnosed with AIDS…By the end of February, I was finally transferred to a rehabilitation hospital to learn how to walk, eat and breathe on my own again…When I had to quit my job, our finances were cut by more than half.  We have finally found a group who is assisting us with most of the drug co-pays as well as helping with utilities, food, and some dental…I was denied health insurance by [a state provider] because I make too much money (only 32.76% poverty level as opposed to the required 33%)…I made the tough decision that living was more important than keeping my home.”

Linda Grapski, CT

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*The individuals profiled in this post are sharing their real-life story and image to put the current healthcare-reform debate in context. Media interested in interviewing HIV-positive people about health-coverage issues should contact AFC Communications Director Johnathon Briggs atjbriggs@aidschicago or 312-334-0922