HEARING - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

15
Mrs. YELINECK. You see, I worked for my husband, and wife
working for husband, there is no deduction. I get $190 per month,
and my husband gets $439.
Senator BURDICK. And that is your total income?
Mrs. YELINECK. No, sir, that is not my total income. Excuse me. I
thought you were asking about Social Security. You see, I am getting
confused now. No. We get $630. Our total income is $1,259 per
month.
My husband broke this all down for you. Our rent expense is
$395; our heat, $50; our electric, $40; our water, $15; our medical
insurance is $120 per month; our household belongings are $30 per
month; our cable TV, which is necessary because the building has
it; our car insurance, maintenance, license and gas is $90 per
month; our prescription drugs are $85 per month; travel to the
University of Wisconsin back and forth with room and board is $50
per month; our food is only $150; miscellaneous, $25; and dentistry-my
husband had the whole top of his mouth become ulcerated,
and they had to do root canals, if you are acquainted with thatand
we are paying that off at $124 per month-which is a total expense
of $1,259.
My husband has figured out that the medical expenses alone are
$370 per month-that is for Physicians Mutual, a supplement, prescription
drugs, travel for medical in Madison at $50 per month,
and the dentist at $124, which comes to $379 per month.
Senator BURDICK. Well, having given those details, they far
exceed your income.
Mrs. YELINECK. Yes, they do, sir.
Senator BURDICK. What do you do about the difference?
Mrs. YELINECK. I have been borrowing-money.
Senator BURDICK. Have you got people who will loan you money?
Mrs. YELINECK. Yes, yes.
Senator BURDICK. Relatives and friends?
Mrs. YELINECK. No. It is a banker.
Senator BURDICK. A banker who will loan you money?
Mrs. YELINECK. Yes-on character alone.
Senator BURDICK. Well, how do you expect to pay the loans back?
Mrs. YELINECK. I do not know. I do not know. Right now, I do not
know.
Senator BURDICK. Well, getting back to what you have to break
the fall a little bit on this, you have insurance and extended insurance,
health insurance.
Mrs. YELINECK. Yes, sir.
Senator BURDICK. But that does not cover it, as you have just related
here.
Mrs. YELINECK. No.
Senator BURDICK. Well, we are interested in situations like yours.
Mrs. YELINECK. I am not alone, Senator. I only wish I could have
brought the people along who are our friends, our age, who are
losing their homes the same way.
Senator BURDICK. That is why we are looking at catastrophic insurance.
And it seems to me, from the statements you have made
about your husband and yourself, that you are just about a candidate
for that program.
Mrs. YELINECK. Oh, yes, I think we certainly are, yes.