Sammy Uveges

Sammy Uveges is an active retiree living in Waynesburg, PA.  At 57, Sammy is an outspoken advocate for universal healthcare who, since retiring, has realized that America needs to go in a new direction.

For 34 years, Sammy worked as a coal miner.  He is proud of his career and thankful for the health care benefits provided to him through his union during his time working, and now as a retiree.  Sammy realizes that during a time of economic instability, he is lucky to have the benefits he has but works hard to make sure every hardworking person has the same fortune that he has had.

“Everyone in the country should have the kind of quality health care I have as a union mine worker,” reflects Sammy.  “As a father of a sick child I know what it’s like to have $900-1000 a month in medical bills. I also know how it feels to have insurance companies tell me they can’t help because my son’s illness falls under a pre-existing condition.” 

Sammy is concerned by the economic downturn, and sighs before acknowledging that his union benefits aren’t guaranteed to him past 2012.  “I keep hearing sound-bytes discrediting the possibility of universal healthcare, and I can’t help but fear that a privatized social security system is on its way.” 

After being dropped by his dad’s insurance policy, Sammy’s son has spent the last 6 years struggling to afford his medical bills with no relief in sight.  Sammy worries that his son will have a much harder time finding a good paying job today, and wishes that he could spend more time advancing his career instead of dealing with Medicaid bureaucracy.

After reflecting on the disparities between the unequal wealth that he sees, Sammy responds, “I’ll tell you with Bush on the verge of privatizing social security, and gas prices going up every time I look, 2008 just isn’t a good year to play my money in the stock market. I’d rather come together as a country and invest in our kids' future and re-create the America I used to know, and continue to believe in.”