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Nancy's Story: No Longer Choosing Between Paying Rent and Paying for Health Insurance

Summary: 
Ten years ago, skyrocketing premiums forced Nancy Beigel to choose between paying rent and paying for health insurance. She dropped her coverage and has been uninsured since then.

Ten years ago, skyrocketing premiums forced Nancy Beigel to choose between paying rent and paying for health insurance. She dropped her coverage and has been uninsured since then.

When she was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, a doctor told her it would be nearly impossible to find new coverage, since she now had a pre-existing condition. She pays out of pocket for her health care, but has many medical bills she can’t afford to pay off.

Nancy shared her story with President Obama, and told him she’d been “counting the days” until she could buy coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, where insurance companies couldn't turn her down due to her pre-existing condition. See what else she had to say in the video below, or watch on YouTube.


If you need health insurance, you can shop for a plan and enroll in coverage at HealthCare.gov. For coverage that starts January 1, 2014, be sure to enroll by today, December 23, 2013. Open enrollment continues until March 31.

If you already have health insurance, tell your friends, family and co-workers why it's important to get covered. Find resources to help share the word here.