Acerca de
If someone told you that you had to pay to see, or to hear, what would you do?
Insurance and healthcare companies in the United States see necessary medical devices (i.e. contacts, hearing aids) as elective, and not necessary. If you or someone you know has a sensory impairment, chances are you've been failed by the U.S. healthcare system because of this. Why hasn't anyone done anything about it? It's because insurance companies and healthcare systems are trying to make money, and wherever they can, they will make you pay additional out-of-pocket costs for healthcare. Why should you pay more to be you?
"People with sensory impairments pay five to six times as much for healthcare."
U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2017
"The cost is enormous, access is uneven, and new investments in healthcare seem misdirected."
Robert Schmerling, Harvard Health Publishing
"My mom can't afford hearing aids. The pandemic reminded us why she needs them."
Bobbi Dempsey, The Washington Post
ATMS was created to bring awareness to healthcare cost disparities for those with sensory impairments. Learn more about different sensory impairments by clicking each sense below.
About Us
Access to My Senses, abbreviated as ATMS, seeks to combat this issue in our healthcare system. It is an accessible website and social media initiative bringing awareness to cost disparities in the United States healthcare system specifically relating to those with sensory impairments. Our goal is to help you learn more about the cost disparities of those with sensory impairments, as well as resources where people (like you!) can find ways to take action. with easily readable graphics and short videos that people can share. ATMS will be partnering with multiple groups; Deborah Hospital Group, Accessibility Resources Center (ARC) at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), and various Special Education/Deaf & Hard of Hearing alumni to help create this initiative. Access to your senses should be free, and ATMS aims to highlight that.
What You Can Do
If you are wondering what you can do, the answer is - a lot! By visiting this site you have made a commitment to creating a more accessible community for you and your community. Please take advantage of all the resources we have to share. If you have personally been a victim of insurance and healthcare greed, please fill out the form below to share your story on our blog.
A message from Jonathan, ATMS founder
My name is Jonathan, and I am a college student who believes our healthcare system needs some major changes. I created this website to provide awareness of these issues and ways you can help.
​
I’ve needed glasses or contacts ever since I could remember. My vision constantly got worse, and every time my parents would take me to the eye doctor, the doctor only confirmed that I needed a stronger prescription. In fifth grade, my parents’ insurance relapsed after my dad was laid off from work. My eyesight continued to get worse, and I had to go through the next two years looking at a blurry classroom board, trying to understand what was being taught.
Years later, I am now a senior at The College of New Jersey, and my vision has continued to get worse, and eye care has only gotten more expensive. I have to pay an additional $75 out of pocket every three months when I get new contacts at the strength I need them, which is not covered by my insurance.
To be honest, my situation is one of the luckier ones. I have been privileged to even see an eye doctor in the first place. However, I have had friends, family, and peers who have not been able to afford the most basic care, with one of my friends need to pay almost $3,000 out of pocket for hearing aids. Those who live paycheck to paycheck, and those with sensory impairments have been among the most neglected in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. People who need certain care should not have to pay extra out of pocket to access their senses. Why should you have to pay more to be human and access your senses?
I decided to use my resources of graphic design, web development, and my passion to help others as a basis to create this project, which is being developed through my thesis class at TCNJ. I hope this website will bring you more awareness of the issues in our healthcare system and will inspire you to take action with different resources and things you can do in your community. I am one person, but with this website, I hope that people of all backgrounds and experiences will join in this fight to get healthcare to those who need it most.
​
-Jonathan
Share Your Story
Fill out the form below to share your experience to be featured on our site.