Portia Kelly

Portia Kelly

Homecare Worker / NEI Homecare / Washington, DC

My name is Portia Kelly and I am 64 years old and a single mother of three children. I have worked all of my life, doing all types of low level work, however, I’m not ashamed of this, because I did and am doing very good work. I am now a home health aide, and I work for a 68 year old woman who has diabetes, heart problems, arthritis, back problems and hypertension. If I wasn’t working for this lovely lady, she would have to go to a nursing home, which she does not want.

Though my client has healthcare coverage, I do not. The agency I work for doesn’t give me any paid health insurance. I get paid $10.50 an hour and I also don’t get any paid time off, including sick time. Along with my co-workers, we voted to join 1199SEIU last year. Even though it’s been a year since we had our election, we still don’t have a contract and we still don’t have health insurance.

I cannot afford to go to doctors and hospitals, even though I need to. Just about a year ago, I went to the emergency room because it was simply a must. They charged me over $1,000, which I did not have. Therefore I had to go on a payment plan and pay $20 each month. This was so hard for me, however, I had to do it.

I just hope and pray that President Obama’s health care bill passes so people like me, making $10.50 an hour with no medical coverage, will have an opportunity to get most needed health care.