Avonnet

My husband applied for MediCal, but was denied because of excess property. The ‘property’ was a 25-year-old car that was in our garage. We appealed, but in the meantime, the bills kept piling up.

I was afraid that if I didn’t pay at least part of them, my husband wouldn’t get care anymore. So I bundled up the stacks of bills and my mom helped me sort through them. We owed $800,000 in hospital bills. I paid little amounts here and there to each of them, hoping it was enough to keep them at bay.

Finally, Medi-Cal came through, but by then my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. He came home, to be cared for by hospice. I took over his business and looked after my 8-year-old stepson.

My husband passed away four months later.

My husband’s first policy was canceled for a small mistake, his second policy didn’t cover his treatments; and he couldn’t cut through the bureaucracy on his third policy fast enough. Three strikes – I guess that’s all you get.