Upon moving to New York, freelancer and amputee Rachel Handler is saddled with insurance that says “1 prosthetic device per lifetime.” Determined to get a prosthesis without going bankrupt, she embarks on a quest to repeal this policy and unexpectedly becomes an advocate for people with disabilities along the way.
SYNOPSIS
When Rachel learns that this “1 prosthetic device per lifetime” policy is on ALL of the New York State of Health Marketplace plans, she schedules meetings with her representatives to change it. As someone who has never attempted to change a healthcare policy before, Rachel turns to disability rights advocate, ANDREA DALZELL, for guidance. Despite being the first wheelchair user to graduate from nursing school in New York, Andrea hasn’t received a new wheelchair from health insurance in over ten years.
At the 40th Annual Amputee Coalition National Conference in Las Vegas, Rachel learns that there are health insurance restrictions for durable medical equipment in every state, leaving many amputees stranded without the equipment they need. Rachel connects with “So Every BODY Can Move” and works with Senator Lea Webb’s office to draft legislation that will remove the “1 prosthetic per lifetime” policy once and for all, and expand coverage for activity-specific prostheses and orthoses for bathing and exercise.
Somehow, Rachel’s running buddy DENISE CASTELLI never worries about medical debt. She gets all her prosthetic legs for free, even her running blades. How is this possible? She’s an expat living in Norway. The stark contrast between healthcare coverage in Norway and the USA is showcased firsthand when Rachel visits Denise in Oslo and receives a prosthetic leg for free, making her more determined than ever to help others gain access to this type of care.
Director Statement
March 3rd, 2012 is a date that I will never forget. On my way to a musical theatre audition I was hit by a car and lost my leg on impact. In that split second, my life spun into a new trajectory. I had no idea what a prosthetic leg looked like, let alone how much one might cost. I saw images of Paralympians running faster than non-disabled athletes. I saw Amy Purdy on “Dancing with the Stars” and couldn’t understand why my own health insurance was holding me back from these activities. I still perform in plays and musicals, but now I also use my art to advocate for healthcare justice by directing, producing, and writing.
One lawmaker told me he’s never seen a leg amputee walking in the community, only in medical settings or in a wheelchair. He didn’t realize that health insurance denials and policies could be the reason for this. This interaction perfectly exemplifies why we need a disabled-led approach to healthcare reform.
Supporter Statement
"Doctors may know how to make lives better on a superficial level, but they are not stuck with paying for their services. How Much Am I Worth? reminds me of Michael Moore’s Sicko, and I would like more time spent with the subjects here..." - Michael McNeely's Film Threat review of the 5-minute short, "HOW MUCH AM I WORTH?"
ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)
Rachel Handler
Rachel Handler (she/her) is a filmmaker, writer, and actor known for her stint as Peg Leg Doris on AMC’s “Interview With the Vampire” and her Slamdance films, “Committed” and “HOW MUCH AM I WORTH?” Other acting credits include “Best Foot Forward,” “Goliath,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” and “The Upside.”
Handler became an amputee after a tragic car accident in 2012. She believes deeply in the power of stories to create social change and is passionate about healthcare and human rights, particularly within the disabled community. Her awards include the AT&T Underrepresented Filmmaker Award for “Committed,” Best Writer, Best Awareness, and Best Actor in the Disability Film Challenge for “Unlucky in Love,” “HOW MUCH AM I WORTH?” and “Disabilidates,” and Best International Film in Focus on Ability for “Andy & Kaliope.” She is currently expanding her healthcare documentary “HOW MUCH AM I WORTH?” to a feature film after winning a grant from Easterseals and Adobe.
Handler’s films have been requested to screen globally and she's had numerous films screen at the Oscar qualifying festivals Hollyshorts and Heartland. She’s been accepted into the Docs in Progress / FWD-Doc Fellowship, 1in4 Coalition’s writing mentorship program, Blackmagic’s All Access Collective, and the Disability Belongs Entertainment Lab. Rachel enjoys swimming in the lake and hiking the local Hudson Valley trails with her pups.
Catriona Rubenis-Stevens
Catriona Rubenis-Stevens (she/her) was part of the team that went to the 93rd Academy Awards with the Oscar nominated live action short, “Feeling Through.” Notable producing credits include the BBC's “Houdini's Diaries” for the History Channel, the MSNBC docuseries, “Model America,” and A&E Network's short branded spots “Greatest of all Time with Laila Ali.” Feature film producing credits include “Lost Cos,” “Indigo” and “Regarding Us” starring Alexandra Grey. Catriona’s directing credits include Lachi’s music video “LIFT ME UP,” which was in consideration for a GRAMMY at the 66th Grammy Awards.
Nancy Pickett (she/her) is a disabled filmmaker and editor. She independently produced her first feature film in high school, “The Golden Truth,” a documentary about pediatric cancer now available to stream on Amazon Prime. Her films cover a range of topics from healthcare, to human trafficking, to arts education and have been recognized by festivals across the country. At the News and Documentary Emmy Awards, Nancy received the prestigious Mike Wallace Memorial Scholarship for her coverage of healthcare reform in “Is Healthcare a Human Right?” This documentary used her experience with chronic illness to explain the Affordable Care Act.
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