Oct
10
Illinois Health Insurance and You: The Story of the Martin Family
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The Martin family of Chicago, Illinois was always a bit different, if typical, normal or average are words that can be used to describe a “different” family. They didn’t live in a exquisitely furnished, spacious waterfront villa or a run down apartment that featured more water pouring in the roof then out of the faucets. Instead they lived in a typical three bedroom home on the South side. They didn’t drive a fancy sport utility vehicle (S.U.V.) equipped with all the latest gadgets, or a beat up pick-up truck, complete with rusty rims, a badly damaged fender and a muffler that sounded like a cannon. Instead they drove a normal four door sedan complete with a baby seat in back and luggage rack on the roof. They didn’t live the high life, complete with season tickets to the Chicago Bears, Cubs, Bulls and Black Hawks games, nor did they live a life of poverty. Instead they lived an average middle class life; complete with one family entertainment night every two weeks and the occasional upper deck seats at University of Illinois basketball, football, baseball and hockey games. Yes, the Martins’ were your typical, normal, average Illinois family.
The Martins’ normal life was flipped upside down one windy day in April when their seven year old son Benjamin Michael was hit by a drunk driver while crossing the street on his bicycle. You see, the Martins’ did not have Illinois State health insurance, which all too sadly, is very typical these days.
Young Benjamin Michael was rushed to the local hospital via ambulance and by the time his mother or father arrived, had already been through emergency surgery. The Martins’ were overjoyed to see that their little boy was in stable condition and would pull through this horrific accident, however their joy soon turned to shock and then despair shortly after arriving home with Benjamin Michael.
The Martins’ were told that the hospital bill had come to a shocking total of $56,490 and that because they did not have any health insurance they would have to pay this amount in cash or risk having their salaries docked. Randy Thomas Martin, Benjamin’s thirty five year old father knew that not only would he have to get a second job, but that his dear wife Emily Claire, who had been a stay at home ever since their second child Sarah Marie was born just 11 months earlier, would have to go back to work as well.
The next seven years could have been considered Biblical-esque “years of famine” as the Martins worked like slaves to do little else then pay off their staggering debt. Randy worked 70 hour weeks, while his dear wife Claire worked a full time job and even picked up extra hours when she could, all the while leaving Benjamin and young Sarah Marie in the care of a local sitter. Not having Illinois state health insurance cost them more then just a staggering debt, it cost them 7 years of quality time together.
However, not all Hollywood stories end happily and not all true stories end sadly. Today, Randy, Emily, Benjamin and Sarah Martin are not only happy Illinois health insurance carriers, but can be found spending every spare moment together as a family .. with one slight change. There is a now a fifth Martin, a four year old boy named Jonathan Louis, who is just learning to ride his new bicycle.
