May 27, 2011 - John Davenport
KULR-8 Television in Billings reports that national healthcare—the subject of so much contention—has begun with little opposition in the asbestos-sickened town of Libby, Montana: “People who have lived in Libby and have asbestos-related disease can get Medicare for life; regardless of their age. It's allowed hundreds of people to breathe easier.”
Asbestosis patient Julie Johnson, who grew up in Libby, told the station: "Last year when I found out about it, it was, I have a better step in my walk every day. It's like I have health coverage. I can live, I can breathe, I can pay for my medications in 10 years."
Johnson said the news of her asbestosis diagnosis upset her parents more than it upset her, “since I was the only child out of 5 of us who was the least exposed, non-smoker, and never played sports.” In 2010, doctors found damage to Ms. Johnson's lungs.
KULR-8 explained Ms. Johnson's predicament in terms of payment—a situation far too common for many Libby residents: “At the time, she had no health insurance and was 20 years too young for Medicare. Within months, however, Libbycare happened.”
Since “Libbycare” became law, almost 600 current and former Libby residents have qualified for early Medicare. Each week, more come to the Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD) to sign up for their much-needed benefits.
“It's just been an incredibly positive thing for people who just really felt like they were kind of forgotten and they just were here to get sick and deal with their own problem,” says Brad Black, the director of CARD.
Early Medicare is not something any person wants to need, but in the case of Libby, many people do need asbestosis treatment, and treatment for other debilitating asbestos-related diseases. Weitz & Luxenberg commends Mr. Black and the Center for Asbestos Related Diseases in Libby, and we hope the continued coverage of the tragedy in Libby keeps the national consciousness focused on the damage asbestos has wrought, domestically and internationally.
Museum employee develops asbestosis due to asbestos exposure at work. OSHA cites VA hospital. Learn about asbestos and Veterans rights here. Weitz & Luxenberg brings you the latest news about asbestos.
