{"id":62,"date":"2015-01-06T15:38:47","date_gmt":"2015-01-06T15:38:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/?p=62"},"modified":"2016-04-22T13:46:33","modified_gmt":"2016-04-22T13:46:33","slug":"pushed-to-the-edge-facing-a-tough-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stories.kera.org\/onecrisisaway\/2015\/01\/06\/pushed-to-the-edge-facing-a-tough-choice\/","title":{"rendered":"Pushed To The Edge, Facing A Tough Choice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Several weeks after we visited Natalie, her life took another turn. She and her young son, Samuel, had to give up their apartment. A new monthly bill jolted her finances.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A court agreement with Samuel\u2019s father requires Natalie to buy health insurance for their child.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a very hard choice,” Natalie said. “Do I put a roof over my head? Or do I have insurance and go to a shelter?\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what Natalie tried. First, she applied for assistance from programs like Medicaid and CHIP, the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program. Both those applications were denied.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t work out,” she says. \u201cI\u2019m working, I\u2019m productive, I\u2019m paying taxes, I\u2019m doing everything I\u2019m supposed to — but, still, there\u2019s zero help.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Punch in the Stomach<\/h4>\n

Then, Natalie looked into coverage under the Affordable Care Act. She, like many people, had trouble logging onto the website. Her employer offers insurance. Because she was up against an enrollment deadline at work, that\u2019s the policy she chose. But she says the monthly premium is more than she can afford.<\/p>\n

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