Consumers Union’s Cover America Tour traveled the country this past summer documenting Americans’ experiences with our health care system. We met Julie in August 2008.

Julie found the love of her life on her second marriage to Gene. After 18 years together, Gene showed Julie how much he loved her by giving her a divorce.

Employed but uninsured, Julie was diagnosed with uterine cancer four years ago. She was able to get free care through a special program offered by the city of Spokane, Wash. But it was a temporary solution, and when the city could no longer offer her help, Julie called every program she could find so she could continue cancer treatments. They all told her the same thing: the couple made too much money.

By this point Julie was out on disability, too sick to work. But Gene, a cabinet builder, made about $100 a month over the limit to qualify for any programs. How would they survive if he actually tried to make less money? They were barely making ends meet as it was, especially with the mounting medical bills.

They finally realized that in order for Julie to financially qualify for a program to get treatment for her cancer, they’d have to do the unthinkable – get a divorce.

Julie and Gene went to the county courthouse to file the papers that legally ended their marriage, allowing Julie to finally qualify for Medicaid and receive treatment. “As we were going through the divorce process, we discovered that we weren't alone,” Julie said. “There are many couples in the same situation. It is not right to force people to make the choice of ‘get a divorce or die’.”

While she and Gene were relieved that she finally had coverage, Medicaid came with its own pitfalls. They quickly learned that Julie had to reapply every six months, creating a never-ending stream of paperwork, applications, deadlines – and the constant worry that she might get rejected for filling something out wrong.

A cancer diagnosis is frightening and life-altering enough. Now add on the scramble to find coverage for treatment to save your own life, and having to divorce your spouse. As Julie put it, “And cancer patients aren't supposed to be under a lot of stress...what a joke.”

But Julie was a fighter. She battled cancer for over 4 years and celebrated every day she had, speaking out for the need to reform our health care system so others wouldn’t have to struggle to get care the way she did. She volunteered her time with organizations that fundraise for cancer research, and she and Gene continued to take care of each other. After all, they were – in their hearts, if not on paper – still married.

Two weeks ago, cancer took Julie’s life. We send our deepest sympathy to her friends and family. She touched our lives, and she will be missed.

Her story illustrates the impossible dilemma so many Americans currently face trying to secure affordable, quality health coverage. You can take action for change at www.PrescriptionForChange.org

comments (13)

Comments

1 Posted by Susan Gleason at 01/27/09 05:41 PM

Heart breaking that this is allowed to go on in the richest country in the world.

2 Posted by Susan at 01/27/09 05:42 PM

My sister had to do the very same thing 14 years ago to help her fight breast cancer, the insurance company refused to cover her because her husbands job folded and when he get another job they would not cover her because a "pre existing condition" she had fought cancer when she was 29 years old

3 Posted by Katy Kern at 01/27/09 06:34 PM

Hi all - Don't forget those of us in abusive marriages who don't get divorced because we and/or our children need health care.

4 Posted by Judith Wright at 01/27/09 07:00 PM

The story of Julie who had to divorce her husband to be able to receive cancer treatment really hit home. I had a dear friend who also had to resort to divorce in order to qualify for suitable health care. Why is this? Judith Wright--consumer & voter

5 Posted by at 01/27/09 07:48 PM

My fear is that we will wind up like other countries e.g. England and Canada where you can be diagnosed with breast cancer while it is curable but by the time you get into treatment...2 years later...you are terminal...if you make it that far. Public health care is NOT like taking current health care and just giving more people access. It will be the same for all but that "same" will be at a greatly reduced level of care...the limits now are money...the limits with public care for all is TIMELY access to care. The military care is like what we will get where as a dependent I went in with a nosebleed that would not quit and was given an appointment 6 weeks away. I told her I would either have bled to death by that time or it would have stopped on its own. Do you want that?

6 Posted by Peter Hainey at 01/27/09 08:13 PM

Beware of sentiments expressed by writers such as #5, who did not want to give a name. There is already a serious rationing of health care in the US, only the rich or well-connected get good care. The rest of us have a hard time getting in to see a doctor, even if we have insurance. Also, the old canard that you have to wait "years" in Britain to be treated for a serious illness is an oft-repeated lie.

Everyone could be covered here in the US for LESS MONEY than we are currently spending, and could have IMPROVED coverage across the board!

Finally, the shortage of doctors/nurses is a completely different problem. The taxpayers already pay 80% or more of a medical professional's education, so why not pay 100% and have some say in WHERE they practice for the first 5 or 10 years? If impoverished Cuba can train an adequate number of doctors, why can't we?

