I am angry. Yesterday lawmakers finally passed Health Care Reform and today there is rioting, outrage, a lawsuit by my own state, bigotry and denial.
I don't understand. We are considered a Christian nation. The most fundamental teachings of Jesus implores us to help each other. To help the underserved, the poor, those living on the fringe. Yet it's not only the very needy who are hurt by our current health care system. Working folks suffer too. Those who work in fields that don't provide insurance coverage- waiters, gardeners, small business owners, craftsman, to name a few. People doing necessary work, in fields they love.
There are the young, recent graduates who have been removed from their parent's insurance and, in this economy, can't find jobs. There are those who reached their life cap and those with pre-existing conditions who can't get the care they need when dropped by their insurance providers. There are folks who are underinsured, unable to pay the high premiums of a better plan. So many of us, just praying we don't get sick. This list goes on and on and on.
I AM EMBARRASSED TO LIVE IN A NATION THAT HAS LOOKED THE OTHER WAY DAY AFTER DAY, YEAR AFTER YEAR. I am thankful some of the pain will be alleviated by this bill. This is called humanitarianism not socialism.
To the protesters I say- DON'T YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS SUFFERING DUE TO EXTRAORDINARY MEDICAL BILLS OR LACK OF INSURANCE. DON'T YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS LIVED WITHOUT QUALITY OF LIFE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD MEDICATION. Really? Don't You?
Today, in an ordinary day at work, I visited a Health Center that provides basic reproductive and sexual health services for women and men. While waiting for the employee with whom I needed to meet, I overheard her speaking to a patient. This young women had come in for a routine annual gynecological check up. In the course of this exam, it was discovered she needs some additional tests that this clinic doesn't provide. Tears welled in her eyes when asked if she had a primary care physician. "Yes", she answered. "But I can't afford him." "I don't have insurance." She was directed to a free clinic. A clinic that will likely not offer what she needs in the way of treatment. How does it feel to be that woman? To need help and not be able to get it... in the wealthiest country in the world.
I am angry but I am also just flat bewildered. How can this be? It's incomprehensible. It's unethical. It's morally corrupt. I don't understand why any American would be against health care reform.
Though I don't believe the current bill went far enough, this is what the bill will do for you:
10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM
1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.2
2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.3
3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.4
4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.5
5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.6
6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.7
7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.8
8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.9
9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.10
10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.11
How In God's name is this not a good thing? If you agree, speak up and thank the legislators in your district for voting to improve the lives of Americans.
If you don't agree and have insurance coverage- you might consider why you feel so entitled when others suffer so greatly. And... if you are a Christian, you might ask for forgiveness.
VSL
Showing posts with label health care reform. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health care reform. Show all posts
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Health Care Reform- A Moral Duty
I want to tell a story about a little girl who had the misfortune of being born into a family who lacked the parenting skills necessary to raise her well. Despite poverty, neglect and the lack of a loving, supportive family, this child was the first in her family to graduate high school and attend college.
I believe one of the reasons she was able to succeed was because she was enrolled in her local Big Brothers Big Sisters program and was selected by not one, but two loving, adult mentors. Her first Big Sister moved far away when K. was around 10 and she was then matched to a family, a family that continues to this day to provide love, support and encouragement. This family is my sister's and K. has become a part of our extended family. She has attended holiday celebrations, family events and mourned with us over the loss of my nephew, whom she considered a brother.
When K. was in elementary school she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Her little body had already been badly battered by this terrible disease. Due to a lack of insurance and proper medical care, K.'s pediatrician believes she has lost 15-20 years of her life. A loss that was not necessary had she had proper medical treatment. The details of this atrocity are many and I will spare you them but understand it is due to a health care system that is broken and unjust.
Wednesday night I sat with my husband to hear what our President had to say about Health Care reform in America. I support President Obama's Health Care plan. It makes sense to me. It seems rational. To tell the truth, I'm not sure it goes far enough. However, I do understand the need for compromise. At this point any steps forward would be better than the situation our country is in today.
