Americans Lives: A Tool for Journalists       

Meet the Americans waiting for their story to be told: Older Americans Americans with Disabilities Uninsured Americans Photography by Ilille Sawady

American Lives captures the personal experiences of older, disabled and uninsured Americans who desperately need health care but find roadblocks in the system instead. These American lives are a resource for journalists who want a link to consumers who can “put a face” on their health care coverage. Too often, the health care debate is mired in weighty statistics and abstract research findings, leaving the tales of human suffering untold. The Medicare Rights Center hears regularly from people across the country willing to share their stories of struggling to get health care—and the consequences of going without it. These experiences bring into focus how our nation’s health policies affect real people with real health problems. Be it an older couple who cannot afford their prescription drugs, a woman who loses her health insurance after becoming disabled and unable to work, or a man denied a wheelchair because of Medicare regulations, the trials and tribulations of these American Lives illustrate how failings in the health care system take a devastating toll on our physical, emotional and financial wellbeing.

If you would like to interview an American Lives participant, please call Deane Beebe, Public Affairs Director, at 212-204-6219 or send an e-mail.

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