Marcia Duncan

Marcia Duncan counts all of her blessings. She has a wonderfully bright daughter, health insurance for herself, and an inherited home where she doesn't have to pay rent. But as a single parent, this is not enough. 

Marcia must always worry about her daughter's health, as she has no health insurance. Should she fall ill and need immediate care, Marcia has no options, as she cannot cover any extra expenses on her security officer's wage. Her daughter hasn't seen a dentist in the last few years, but there is nothing Marcia can do. To include her daughter on her health plan would set Marcia back $440 every month.

November through February is a particularly hard period for Marcia every year. This is when she has to pay taxes on the home she inherited from her grandmother. Everything hits her at once and she scrambles to keep up. It is then that times get rough and she doubts she can cover her monthly bills, house taxes and the expenses associated with raising a child - let alone living in the Bay Area.

“Right now I'm insured but my daughter isn't, and I can't live with that….To pay on my own for her it would be $440 out of every check and on my own I can't afford that.”