On Friday a friend of mine–a journalist that I used to work with at a now-defunct Internet company (yes, casualty of the dot.com droop) underwent surgery to have a kidney removed this past Friday. Her doctors were certain that she had a malignant tumor growing on it, and sure enough, it was malignant. However, the tumor appears to be self-contained, and her prognosis may be quite good.

Okay, so it’s sad that anyone should have cancer, but that’s not the reason why I’m writing about my pal. With all the hoopla about a few high profile cases, and politicians whining and whimpering about health insurance reform, the core of the problem remains unsolved. And my friend with the cancerous kidney, who I will call KT, is a casualty of our present system.

KT is an independent contractor, and as far as health insurance goes, she is considered high risk because she has asthma. So one demerit already, even before her kidney decided to act up. She’s had health insurance in the past, from employers and on her own, but for reasons I can’t quite recall (had nothing with not being able or willing to pay for it) she lost her coverage. In order to provide herself with some coverage, she purchased one of those temporary plans that will cover you for a year or two, but no more. When it runs out, it’s out.

And so, KT was racing the clock because her insurance runs out at the end of this month. And then she will officially join the ranks of the unwilling uninsured. At the moment, she is still in the hospital having some minor complications due to her asthma. Will she get out in time, before her insurance runs out?

I don’t know if the insurance will pay beyond Jan 31, although they might since it’s the same hospitalization. On the other hand, KT may just be cut off. All expenses incurred as of Feb 1 are hers to deal with.

What is really unforgivable in this case, is that KT will not be able to get anyone else to cover her. That is a reality for many people in this country, who are willing to pay for insurance and want it, but had the audacity to have a pre-existing condition. They become untouchables, and are left out in the cold. Nice system, huh.

In KT’s state, she may be able to qualify for what they call “high risk” which is an insurance plan for the untouchables. The upside is that she will be able to get some coverage. The downside is that the deductible is very high, in the vicinity of $5000, and it also will not cover any pre-existing conditions for a year after signing on. So if KT will have to pay for her asthma meds out of pocket. If any complications occur from her recent surgery, it’s out of pocket.

We really do need health reform, in one form or another. The current system that permits this kind of discrimination is shameful. And yes, I realize that many people are responsible for their own illness because they can’t be bothered to take care of themselves. My father was a prime example. He found out that he had “problems with sugar” many years before the diabetes really took hold, but he refused to pay any attention. Even after he got pretty sick, he still didn’t exercise, ate a really disgusting diet, and continued to puff away on his beloved Kent cigarettes. Even after he had a heart attack, he still continued to smoke. Eventually, a second heart attack finally killed him, right in the middle of a cigarette.

But that’s not KT. She’s hard working, looks after herself, and is trying to stay as healthy as possible. She needs health insurance, she wants health insurance, she is willing to pay for a decent plan. So why can’t she get one?