Berks County resident’s husband died the same day that their first child was born; they had lost coverage and his heart condition was deemed a pre-existing condition not eligible for private coverage
WASHINGTON, DC- Trisha Urban, a Berks County resident whose husband died as their first child was being born, will be the guest of U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) tonight as President Obama addresses a Joint Session of Congress on the urgent need for health insurance reform. Trisha shared her story with Senator Casey in a letter earlier this year and has attended a number of Senator Casey’s health care events in Pennsylvania to show the real stakes in the health care debate.
“I am honored that Trisha has accepted my invitation to attend tonight’s speech,” said Senator Casey. “The health insurance debate is not an abstract one; the well-being and lives of real people are at stake.”
Trisha Urban wrote to Senator Casey and asked him to help spread her story so that others would not have to experience a similar tragedy. Trisha said that, "we were anxiously awaiting the birth of our first child. An hour and a half later two ambulances were in my driveway. As the paramedics were assessing the health of my baby and me, the paramedic from the other ambulance told me that my husband could not be revived."
Her letter went on to say, "my husband's death may have been prevented. Like many of Americans, we have difficulty with our health insurance. My husband had to leave his job for one year to complete an internship requirement to complete his doctorate in psychology. The internship was unpaid and we could not afford COBRA the extension of health insurance. Because of preexisting conditions, neither my husband's health issues nor my pregnancy would be covered under private insurance."
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