I was appalled at the behavior by some of the conservatives in attendance. I believe that wherever your opinions lie, it is fundamentally important to respect the office of President of the United States. But, even more important at this time and place in our American history is Health Care reform. I don't think anyone denies it is imperative we fix this broken system. Not only for children like K. but for the millions of working Americans who have been savaged by our current health care system.
There is an undercurrent of hatred in America that is truly frightening me. A contingent of Americans determined to undermine our current administration whenever possible. There is no question our Health Care system is broken. No question that reform is imperative. No question Americans hurt and die every day due to insufficient health coverage. The issues lie with how this can be accomplished. President Obama is really taking a very middle road. He is not proposing National Health Care as some of the extreme left would prefer, nor is he giving into the pressures of the huge insurance conglomerates and the extreme right. I agree with Senator Kennedy that this is a moral issue, an issue of character and one we can no longer put off.
The United States of America is the only wealthy nation on earth who allows such hardship for millions of people. One in three Americans goes without insurance at some point in their life. Craig and I have been very fortunate that he has always worked for large corporations who provided insurance coverage options. Our children grew up having no idea that this was such a privilege. We lived in a kind of bubble of unawareness, passing through the years with prescription cards, free well child visits, minimal co-pays and the ability to undergo any health related tests deemed important by our primary physician.
It wasn't until our children graduated from college and their insurance was cut off that we became aware of how many in America live. And it scared us. It was imperative that they find jobs with benefits. For our eldest, Paige, this hit home when a month after graduation, she came down with a serious virus and had to go to the doctor. Several hundred dollars later she learned how important insurance coverage is and the hard fact that in America, unless you are rich, you can't afford medical care without it. Craig and I obtained catastrophic coverage for both girls during this interim and were fortunate that they both landed jobs with insurance benefits shortly after graduation.
After three semesters of college, our youngest decided college wasn't for him at this time. We explained to him the importance of insurance coverage, that if he drops out of school, he gets dropped from our insurance plan. We explained that if he requires a hospital stay it could prove to be devastating financially. Guess what? Young, healthy men don't really want to use their hard earned small incomes on something that isn't tangible.
Eventually, Craig and I decided we couldn't risk his being uninsured and we are currently paying his premiums. With my job loss, a wedding under the belt and bills to pay, it's a stretch for us but we just can not allow him to go uninsured. Like most parents, I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SAVE MY CHILD'S LIFE. If my child was uninsured and needing expensive medical care and denied it, I'd be that parent out selling raffle tickets and conducting bake sales to provide quality health care for my loved one. I'd be that parent begging everyone I know for help. A bizarre scenario in a country as wealthy as our own.
It goes without saying that many of our nation's poor slip through the cracks. Medicaid fills some of their needs but typically we see them in emergency rooms. We all pay for the costs of these visits. An affordable public option would cut costs for all of us. I come from a family that believes in helping those less fortunate. Insuring the poor of our nation is a moral obligation.
What I am selfishly more concerned with is my world of middle America. It's the hardship stories of working Americans that scares me most. People who've worked all their lives and through no fault of their own are stricken with a prolonged illness that reaches an annual cap, leaving them bankrupt and financially devastated. I'm talking about those working Americans who lose their job or choose to change jobs and suddenly find themselves denied insurance due to a pre-existing condition. My 24-year-old working niece is unable to obtain insurance due to a pre-existing condition. Her parents have tried all avenues to get her covered. One serious car accident or diagnosis and all they've worked for could be lost.
The current American Health Care system spends 1.5 times more per person than any other country, but we are no healthier. This is a fact. Scare tactics that are being spread around our nation are a result of bi-partisan politics. They are the result of insurance companies pressures on their elected officials. They are the result of hatred for a new and different President. They are the result of ignorance and denial and immorality. They are so ridiculous, they don't bear repeating or defending. Any intelligent human being on this earth should recognize subversion when they see it.
