What solutions would you offer to give...ALL...Americans a chance at health care? I hear so many people complaining about this bill, all the restrictions, government being too involved, the deficit, and the list goes on. I've seen parents, and other family members of sick kids, who get dropped from their insurance because the company doesn't want to cover their loved one...when they really needed it. For the millions of hard working Americans who just can make ends meet, so having health care insurance wasn't even a possibility. For those seniors who have to make a choice between getting their meds or buying food or paying bills. I'm not saying this bill is perfect at all, but there is a lot of good in it.
I'm lucky to have always had health insurance, but I've seen how it affects those who didn't have, couldn't afford or were dropped by their carrier.
It seems so violently controversial... Friends I thought I knew suddenly reacting in anger over something I find to be really good news. I've always been fortunate to have health care through my parents or my job. In fact, that was the main reason I stayed at a job I didn't care for - the health benefits were good, and I needed to have coverage. Such a shame, isn't it?
I think we need a Heath reform Bill, everything you said about ppls needs is true.
We just don't need one that requires subversive actions & bribery of millions of dollars & the a free money card for NB, to get ppl WHO have read it to vote for it.
"Fixing" the problem by telling people it's their fault and forcing them to buy insurance (like they wouldn't have already done so if they could...) isn't fixing it at all.
My youngest daughter was in a horseback accident almost 4 years ago and lost her right leg. She had no ins because when she graduated HS she didn't go to College and so we had to drop her from our ins. She had gotten a job at Lowes and started the next week but she had the accident the week before. She was taken to the regional Trauma center here in Memphis The Med, and the bill was well over $400,000 which we and she did not have. It eventually was all absorbed by the tax payers I'm guessing. I hate that. If I came into a load of money, The Med would be the first that would get money....AFTER the Lord. The saved her life...TWICE. See, the thing is, uninsured DO get care the old way. This new way is FORCING people to get something they don't want.There is NOTHING that will help everyone,NOTHING. What helps one person will ALWAYS hurt someone else. All this is doing is helping some a little but it will hurt FAR more than it is helping. Back to my daughter, she was in ICU for a week and then at The Med Hospital for 2 weeks. The room conditions were very poor and it was a shared room since she had no Ins, but at least she was cared for. My wife slept in a chair for the whole two weeks. I couldn't stay to relieve her because the other patient in the room was always female and another male could not spend the night which I totally understood.So, even though the care wasn't the best it was probably better than what this will allow.I just wish people could grasp the long term of this.The old saying goes, "Money doesn't grow on trees" If you take too much at one time from your money source you kill the money source.Thats what will happen, then NO ONE will have decent care.
I suggest watching the Michael Moore film, "Sicko".
I'm Canadian and I've lived here in the States for over ten years now. My parents had to move back to Canada (a big part of it being because of Canadian health care) last year because my mom has had several health problems since I was a kid, my dad has heart problems, and he also just found out that he has lung cancer as of last year. They were paying over $1,500 a MONTH for health insurance just for themselves and still, they avoided going to the hospitals or doctors for anything because it was just too expensive. It's pathetic when it becomes too expensive to LIVE. I think this health care bill was a definite step in the right direction.
People are mentioning that people are being forced to pay for something they don't want. What is this thing that people don't want? I thought everybody would want health care...
I'm just curious. I'm in the UK so yeah.
The opposition isn't interested in finding solutions. They just want to make sure the democrats don't get anything done so they won't get credit, even if it comes at the expense of America.
Too many Americans don't care whether or not everyone gets a chance at health care, or whether people go broke paying their health care bills, or anything like that. Too many Americans really do say "if you can't afford it, you don't deserve it."
That said, there are elements of this bill that I hope are reworked soon. The obligation to buy health insurance, for instance. It appears unconstitutional to more than a few.
I totally agree and blogged on this same topic a few days ago. Well today it was signed...progress for now I usually write poetry tho...
Sorry in advance for the long comment.
