Brevard County resident Njeri Gichia-Broussard, 39, is self-employed and has been without health insurance since January 2013. Previously a single mother employed with a Fortune 500 company, her regular insurance ended with that employer in 2009 when she married and moved to Florida. This was perfect timing since in February 2010 she was diagnosed with a long-term illness, hospitalized, and unable to work for a year. At the time, she and her son were then covered by her new husband’s employer, United Space Alliance, but when the shuttle program ended in 2011 and her husband lost his job, COBRA was the only option. “It was so expensive! We were paying close to $2000 per month just for the premiums. We shopped around for private insurance but I was repeatedly told that I was essentially uninsurable because of my pre-existing condition.”
Njeri and her husband Darryl, started their own business after the shuttle program ended and investigated a group plan under their business but found it cost prohibitive. “We were sinking every penny we had into the business and our health care expenses. We couldn’t see potentially having to cover employees’ health insurance as well when we could barely take care of ourselves.” They drained their savings accounts paying for health care costs while covered by COBRA for 19 months. They then took a withdrawal from their 401k to make ends meet. Njeri was strategically stretching out her regular doctor’s visits from two months to three, taking medication every other day instead of twice a day, just trying to hold out until the Affordable Care Act would be available. “I haven’t been to the doctor at all since January of this year. I just keep hoping nothing major happens again while I’m uninsured, but it wouldn’t be the first time.” When Njeri gave birth to her son in 1995 she was a married college student living in poverty covered by Medicaid until her 6 weeks postpartum check up. But when she had to have emergency surgery five months later she had no insurance coverage. “I’m still paying for those medical bills.”
Njeri will be looking to the Health Insurance Marketplace to evaluate health insurance options for her and her husband, but potentially for the employees of their small business. Njeri is in contact with the local navigator in her area and will soon be evaluating affordable health care options.
by 
November 5, 2013
Personal Stories