Amy Bolt
Organize! Ohio
Ohio
Amy Bolt is uninsured and was diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2006. She worked until February 16, 2006 and her surgery was scheduled for February 24, 2006. March 14, 2006 Amy went to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) to apply for the Healthy Start/Healthy Family program. She qualified because she was not working at the time, but she did not qualify for retroactive coverage because she made too much money in February 2006.
However, before being diagnosed in January she was coughing up blood and she could not be seen because she had no insurance and she could not get federal assistance because she was working. Amy put her doctor's fee on a credit card. She asked for a state hearing to see if an exception could be made because she had incurred $17,000 in medical bills.
“at least in prison I will have healthcare ”
She was persistent about getting a face to face hearing with a Columbus legislator and when she returned home from the hearing she found a letter at her home from ODJFS that questioned her income and her federal assistance with childcare in February 2005. Amy qualified for Title XX in January 2005, but when she reapplied in July 2005 she was told that she no longer qualified. From January 2005 to July 2005 she was paying $283/month for childcare for her daughter. In February 2005 Amy received a raise of 0.55/hour which amounted to an additional $82/month. The government says she failed to tell them about this raise and that this raise disqualified her for assistance. The government now says that Amy should have been paying $300 more per month and that she now owes them a total of $1,800 in order to pay back the assistance she received for discounted childcare during those 3 months. Amy believes she reported her $82/month raise, but she has no proof. She cannot possibly pay this money back. She simply does not have it. She's already had to sell her house in order to deal with medical bills. Amy was told by ODJFS that if she does not pay the $1800 she can be charged with a felony. Amy feels like this is retaliation for being so persistent and requesting a hearing for an exception to be made regarding getting retroactive assistance from Healthy Family. When she asked how they picked her to audit, she was told that they randomly audit everyone. This is seemingly doubtful. Amy works for a big corporation, Sam's Club, whose records are made available versus a private employer from whom records would have to be subpoenaed and only then with probable cause. Amy was told that it may take a couple of months before the department can get around to pressing charges. She says "at least in prison I will have health care."