For those living without health insurance, a place to turn for answers

All at once John Manno found himself unemployed, without health insurance, and in excruciating pain. Manno, who lives in Ashland, is a freelance musician and rental property owner who has had sporadic health insurance. Just before his back gave out, he found himself completely priced out of the options he saw. Then came the diagnosis: a $100,000 surgery to address his herniated disk and a lot of questions about what insurance options he had, if any.

John Manno of Ashland, a freelance musician and rental property owner, found himself without health insurance at a time when he was recommended for major back surgery.

John ended up on the phone with Covering Wisconsin, a statewide program of UW-Madison Extension, and Health Coverage Navigator Tina Marshalek who helped him through his decisions for coverage.

“I was at the clinic here in Ashland on the phone with her,” Manno said, describing the process of sorting out his options and when his coverage could start. “It was wonderful, I’m so grateful.”

Manno has been a contracted harp player for a number of years and was doing so at an Ashland restaurant until the pandemic temporarily closed the eatery. He didn’t think much of dropping his health insurance premiums when he was on pandemic-related unemployment. That was until his herniated disk started causing neurological damage.