Stories of the Uninsured: Stuart Shapiro

Our family had health insurance through my employer until I left my job to go to school, upon which my self-employed wife declared herself a business and obtained insurance through the Massachusetts SBA. Though we were insured, the premium was way over our budget.

About a year later my wife heard about the beginnings of Commonwealth Care on NPR. I submitted the application for what I thought was whole family coverage but when we received the insurance, my name was not included and thus, I was without health insurance. After many phone calls, it appeared that even though my data was on the application, only my wife and our children were insured. I was now a member of this country’s uninsured and it was quite scary. After many more phone calls and paperwork I was able to obtain insurance through Commonwealth Care.

Thankfully, our family has been able to keep our previous primary care providers and locations. We continue to receive excellent care and services, and are able again to save money for our and our children's future needs.

We sincerely appreciate everyone who has enabled health care reform in Massachusetts.

Stuart Shapiro, Cambridge