Alicia & Rusk #GetCovered Story: Staying Healthy for the Future and Their Family

Alicia & Rusk #GetCovered Story: Staying Healthy for the Future and Their Family

Posted January 12, 2015
By Alicia Elatassi, 39, Houston and Rusk Elatassi, 37, Houston

Alicia, 39, and Rusk, 37, have been married for 14 years, and have two sons, 11 and 7. Alicia, a former teacher, and Rusk, who owns an auto repair shop, did not have health insurance until the Health Insurance Marketplace opened last year. The 2015 premium for Rusk and Alicia is $373 a month, much less than the $540 quote they got before the Affordable Care Act. They did not get tax credits to lower their premium.
This is their story about what getting Marketplace coverage means to them:
Alicia: Getting health insurance through the Marketplace was a big moment in my life. As a Latina, we tend to forget about ourselves and focus solely on our families, so the idea that I would be able to take care of my own needs is extraordinary.  I wish I had done it a lot sooner.
Read More: Alicia & Rusk #GetCovered Story: Staying Healthy for the Future and Their Family