Source Request: I'm Writing About The Healthcare Choices Of Black Women Who Lost Their Jobs

I want to know how you and your clients are accessing care.

Photo by Marcelo Leal on Unsplash

I just spent more than I cared to on out-of-pocket medical expenses (and yes, I’m still crying.) The charges drained my bank account. They also sparked my curiosity.

Every time I got lectured by an administrative assistant about what my invisible insurance would and wouldn’t pay for before informing them the tab was on my alone, I wondered how others were making this work. When I swiped through for the self-pay option, the 600,000 Black women who have been pushed out of their jobs swirled in my mind.

My career has gone from W-2 to permalance to W-2 to freelance again. During each stage my healthcare approach has oscillated between routine appointments and urgent care and vibes. I’d love to know how other people are handling it when their employment status changes.

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I pitched the story to Black Health Matters, and they were into it because they understand the importance of spreading different perspectives when we talk about health in this country. So now I have official permission to be nosy.

Are you or your clients any one of the 600,000 Black women who have been laid off, terminated or forced to quit? How are you ensuring that you get the care you need? Are you using a separate savings account? Are you going to community clinics? Is your spouse stepping up?

Tell me your story!