[Attaniuri]

I'm sure regular hot meals factored into his plans as well.

Think Progress: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011...bs-for-health/

James Richard Verone spent his whole life playing by the rules and staying out of trouble. Having worked as a delivery man for Coca Cola for 17 years, Verone was known as a hard worker and honest man.

Yet when he was laid off from Coca Cola three years ago, Verone was desperate to find work. He eventually found employment as a convenience clerk, yet he began to notice a protrusion in his chest. He developed arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, and soon the pain became too much for him to bear. He filed for disability, but he was denied any sort of coverage by the federal government.

So earlier this month, Verone drove to a local RBC Bank and told the teller he was robbing them for a dollar. He said he wanted to rob the bank in order to go to jail and get medical coverage:
Verone didn’t want to scare anyone. He executed the robbery the most passive way he knew how. He handed the teller a note demanding one dollar, and medical attention. “I didn’t have any fears,” said Verone. “I told the teller that I would sit over here and wait for police.” [...]

The man has high hopes with his recent incarceration. He has seen several nurses and has an appointment with a doctor Friday.The ideal scenario would include back and foot surgery and a diagnosis and treatment of the protrusion on his chest, he said.
Verone told the local press he would like to serve in prison long enough to be able to get out in time to collect Social Security benefits that he paid into his entire life. He also hopes to be able to retire along a beach some day. Verone says that he doesn’t regret landing behind bars and that he had no choice. Between continuing a life in pain and choosing prison, he is happy with his decision. “If I had not exercised all the alternatives I would be sitting here saying, ‘Man I feel bad about it,’” he said. “I picked jail.” The United States is the only wealthy country that does not offer comprehensive universal health care to every citizen; in no other rich country would anyone be faced with such a choice.

[pavlik]

My brother had throat cancer 18 months ago. Luckily, the cancer was localized, removed with surgery and the follow-up chemo and radiation treatments seem to have worked. He had health insurance through his job, but he was out of work for nearly six months and the disability insurance did not cover his bills. He had to borrow money from his retirement account, an account already devastated by the 2008 crash. He'll turn 61 next month.

When his wife divorced him ten years ago, he lost all equity in his small home. They refinanced, but now his loan in upsidedown as home values in Florida have fallen dramatically. His salary has been flat for three years and his company -- he's worked for them 27 years -- quit matching his 401k in 2009. He earns less than $35,000.

Last week he slipped in some water in his home and injured his back. He refused to go to the doctor because he hasn't met his $500 deductible and told me he could not afford it. I took him to a walk-in clinic and paid the $85.

Near tears, he told me, "I've worked all my life. This is America. If you work hard all your life, this isn't supposed to happen. This is America."

[CaseyFronczekHomie]

He's brilliant. He just robbed a store to get a health coverage. He's health conscious.

[fgfblog]

My brother had throat cancer 18 months ago. Luckily, the cancer was localized, removed with surgery and the follow-up chemo and radiation treatments seem to have worked. He had health insurance through his job, but he was out of work for nearly six months and the disability insurance did not cover his bills. He had to borrow money from his retirement account, an account already devastated by the 2008 crash. He'll turn 61 next month.

When his wife divorced him ten years ago, he lost all equity in his small home. They refinanced, but now his loan in upsidedown as home values in Florida have fallen dramatically. His salary has been flat for three years and his company -- he's worked for them 27 years -- quit matching his 401k in 2009. He earns less than $35,000.

Last week he slipped in some water in his home and injured his back. He refused to go to the doctor because he hasn't met his $500 deductible and told me he could not afford it. I took him to a walk-in clinic and paid the $85.

Near tears, he told me, "I've worked all my life. This is America. If you work hard all your life, this isn't supposed to happen. This is America."

Since getting laid off a year ago, my wife and I have been paying COBRA while getting our new small business off the ground, but we're only able to afford that much with the federal subsidy that was in place at the time I got laid off. That subsidy ends in a couple of months, so we'll be going without insurance for awhile until we can pick up something through the Affordable Care Act in the next year or so. Hopefully nothing major will come up between now and then.