Surviving on Medicare, at Poverty
My Name is Catherine Ciferni, I am 36 years old and I am on peritoneal dialysis. I have previously had 3 kidney transplants, which have failed at various times in my life. It is difficult for me to find a job that will insure me, so for medical benefits I have Medicare. In order to stay on disability I have to live at a very low level of income, no more than 980 dollars per month just to keep my medicare coverage, I can not save for the future, I can not save for a house or condo, (my dream) nor to go back to school for additional training. I have been able to manage my condition and grow even though I am on dialysis. I have served as an Americorps VISTA member for 2 years, once at the University of Delaware and the other at the Ministry of Caring- I believe in serving those who do not have a voice, as I often feel in that situation
But I am forced to live at a level of poverty that scares me, I have a fixed income and do not live in public housing, none is available to me, most of my income goes to keeping a roof over my head, I live this way because its the only way I can get coverage for my dialysis treatment, I feels as though the government is telling me, “Ok, we will treat you so, you can stay alive but we can not guarantee that you will have food or shelter”
-Catherine C.
Tags: Health Reform