7 Posted by Steve at 01/27/09 09:54 PM

Number 5 is a typical right wing republican which equals; "srew you Jack, I'm alright".

8 Posted by amy bishop at 01/27/09 11:31 PM

There are 3 times more highly qualified straight A-brilliant US applicants than seats in US medical schools.If medical schools doubled the amount of students admitted then this would solve the lack of US trained physicians. In addition, US medical schools preferentially admit foreign nationals who then take their MDs and practice in their home countries.

In UK hospitals emergency care, trauma care, is immediate and vastly superior to care in most US hospitals. Chronic care with home nursing is available to every Brit while here in the US chronic care and home health care is only available to the rich. If you are sick and at home the Brit system will even supply you with a home aid. The UK system does this because its citizens pay taxes and thus deserve to see their money used for their health.

We, in the US pay taxes, and as such, deserve to see our money spent on our health care-preferably free and comprehensive care for all US citizens.However US health care is tied to our jobs making us chattel. Here, in the US, losing your job means losing health care and perhaps your life. Here "bosses" have a lot of power over the US worker which makes the US a serfdom, not a free society. Universal health Care would change this and restore freedom to this country. But corporate America does not want this loss of power.

9 Posted by diana at 01/27/09 11:33 PM

#7 is one of those liberals who lump all republicans together and cause disension. Childish name caller is he/she ! Government is organized to protect its citizens--so health is as much their duty as defense. Don't think right wing is out of touch (many I know are suffering but ...)and dont alienate any other American by such name calling--help them to understand. Or are you just an agitator?
We should know of pittfalls so we can avoid them. You are wrong #7 to dismiss them.

10 Posted by Judith Loebel at 01/28/09 01:21 AM

I find myself getting to the same untenable position as Julie--I injured a leg which was subsequently amputated. After fighting with insurance and being told I was not eligible for Social Security-again our one income tuition paying tax refund and free lunch qualifying family was told we MADE TOO MUCH for this--I am stuck with about $10,000 worth of medical bills ---and this is surely not the end of them as artificial legs need to be replaced every few years at a cost of many thousands of dollars. I was told I could NOT have Physical Therapy after my amputation by my insurance company--unless I wanted to commit to pay for it--as a INPATIENT---by myself. This was among the many many LIES that were later found out by myself, told by the insurance company to AVOID paying for care. They also tried to DENY paying for a prosthetic leg---even tho they had AGREED to pay for the amputation! I agree with the statement about the RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD---this is a disgrace. Don't really want to divorce and in New York it is hard to do but it might get to that point. Sad reflection of our country. AND PS I am on a web site with many many amputees from GReat Britain and they DO NOT have the problems we keep getting rubbed in our face from people like the Coward Number 5 here. AND they receive 3 legs when they learn how to walk---a working leg, a water or sports leg, and whatever special leg they might need. At NO personal out of pocket cost to them. All of this is paid for of course---by Universal Health CAre fees they pay through taxes etc. As does France, and most other countries areound the world---we stand alone in this neglect of our citizens. judith

11 Posted by Belinda D. at 01/28/09 03:10 AM

As an American and a cancer survivor, this is an important issue to me, and I welcome open, constructive debate. Although Respondent #5 appears to have been greatly misinformed on the state of health care in countries such as England and Canada, he or she does NOT deserve to treated with the disrespect evinced by Steve in response #7. This kind of name-calling has been slowing killing reasoned, civil debate in the U.S.A. for several decades and creating an atmosphere of polarization and enmity among citizens that will PREVENT the very progress we need on vital issues such as health care reform.

12 Posted by marilyn at 02/12/09 07:47 AM

The topic of this was Julie, please don't lose her to the pecking at each other.

13 Posted by kathi meyer at 03/17/09 06:34 PM

my sister just had to have her left leg AMPUTATED from the knee down. i need to know how to help her please someone give me some advice. sshe just got divorced after 21 years. she has a 19 year old daughter. she worked in the post office for about 25 years and is short like 4 credits to get social security. she has so many doctor bills with no way of paying them. she had her house on the market and it's not selling. and where will she go. now she needs the house handicapped accessible. no money to do that. i just had a double masectomy and have a daughter who's legally blind. we've all lost oiurjobs. i don't know which way is up. who to help. how to help. we also have 3 dogs and 2 cats, which i would never even consider getting rid of . they are family. in addition to my breast cancer, i have carpal tunnel, both knees replaced. one thumb fused. just fell and almost cut the other thumb off. suffer from bipolar disease. i'm trying not to lose my mind and to help out the people i care about.-