Storybank - Utahns Speak Up
The storybank project is part of our continuing effort to highlight the need for quality, comprehensive, affordable health care coverage for all. The stories featured are of real people throughout the state of Utah whose lives are impacted by the health care crisis.

Uninsured Stories
Living without insurance, being under-insured and the consequences to one's health and/or household.

• Surviving is my first priority I just can't think about how to pay for my care right now.
• Right now tuition and my education are more important that health insurance.
• Preexisiting health conditions can make it scary to change jobs.
• Insurance would take so much out of my paycheck...
• I wish there were a way for families who make too much for CHIP and Medicaid...
• Student chooses cost of education over health insurance.
• Lack of insurance leads to missed preventative care...
• Can't obtain preventative care without a medical home...
• Temporary agencies don't offer health insurance...
• Uninsured by choice.

Medicaid & CHIP Stories
Issues: timely access to care, the need for services and
Successes: how these programs helped one get back into or to stay within the workforce.

• Because I wanted to better myself and not depend on the system...
• It was alot of work to get on PCN and it didn't help much.
• When my children were uninsured, I was always worried they would get sick.
• Grandson's social security check disqualifies Grandmother.

Small Business Stories
Small business owner's ability to offer insurance.

• We need affordable insurance to grow our business.
• It's important to offer good insurance to keep quality employees.
• I would like to offer better coverage but it's extremely difficult and very costly.
• Health costs seem to go up 20% each year...
• I got into this business because I couldn't afford health insurance for myself!

General Insurance and Quality of Care Stories
Rising premiums, in-between coverage, denial;
Culturally or linguistically appropriate care (personal, family, client, or institutional).

• Cost of COBRA Unaffordable
• Insurance issue more distressing than fear of cancer itself.

We are looking for more stories to help increase public awareness of the current health care crisis. If you have a personal health care story and would like to add it to our Utahns Speak Up Storybank, send an email to stacey@healthpolicyproject.org or call (801) 433-2299.