Fatal Subtraction: An Uninsurance Tragedy

Veronica Cruz is a former CNN correspondent.
My brother, Eric, died on July 4, 2009, while awaiting a heart transplant. Five years ago, he was diagnosed with severe dilated cardiomyopathy, a weakening of the heart that prevents it from pumping normally. Since then, we had tried to get Eric coverage that would allow him to get the treatment he needed, but no private insurer would offer him insurance because of this preexisting condition.

My brother and I grew up in Northern California and, though we were a couple years apart, we were very close.

As kids, we spent our time together at the local ice rink. Eric played hockey; I trained as a figure skater.

As adults, we remained best friends, talking and joking on the phone every day. He was a talented artist, music producer, and designer. Most of all, my brother made me see that there is more to life than work.

When Eric’s heart condition was diagnosed, our lives changed forever. This past May, his kidneys began to fail and doctors told me only a heart transplant would save his life. Since he was young and otherwise healthy, I thought our chances were excellent.

But Eric did not have the luxury of insurance coverage provided through his employer. His only insurer, state Medicaid, wouldn’t cover the out-of-state operation Eric needed. He was denied federal Medicare - twice.

Eventually, when we finally did get federal coverage for Eric, the hospital still demanded private supplemental insurance to help cover the huge expenses. Private companies wouldn’t insure Eric because of his preexisting condition. We were told we might still have to come up with nearly a million dollars.

Medical bills have bankrupted our family. My mother even shared her own heart medication with Eric when he couldn’t afford it. With Eric’s health deteriorating, and feeling desperate, I began relying on the kindness of strangers.

In May, I started talking about Eric on social media network Twitter. To my amazement, relying on kindness worked. Within a week, hundreds of donors had raised $6,000 and Eric’s cause was being promoted by celebrities like Demi Moore and P. Diddy. Supporters soon numbered in the thousands. Popular bands Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction, as well as professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, helped put fundraising into overdrive. Altogether, “Eric’s Twitter Army” raised nearly $1 million in a matter of weeks.

In June, Eric was moved to a California hospital, where he was put at the top of an organ transplant list. We were planning for the future, looking forward to doing normal things together, like walking his dog and skating. And every day, I took time to assure my brother that everything was going to be okay.

But it was already too late. Before Eric could receive a transplant, he passed away. That day, I promised to do two things: to take care of my brother’s dog, Chance, and to help other transplant patients like him. I told Eric that I’d do everything I could so that no one else would ever have to suffer as he did.

Still mourning my brother, I‘ve been trying to fulfill those promises. In August, I flew to Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress for health care reform, arguing that coverage must be available all, even to those with preexisting conditions, and that insurance companies be prohibited from dropping sick patients.

At private meetings with lawmakers, I detailed every painful step of Eric’s battle. It was emotionally draining, but I wanted every single member of Congress to hear his story. I’m also starting a foundationto raise more funds to help others in Eric’s situation, and my mission is to mobilize as many people as possible to help prevent other tragedies like his from happening.

My brother’s inability to get adequate health insurance has had a devastating impact on my life and the lives of Eric’s family and friends. Being excluded from the health care system because of a preexisting condition robbed Eric of his fair chance at life, and it robbed all of us of his gifts, talents and love. Health care reform may come too late for Eric, but I hope it will come in time to help thousands of other families who may otherwise also lose loved ones simply because private insurance companies refuse cover those with preexisting conditions, leaving them with no other options. Helping make the day that everyone has the right to health insurance a reality will be Eric’s greatest gift.