Health insurance: What's your story?

Ah, healthcare!

We all want to enjoy it, don't we?

I have been enjoying mine. I'm back in the office this week after having hip replacement surgery on December 26. All has gone well, the arthritis and its discomfort are gone. I'm getting used to the new hip and working to get it in shape.

I consider myself fortunate to have health care, but I pay. With my age and pre-existing conditions, it's our biggest expense. I hope that someday my health issues will be under control and I can go to the health insurance exchanges created under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.

Until then, I'll continue to pay my health insurance company more than I pay anyone on my staff.

One goal of the ACA is to provide affordable health insurance for all people. The act has had some success. In the mainstream news, you can find reports that 9 million people have enrolled and now have insurance. You can find reports in the New York Times and the Washington Post about how the act is driving down health care costs.

Still, the act isn't perfect and there have been many problems. It is struggling to achieve the goal of universal coverage. As President Obama said in his state of the union address Tuesday, they're working to fix the problems.

Wahkiakum County has had some statistical success. We recently reported that it lead the state in achieving a goal for new enrollments.

However, after we reported that, we had a reader visit our office to demand we seek out stories of people like him who weren't able to find affordable coverage. Two of our own staff members have expressed disappointment and frustration with enrollment.

So tell us your stories. If you've tried and failed, let us know. Also, if you've tried and succeeded, let us know. We'll print what we can, and our readers can see how this act has affected them.

To give us your story, email reporter Diana Zimmerman, diana@waheagle.com, or leave us a short note. Either way, we need your name and contact information. If you're shy, we'll withhold your name, but we need to know who you are to post or publish a comment.

It should be interesting.