Now here is the truth about the bill President Obama proposes:
-If you have insurance coverage, you will not have to change your coverage or your doctor.
-Insurance companies will not be allowed to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions.
-Insurance companies will not be able to deny coverage with annual or lifetime "caps".
-This bill will limit out of pocket expenses. (No one should go broke because you get sick.)
-Insurance companies will be required to cover wellness tests like: mammograms and colonoscopies.
Congress needs to set aside their differences and join together to create a bill that will effectively change our Health Care System. President Obama's goals are simple: provide security and stability for those who have insurance (no sudden bogus dropping you from your plan), provide insurance for those who don't have it (perhaps a public option) and a slow growth of insurance costs (which are skyrocketing).
My limited understanding of the Republicans obtuseness, their outrage, their unwillingness to move forward and compromise is that they want to see clearer guidelines for medical mal-practice included in the bill and they are concerned the proposal will cost too much. So compromise. Figure it out. It's been done before. Look at our history: folks balked at medicare and social security, yet I don't know a single senior American who isn't grateful for those government programs now. Programs for which I hope are still in existence when I reach 65.
Much of the change won't occur for four years but if this bill is passed, it will immediately provide coverage to those who don't have it. Think of the people you know, the friends, acquaintances and loved ones who are suffering due to lack of insurance. Call your congressman and your senator and plead with them to find a way to make this change happen. Past administrations have tried. I pray that this administration will finally accomplish it.
Let your voice be heard. (Loud and Clear)
Do it today.
VSL
I believe one of the reasons she was able to succeed was because she was enrolled in her local Big Brothers Big Sisters program and was selected by not one, but two loving, adult mentors. Her first Big Sister moved far away when K. was around 10 and she was then matched to a family, a family that continues to this day to provide love, support and encouragement. This family is my sister's and K. has become a part of our extended family. She has attended holiday celebrations, family events and mourned with us over the loss of my nephew, whom she considered a brother.
When K. was in elementary school she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Her little body had already been badly battered by this terrible disease. Due to a lack of insurance and proper medical care, K.'s pediatrician believes she has lost 15-20 years of her life. A loss that was not necessary had she had proper medical treatment. The details of this atrocity are many and I will spare you them but understand it is due to a health care system that is broken and unjust.
Wednesday night I sat with my husband to hear what our President had to say about Health Care reform in America. I support President Obama's Health Care plan. It makes sense to me. It seems rational. To tell the truth, I'm not sure it goes far enough. However, I do understand the need for compromise. At this point any steps forward would be better than the situation our country is in today.
I was appalled at the behavior by some of the conservatives in attendance. I believe that wherever your opinions lie, it is fundamentally important to respect the office of President of the United States. But, even more important at this time and place in our American history is Health Care reform. I don't think anyone denies it is imperative we fix this broken system. Not only for children like K. but for the millions of working Americans who have been savaged by our current health care system.
There is an undercurrent of hatred in America that is truly frightening me. A contingent of Americans determined to undermine our current administration whenever possible. There is no question our Health Care system is broken. No question that reform is imperative. No question Americans hurt and die every day due to insufficient health coverage. The issues lie with how this can be accomplished. President Obama is really taking a very middle road. He is not proposing National Health Care as some of the extreme left would prefer, nor is he giving into the pressures of the huge insurance conglomerates and the extreme right. I agree with Senator Kennedy that this is a moral issue, an issue of character and one we can no longer put off.
The United States of America is the only wealthy nation on earth who allows such hardship for millions of people. One in three Americans goes without insurance at some point in their life. Craig and I have been very fortunate that he has always worked for large corporations who provided insurance coverage options. Our children grew up having no idea that this was such a privilege. We lived in a kind of bubble of unawareness, passing through the years with prescription cards, free well child visits, minimal co-pays and the ability to undergo any health related tests deemed important by our primary physician.
