Leonard was involved in an automobile accident. The other driver ran a red light and hit his car broadside. The accident left Leonard with severe head and other injuries.

He was nearly ready to retire, but wasn't eligible for Medicare yet. Leonard wanted to keep working so he could keep his employer-sponsored health insurance until he reached Medicare age and could retire.

As often happens, the driver that hit Leonard's car was uninsured and had no job or assets for which to help Leonard pay for his injuries. The accident took away Leonard's ability to work and he lost his health insurance, or rather his income to pay for it.

Leonard had a little savings that he had put away for his retirement, but it wasn't enough to pay for all of his continuing medical bills. In addition, his wife had to quit her job in order to be at home to take care of him.

Leonard's story is not unique. There are thousands of people in his situation. Whether from an accident like Leonard, or the loss of a job due to the poor economy, thousands of middle-aged people have lost their ability to pay for health insurance.

I helped Leonard sign up for the Illinois Cares Rx program to help with his drug costs. Because of his disability and loss of his and his wife's monthly income, they easily qualified for assistance.

Leonard is a proud man. He hates the idea that he has to depend on someone or something else to get by each month. He thought that programs that helped the poor were for people who were lazy and didn't want to work.

Leonard didn't want to be one of those people who lived off the government. Now, he had no other option if he wanted help with the bills that keep coming in every month.

Leonard's life savings will be gone soon, which will allow his family to become eligible for even more government assistance programs. It's not how he had envisioned his retirement years. His broken body and loss of his retirement savings hit him hard.

He's having a hard time coming to grips with his new life. "Lord, give me strength,' he said. "I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with all this." We all share his burden and the unfortunate thousands like him because any of us could be in his situation.

Leonard has always cared for his family without any help from anyone else. He'd rather not have our help now. However, he knows he can't change anything.

I pray it's a lesson he'll learn and come to terms with someday.

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