Some days, Goroncy says, "I think I have a terrible life. But then," she adds, "you look at some people with disabilities, and they're always full of life and joy. Larry has taught me so much about life. He's always positive, always smiling. He has taught me to appreciate life because things can be so much worse."
She finds it hard to stay so positive about health insurance.
"The health-care system sucks," she says. "I'm sorry but there's no other way to put it."
"I am not here for the money," she said of her job. "I enjoy the work I do, caring for my client, but we must start taking care of those who care for others!"
Home health aide Karen Goroncy has spent many years caring for others. But like many of her fellow workers, she lacks health insurance. At 51, she has a hernia that hurts like "a knife" but doesn't have the money to get it fixed. She also has many other medical problems.
Kevin McKenzie, 27, plays guitar in an up-and-coming rock band, Liam and Me. When his heart would not stop racing, he refused to go to the hospital because he was uninsured. At the urging of ambulance workers, he says he gave a fake name and was treated. He's still troubled by the debt and promises one day to repay it. And he's still uninsured.
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