It wasn't until our children graduated from college and their insurance was cut off that we became aware of how many in America live. And it scared us. It was imperative that they find jobs with benefits. For our eldest, Paige, this hit home when a month after graduation, she came down with a serious virus and had to go to the doctor. Several hundred dollars later she learned how important insurance coverage is and the hard fact that in America, unless you are rich, you can't afford medical care without it. Craig and I obtained catastrophic coverage for both girls during this interim and were fortunate that they both landed jobs with insurance benefits shortly after graduation.
After three semesters of college, our youngest decided college wasn't for him at this time. We explained to him the importance of insurance coverage, that if he drops out of school, he gets dropped from our insurance plan. We explained that if he requires a hospital stay it could prove to be devastating financially. Guess what? Young, healthy men don't really want to use their hard earned small incomes on something that isn't tangible.
Eventually, Craig and I decided we couldn't risk his being uninsured and we are currently paying his premiums. With my job loss, a wedding under the belt and bills to pay, it's a stretch for us but we just can not allow him to go uninsured. Like most parents, I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SAVE MY CHILD'S LIFE. If my child was uninsured and needing expensive medical care and denied it, I'd be that parent out selling raffle tickets and conducting bake sales to provide quality health care for my loved one. I'd be that parent begging everyone I know for help. A bizarre scenario in a country as wealthy as our own.
It goes without saying that many of our nation's poor slip through the cracks. Medicaid fills some of their needs but typically we see them in emergency rooms. We all pay for the costs of these visits. An affordable public option would cut costs for all of us. I come from a family that believes in helping those less fortunate. Insuring the poor of our nation is a moral obligation.
What I am selfishly more concerned with is my world of middle America. It's the hardship stories of working Americans that scares me most. People who've worked all their lives and through no fault of their own are stricken with a prolonged illness that reaches an annual cap, leaving them bankrupt and financially devastated. I'm talking about those working Americans who lose their job or choose to change jobs and suddenly find themselves denied insurance due to a pre-existing condition. My 24-year-old working niece is unable to obtain insurance due to a pre-existing condition. Her parents have tried all avenues to get her covered. One serious car accident or diagnosis and all they've worked for could be lost.
The current American Health Care system spends 1.5 times more per person than any other country, but we are no healthier. This is a fact. Scare tactics that are being spread around our nation are a result of bi-partisan politics. They are the result of insurance companies pressures on their elected officials. They are the result of hatred for a new and different President. They are the result of ignorance and denial and immorality. They are so ridiculous, they don't bear repeating or defending. Any intelligent human being on this earth should recognize subversion when they see it.
Now here is the truth about the bill President Obama proposes:
-If you have insurance coverage, you will not have to change your coverage or your doctor.
-Insurance companies will not be allowed to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions.
-Insurance companies will not be able to deny coverage with annual or lifetime "caps".
-This bill will limit out of pocket expenses. (No one should go broke because you get sick.)
-Insurance companies will be required to cover wellness tests like: mammograms and colonoscopies.
Congress needs to set aside their differences and join together to create a bill that will effectively change our Health Care System. President Obama's goals are simple: provide security and stability for those who have insurance (no sudden bogus dropping you from your plan), provide insurance for those who don't have it (perhaps a public option) and a slow growth of insurance costs (which are skyrocketing).
My limited understanding of the Republicans obtuseness, their outrage, their unwillingness to move forward and compromise is that they want to see clearer guidelines for medical mal-practice included in the bill and they are concerned the proposal will cost too much. So compromise. Figure it out. It's been done before. Look at our history: folks balked at medicare and social security, yet I don't know a single senior American who isn't grateful for those government programs now. Programs for which I hope are still in existence when I reach 65.
Much of the change won't occur for four years but if this bill is passed, it will immediately provide coverage to those who don't have it. Think of the people you know, the friends, acquaintances and loved ones who are suffering due to lack of insurance. Call your congressman and your senator and plead with them to find a way to make this change happen. Past administrations have tried. I pray that this administration will finally accomplish it.
Let your voice be heard. (Loud and Clear)
Do it today.
VSL
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