TELL YOUR STORY: WHY PEOPLE WITH HIV NEED HEALTHCARE REFORM
 

1. About this survey

 
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago is working with a broad coalition of AIDS organizations to collect individual healthcare nightmares from people across the U.S. living with HIV/AIDS. These personal anecdotes help us creatively and effectively appeal to members of Congress and President Obama as well as advocate to lawmakers working on national healthcare reform legislation for the strongest healthcare provisions possible. Additionally, these stories generate media attention on the importance of healthcare reform for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Please consider sharing your healthcare nightmare confidentially using the form below. NO ONE’S NAME OR IDENTIFYING INFORMATION will be used in advocacy or in media without first obtaining the individual’s written permission. Please be sure to provide your contact information (or someone’s contact information) so we may contact you in case a reporter or lawmaker wants to talk to you directly; however, we will use submitted stories without names and identifying information.
We need real stories that underscore why healthcare reform is so important for people with HIV/AIDS. Please write us if any of the follow apply:

-You are living with HIV and became bankrupt trying to obtain the healthcare you need.
-You are living with HIV and lost your job and healthcare coverage.
-You are living with HIV and were denied individual healthcare coverage.
-You are living with HIV and your COBRA coverage ran out.
-You are living with HIV, have coverage, but are in a pre-existing condition exclusion period.
-You are living with HIV and now the small business or non-profit where you work cannot afford the high premiums to keep insurance for your entire group.
-You are living with HIV and considered too “rich” and healthy for Medicaid but too poor to afford private insurance.
-You are living with HIV, receive Medicaid, but still struggle to receive the health services you need.
-You are living with HIV, receive Medicare, but cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs.
-You are living with HIV, have low-income, and don’t qualify for Medicaid because you are considered “too healthy.”
-You had repeated healthcare visited before anyone offered you voluntary HIV testing, and now you know you have advanced HIV disease.
-Your private insurance carrier exploited a loophole to deny you HIV-related coverage.
-You are living with HIV, uninsured, and cannot access dental care, substance abuse treatment, or mental health services.
-You are living with HIV and have unmet healthcare needs.
-Other

Please submit as much information as you are comfortable in the fields below. If we would like to use your story in advocacy and/or media with identifying information, someone will contact you first to obtain your permission.
*(required fields)

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1. TELL US YOUR HEALTHCARE STORY:

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2. THIS STORY IS MOST RELATED TO (please select any that apply):

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3. Please give us a way to get in touch with you.

Thank you very much for submitting your HIV-related healthcare story. We appreciate your contribution, and are confident that these personal stories will help us more strongly advocate to Congress and President Obama for the most comprehensive health care provisions possible.
If we use your story in advocacy and/or media with identifying information, someone will contact you by phone and/or e-mail first to obtain your permission. Otherwise, all identifying information will remain confidential.

If you would like more information regarding the latest in AIDS advocacy and initiatives, please visit:
• AIDS Action: www.aidsaction.org
• Project Inform: www.projectinform.org
• Treatment Access Expansion Project: www.taepusa.org
• AIDS Foundation of Chicago: www.aidschicago.org

Sincerely,
The Staff from the AIDS Foundation of Chicago