Before I fell acutely ill with the chronic disease I now fight against daily, I had earned my college degree and was working full time as a dental hygienist. I also had saved money and invested in a real estate property and a small business. However when I lost my career due to illness my pay went from nearly 60K per year down to only $1,100 per month on social security disability. Also because I became sick at such a young age while i was still in college, I was never eligible for long-term disability insurance through my job. Thankfully for me I had previously invested and had that additional income which helped me get by, but I know many people in my rare disease community who were not so fortunate. Many who like me lost their careers and didn’t have long-term disability insurance, or who became sick before they even had a chance to finish college, are now left to fight poverty living on assistance through SSDI, Medicaid, and food stamps earning less than what someone makes on minimum wage in the U.S. It is not fair and not right that so many amazing people who worked hard and did all the correct things in life to be independent contributing citizens now have to suffer with their health on top of suffering so badly financially. I pray that America will do a better job for it’s sick and disabled in the future.
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