I currently have 5 or 6 referrals to specialists I can't afford to see. I am currently UNINSURABLE! No one will take me on and I don't qualify for ANYTHING that will allow me access to doctors for the medical issues that I have. I've been sick for a very long time. I had great insurance through my parents but was dropped when I moved out from my mother's care and bought my own hosue. I had great medicaid coverage through the state until I got married and hubby's income meant something to them. I was lucky enough to Q for medicaid again while pregnant because income limits are MUCH higher for pregnant wemon. But, now... nothing. As it turns out I have late stage (chronic) lyme disease that is now neurologic because it went so long undiagnosed (another problem with the health care system). Neurologic lyme often appears like (or in some cases can cause some of the following) MS, Lupus, RA, Epilepsy, and about a zillion other diseases/conditions. Still can't see any doctors to get a firm diag and solid treatment plan for symptoms. I currently also have orders for brain MRI, sleep study, and a few more blood tests.... none of which I can do without insurance or hefty income. I may well be beyond help at this point.... and I'm 25 (with 2 small children in my care 24/7).
So when I see people say, "if you can't afford it you don't deserve it." or "get a job with benifits." or "move to Canada." I get a little cranky. Unless hubby and I brought in over 6 figures a year I couldn't afford to see a doctor who stands a slight chance at being able to help me. Even then, that still probably would not be enough to afford treatments and tests. If I owned a fortune 500 it may be affordable. A job with benifits wouldn't do much since most (like my husband's employer) have a pre existing clause... and since I have a paper trail of my medical problems they would find out and not cover anything related.... plus charge me monthly premiums that are far too high when you have a mortgage, utilities, living costs, and kids to feed. Most deductables at jobs other than gov or state related have very high decuctables and exclusions anyway. 20 year old kids still covered under mommy and daddy wouldn't know that I guess (most with the above mentioned attitude seem to fall in that category). Of course moving to Canada is not the answer. I don't know how their health care system works but I know that we own a house we couldn't make a profit from in selling... and likly couldn't sell for it's value in this market, can't afford for lapse in pay while finding new income, and probably couldn't find income comparable to what hubby has now. So far those are the only "solutions" people have given. 9000x more terrible than the reform bill. Hubby has applied for every state and gov job that could bring in enough to pay the bills we have because right now... thats our only shot at me seeing a damn doctor. So far, no luck and little opportunity.
This new bill does scare me. I wonder how much it will cost, if there will be a negative spiral effect on the economy, if we will qualify for free or low cost (because we can't afford much else), and if I will indeed be able to see specialists. But, it's the only thing that has crossed my desk lately that presents a possibility for health.
"What solutions would you offer to give...ALL...Americans a chance at health care? "
Good question. Unless they have some damn answers people need to STFU.
@shoujo - totally a shame to be locked into a job...NO MORE! It is WONDERFUL that is passed! @haloed - right on, STFU! If ONLY
I'M ALL FOR THE BILL
I LOVE THIS POST AND I'M ALL FOR THE BILL! :]
@DessertHer - exactly. the only thing. don't let it scare you that much, that's teabagger hype is all.
@radicalramblings - Well that's obviously not the case, because actually buying the government plan it's adjusted for your income. It will be affordable for people who it wouldn't have been otherwise.
@shoujo - OMG, the way that both parties have been behaving about this bill is so out of order. The dems putting on a show with a "take that!" attitude. You have the repubs yelling and screaming, behaving in a totally shameful manner. I've been embarrassed for both parties.
@Made2sing4Jesus - I can understand you on that. @radicalramblings - @TheModernBunny - I totally agree with you both when they say you have to insured. I may be wrong but it seems like, in that case you're taking away a right.
@UnworthyofHisgrace - sorry about your experience. I feel that it's gonna be a wait and see how this all turns out. If doctors really care about patient care and not all about the dollar....then patient care shouldn't be compromised.
@Ricardo98 - I've not seen it, but I've heard it was good.
@OhItWontBeForever - I hope everyone wants health care, they surely deserve it. I think the issue is, how can government tell me I have to purchase it, instead of it being a choice.
@DessertHer - Wow! I've often wondered how the nay sayers would feel if they were in your shoes, or a family member of someone in your shoes. I feel they really need to do something for those that are uninsured or can't be insured do to pre-existing medical problems. I'm not sure how all of this is gonna to pan out in the end, but as you said...it's seriously the only bright spot most people in your position have had.
@And_I_love - Someone had to do something and stop all the talking about it.
@FoliageDecay - you see that's one of the most important issues to me, will the people be able to afford it.
