400 Days to Salvation

In my most desperate time of need--when my body has proven incompetent and my mind infiltrated with energy-erasing, sleep-interfering and cognitively-catastrophic drugs--I rest assured that salvation is only 400 days away. Maybe. The United States of America, land of my birth and the place where I've worked, volunteered and been a good citizens; may save me then -- in 400 days or so. I've already waited about 300 days; so what's another 400?

If I should find myself on the street, says my attorney, he can make an appeal for my social security benefits to be considered more quickly. Although, the two year waiting period for a disabled person to receive Medicare still applies. So, let's add it up--300 days plus 400 days is 700 days. That's a grand total of two years.

Two years may seem like a short time for a working, healthy person. But, for me, it's forever. I could be dead in two years. Who knows? Two years of financial distress is what this means. Two years of not having my much-needed massages paid for because that's apparently a luxury. A second year of having to pay that $5000 deductible. Another year of being terrified that I'm one pink slip away from excruciating pain and complete debilitation if I lose my access to medical care. More time thinking about the financial stress my disability is causing my family.

If I lived in the third world, this news may not be shocking. But, I live in the US. I've worked in the US. I've employed people in the US. I've paid business taxes in the US. Who would ever care. As a prisoner, my human rights would be recognized and the medical bills would be paid. As someone on the outside, I'm toast.

Thanks to my husband, I'm not currently on the street. Without him, I might be. It's a ridiculous paradox that one of the richest countries in the world will only help its citizens who are prisoners or, maybe, homeless. Although those are not mutually exclusive today, as I believe homelessness is a crime in my city. I'll have to check into that? Homeless=criminal=health care?