Life stories: Medical bills a challenge

Chris Dyer dropped out of high school and is discovering just how difficult it can be living paycheck to paycheck.




Chris Dyer’s wage isn’t enough to cover something he desperately needs: health insurance. He was diagnosed with severe scoliosis in 2009.


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In April, the 21-year-old got a job making $8 an hour as a deli clerk at a Lincoln grocery store. Even working full time, his income denies him something he desperately needs: health insurance.

More than one in every four of the country's lowest wage earners dropped out of high school, many of them condemned to jobs that make it a challenge to afford basic necessities. Dyer later earned a general education diploma, but he knows the immediate future will remain financially daunting.

Dyer was diagnosed with severe scoliosis in 2009, and his medical bills continue to mount. He was covered under Medicaid until two years ago. His health problems didn’t cease when his coverage did.

“Right now, I personally have like five grand in hospital bills, because that’s the only thing I can do. I can’t afford $200 doctor visits. If I’m in pain that much, it’s the emergency room, which racks up a $1,000 bill very quickly.”

Despite a recent raise to $8.25 an hour, he can’t afford to purchase his own car. His paycheck is gone almost as quickly as it arrives.

“In two days you’re broke," he said. "It’s almost like you work for nothing."

Dyer doesn’t expect a raise when the first round of minimum wage increases comes Jan. 1. If one does come, he says, he’s not sure it will be enough to change his situation.

“I believe it will help, in some way. But, I don’t think it goes far enough to help. You have the state government trying to stop the expansion of Medicaid, which would help people like me get access to adequate health care, which would make life so much simpler.”

Just as important as higher wage minimums, he said, are laws protecting gay, lesbian and transgender workers from losing their jobs because of their sexual orientation.



Source: Journal Star, 30th Dec 2014