To me, that just proves this idea of "you can't please anyone." I am just left thinking, WTF? Even if it was a choice, why would anybody NOT choose it? I don't see the big deal.
I think the key is to lower the cost, this can be done by lowering demand. First, eliminate all insurance. That way everyone would have to pay out of their own pockets. Fewer people would go to the doctor for "peace of mind." A lower demand would cause doctors to have to compete for those who are really sick and lower their prices. Second, eliminate commercials for prescription drugs. All of these commercials say "ask your doctor," and that is what people do, taking even more time from the doctors. Third, reform malpractice law to where the person bringing the claim is responsible for all fees for both sides in the case the claim is bogus. This will lower what doctors have to pay in malpractice insurance. Finally, once demand has been lowered followed by cost, friends and relatives can much easier come to the aid of those in need because health care will be come much more affordable. These are not new concepts, this is how things were done prior to World War II.
@notjus4ne1 - My career has been delayed so more than half my monthly paycheck goes into student loans. I technically qualify for economic hardship forbearance but I'm paying anyway. I wasn't expecting the plan to go through and when I was looking it didn't look like I could afford health insurance without going into EH forbearance. But when I did the math with the new reform it looks like I will be able to keep paying my student loans and get covered. Are there people worse off then me? Well yes. Let's hope they account for that. But I COULD go into forbearance and have more money to fool with in the mean time until my career picks up. The big issue might be for people who had kids before they started their career. It will be crappy for them like it always will. That's one sad fact that a lot of people fail to accept.
Do you want health insurance companies to stop denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions? To stop dropping coverage or jacking up premiums when people get sick? To stop setting caps on the maximum amount they will pay for treatment of a serious illness?
Basically, requiring insurance companies to offer health care insurance to all applicants without denial or sky-high premiums based on pre-existing conditions requires that everyone purchase health insurance. The risk pool must be large to make such a model fiscally sound. Otherwise, everyone will wait until they get sick to buy health insurance. This is like buying life insurance when you know you are about to die!
And don't kid yourself. Just because you exercise, eat right, etc. doesn't mean that YOU can't be among the sick or seriously injured in just a flash!
I have never personally known or heard of a person who had insurance and got dropped because they got sick, but I keep hearing it happens so I guess it does. My (admittedly simple) understanding of insurance is: you buy it, you pay the premiums, you get sick and they pay. If you got dropped because they didn't want to pay, that seems criminal to me and it should be stopped. But as far as the rest of it...it just seems like a gigantic mess to me. Making a bunch of laws to stop insurance companies from acting like insurance companies and putting limits and taxes on people who are currently paying for insurance and fining the young adult population who don't necessarily want insurance does not make logical sense to me. Insurance companies aren't insurance companies anymore if they are required to cover every person and there are limits on what they can charge and there are services they are forced to provide. They're just bureaucracies. Why do we need more bureaucracies? It is inevitable that the insurance companies will go out of business, which doesn't bother me too much but then what are you left with? Government health care. I was a government lawyer for a long time. I know what it's like. Shabbier, older, long wait times and overloaded professionals. That's my point of view. As for solutions: let's do public health clinics the way we do public schools. Keep the private and also have the public. It would cost a lot but at least it would make sense.
@redhairedgrrl - I've been wondering whether a person who is fined $675 annually under the new bill could just buy health insurance when they get sick. It would be cheaper. If the penalty for failing to buy insurance is an annual fine, and the annual fine is less money than the insurance, and the insurance companies can't deny you, why WOULDN'T you wait, under the new bill? I've always been afraid to let my insurance lapse in case I developed something during the lapse but now I guess I don't have to worry about it anymore.
I'm not on health insurance right now, because I can't afford it. I've had to stop taking medication because of it. I do think that some aspects of this reform could be good, but others...I don't know. I worry about people like my little brother, who has an insulin pump and insulin that's paid for by insurance, otherwise we couldn't afford it. I'm afraid he'll have to lose the pump and go back to giving himself shots every time he eats. My mother was speaking to a woman in a forum for parents who had a little girl my brother's age, who couldn't get a pump because of the type of universal health care they had. You may say it's selfish of me to worry about something like that, but when I see my brother in tears because he can't get the injection right, then it's all that I care about.
