Natoma Canfield's Letter to President Obama

(http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/06/28/natoma-canfields-letter-president-obama?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl)

Natoma Canfield's Letter to President Obama

The White House

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@whitehouse

This letter in my office is a reminder of how health reform benefits Americans. Today's victory is 1 for all of us. -bopic.twitter.com/ahqFmyMI

28 Jun 12

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In his remarks on the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, President Obama spoke about a letter from a woman named Natoma Canfield. The letter, sent to the President during the health care debate, still hangs in his office as a reminder of what the Affordable Care Act means for Americans around the country.

Today, the President told Natoma's story and explained why he carried it with him every day of the fight to pass this law:

For years and years, Natoma did everything right.  She bought health insurance.  She paid her premiums on time.  But 18 years ago, Natoma was diagnosed with cancer.  And even though she'd been cancer-free for more than a decade, her insurance company kept jacking up her rates, year after year.  And despite her desire to keep her coverage -- despite her fears that she would get sick again -- she had to surrender her health insurance, and was forced to hang her fortunes on chance.
 
I carried Natoma's story with me every day of the fight to pass this law.  It reminded me of all the Americans, all across the country, who have had to worry not only about getting sick, but about the cost of getting well.
 
Natoma is well today.  And because of this law, there are other Americans -- other sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers -- who will not have to hang their fortunes on chance.  These are the Americans for whom we passed this law.

And here is the full text of Natoma's letter:

Dear President Obama

I am 50 years old.  I was diagnosed with carcinoma in-situ 16 years ago and following my divorce 12 years ago I became self-employed.  After my Cobra ran out I was able to find costly, but affordable health insurance. As a responsible individual, I have struggled to maintain my individual coverage and have increased my deductible and out of pocket-limits in an attempt to control my cost and keep my health insurance.

Last year (2009) my insurance premium was increased over 25% even though I increased my deductible and out of pocket to the highest limits available.  I paid out $6075.24 in premiums, $2415.26 for medical care, $225 in co-pays and $1500 for prescriptions.  I never reached my deductible of $2500 so the insurance company only paid out a total of $953.32 to my providers.

I must repeat, in 2009 my insurance company received $6075.24 in premiums and paid out only $953.32!  Incredibly I have just been notified that my premium for next year 2010 has been increased over 40% to $8496.24 ($708.02 per month)!!!!  This is the same insurance company I have been with for over 11 cancer free years!!!

I need your Health reform bill to help me!!!  I simply can no longer afford to pay for my health care costs!!  Thanks to this incredible premium increase demanded by my insurance company, January will be my last month of insurance.

I live in the house my mother & father built in 1958 and I am so afraid of the possibility I might loose [sic] this family heirloom as a result of my being forced to drop my health care insurance.  The health insurance industry technically has not denied me insurance directly, but indirectly they have by increasing my costs.  They perceive me as becoming a higher risk factor to them despite being a loyal customer. I will never be able to obtain new health insurance due to the lack of real competition.

We are talking about Anthem who apparently has no respect for your attempts to reform the health insurance industry.

Please stay focused in your reform attempts as I and many others are in desperate need of your help.
Sincerely,

Natoma Canfield
Natoma Canfield

cc: many