This is a copy of an Efax that I sent to Senator Baucus and the Senate Finance Committee

In 2007 I was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. I found out about the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening program just in time to qualify for it and received Medicaid for two years. I had been unable to get insurance prior to my diagnosis except possibly through the state's high risk program and I could not afford that. Because I am no longer receiving IV chemo or radiation I am no longer eligible for the BCCSP Medicaid program. My doctor wrote them a letter telling them that in his opinion I would die if I was not able to get follow up care. They were not interested enough to request my medical records. My husband is on Social Security disability and makes a few dollars too much for me to be eligible for SSI and Medicaid. The Social Security agency determined me to be disabled as of March 2007 but apparently I have don't enough quarters to be eligible. I have been lied to and humiliated by staff at the health department and Mississippi Medicaid, treated like a second class citizen because I was on Medicaid, and am only receiving medical care at the moment because the University of Tennessee and possibly Baptist Hospital are working with me so that I can get the tests that I need. I cannot afford to go to the doctor for anything that is not essential. I can't even have my medical bills and expenses considered when I apply for food stamps because I do not receive a disability check in spite of the fact that DDS determined me to be disabled. I am beginning to feel like a non-person. I resent greatly that our politicians have made sure that they have health care but that they are not the slightest bit interested in the rest of us. I guess if I could donate millions of dollars to their campaigns or pay them thousand of dollars to come and speak then maybe I would count. The irony of this is that I could probably somehow manage without a disability check. But I don't know what I am going to do about health care. I also know that if I manage to qualify for Medicaid I will have to live the rest of my life below the poverty level just to keep health care. Health care access should not doom a person to life time of poverty. I also know that none of you will bother to read this. You are too busy listening to the health care industry. Senator Baucus, I want my time to speak to you. I want my turn at the table. And I want it now.