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EDWIN
MINZNER: Hello. My name is Edwin Minzner, and
I'm
on workman's
compensation. On February 28,
1991,
I was injured at work.
I was working in an
improperly
drained area, and
had continually put in
work
orders for the drain to
be fixed, at least
five
months prior to my
injury.
The
drainage was not fixed
because it did not
impede
production. A
few weeks after my injury,
the
drain was fixed. A
few months later,
additional
sewer drains were
put in.
After
an unsuccessful
surgery, I had many post-op
x-rays
showing multi-level
disc herniations. My
doctor
told me, while
reading a letter from the
insurance
company, that I
had been out for almost a
year
and it was time for me
to go back to work on
light
duty. I told him
and his office staff on
more
than one occasion, that
I had to lay down
several
times a day, because
of the back pain.
They
told me I would have to
work that out with my
employer.
On
January 1, 1993, as a
result of the Supreme
Court
ruling, my wife, my
four and a half year old
daughter,
my three year old
son and myself were
notified
that we were
without health insurance. It
felt
like something inside
of me had died. We were
given
the option to continue
coverage for $4500 a
year.
I received
$16,000 less as a result of my
injury
- how could I
possibly afford $4500 for
health
insurance?
No
pun intended, but this is
insult on top of
injury.
I spoke to
Curt Andrews, a co-sponsor of
the
proposed worker's compensation
bill, and I
explained
my situation to
him and he said he
understood.
He told me
he had a bad knee, and
after
playing a couple
innings of softball, he
couldn't
walk the next day.
I didn't get a chance
to
ask Mr. Andrews, what
does playing softball have
to
do with putting food on
the table for my family?
Before
my injury, I played
tennis, softball,
waterskied
and was very
active in the community.
As
a result of my injury, I
lost my $38,000 a year
job,
my health insurance, a
house on the lake and
my
dignity because of the
stigma attached to
worker's
compensation.
Only the injured know the
physical,
mental and
financial pain we go through.
There
is also a constant
fear of wondering, when
will
the insurance company
stop my benefits for no
reason?
SEN.
COLAPIETRO: Your time is up. Could you
summarize,
please?
EDWIN
MINZNER: Yes, I will summarize it.
SEN.
COLAPIETRO: Thank you.
EDWIN
MINZNER: Or go six months without a hearing.
When
you consider this bill,
please don't forget
the
real needs of the
injured and their families.
Put
yourself in my
situation. Make sure your
decision
comes from the
heart, and by God, no one
should
be without health
insurance. Thank you very
much
for your time.
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