“It’s like a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m blown away,” said a woman who was able to afford health insurance for the first time in 12 years.
Sheryl Hagen was earning $13.25 an hour after working more than five years at a Missouri grocery store. But even working full time, she couldn’t afford the $300 premium for her employer’s health insurance plan — so she went without.
Earlier this year, Hagen, 51, broke her ribs and the resulting hospital stay led to a $1,300 bill. She didn’t have enough to pay it, and taking time off to recover only put her further behind.
“I couldn’t move and couldn’t work and couldn’t really do anything,” she said. “And then I knew I was going to have these giant bills coming at me. It was terrifying.” Continue reading.