Comments (28)
It seems so violently controversial... Friends I thought I knew suddenly reacting in anger over something I find to be really good news. I've always been fortunate to have health care through my parents or my job. In fact, that was the main reason I stayed at a job I didn't care for - the health benefits were good, and I needed to have coverage. Such a shame, isn't it?
I think we need a Heath reform Bill, everything you said about ppls needs is true.
We just don't need one that requires subversive actions & bribery of millions of dollars & the a free money card for NB, to get ppl WHO have read it to vote for it.
"Fixing" the problem by telling people it's their fault and forcing them to buy insurance (like they wouldn't have already done so if they could...) isn't fixing it at all.
My youngest daughter was in a horseback accident almost 4 years ago and lost her right leg. She had no ins because when she graduated HS she didn't go to College and so we had to drop her from our ins. She had gotten a job at Lowes and started the next week but she had the accident the week before. She was taken to the regional Trauma center here in Memphis The Med, and the bill was well over $400,000 which we and she did not have. It eventually was all absorbed by the tax payers I'm guessing. I hate that. If I came into a load of money, The Med would be the first that would get money....AFTER the Lord. The saved her life...TWICE. See, the thing is, uninsured DO get care the old way. This new way is FORCING people to get something they don't want.There is NOTHING that will help everyone,NOTHING. What helps one person will ALWAYS hurt someone else. All this is doing is helping some a little but it will hurt FAR more than it is helping.
Back to my daughter, she was in ICU for a week and then at The Med Hospital for 2 weeks. The room conditions were very poor and it was a shared room since she had no Ins, but at least she was cared for. My wife slept in a chair for the whole two weeks. I couldn't stay to relieve her because the other patient in the room was always female and another male could not spend the night which I totally understood.So, even though the care wasn't the best it was probably better than what this will allow.I just wish people could grasp the long term of this.The old saying goes, "Money doesn't grow on trees" If you take too much at one time from your money source you kill the money source.Thats what will happen, then NO ONE will have decent care.
I suggest watching the Michael Moore film, "Sicko".
I'm Canadian and I've lived here in the States for over ten years now. My parents had to move back to Canada (a big part of it being because of Canadian health care) last year because my mom has had several health problems since I was a kid, my dad has heart problems, and he also just found out that he has lung cancer as of last year. They were paying over $1,500 a MONTH for health insurance just for themselves and still, they avoided going to the hospitals or doctors for anything because it was just too expensive. It's pathetic when it becomes too expensive to LIVE. I think this health care bill was a definite step in the right direction.
People are mentioning that people are being forced to pay for something they don't want. What is this thing that people don't want? I thought everybody would want health care...
I'm just curious. I'm in the UK so yeah.
Too many Americans don't care whether or not everyone gets a chance at health care, or whether people go broke paying their health care bills, or anything like that. Too many Americans really do say "if you can't afford it, you don't deserve it."
That said, there are elements of this bill that I hope are reworked soon. The obligation to buy health insurance, for instance. It appears unconstitutional to more than a few.
I totally agree and blogged on this same topic a few days ago. Well today it was signed...progress for now
I usually write poetry tho...
Sorry in advance for the long comment.
I currently have 5 or 6 referrals to specialists I can't afford to see. I am currently UNINSURABLE! No one will take me on and I don't qualify for ANYTHING that will allow me access to doctors for the medical issues that I have. I've been sick for a very long time. I had great insurance through my parents but was dropped when I moved out from my mother's care and bought my own hosue. I had great medicaid coverage through the state until I got married and hubby's income meant something to them. I was lucky enough to Q for medicaid again while pregnant because income limits are MUCH higher for pregnant wemon. But, now... nothing. As it turns out I have late stage (chronic) lyme disease that is now neurologic because it went so long undiagnosed (another problem with the health care system). Neurologic lyme often appears like (or in some cases can cause some of the following) MS, Lupus, RA, Epilepsy, and about a zillion other diseases/conditions. Still can't see any doctors to get a firm diag and solid treatment plan for symptoms. I currently also have orders for brain MRI, sleep study, and a few more blood tests.... none of which I can do without insurance or hefty income. I may well be beyond help at this point.... and I'm 25 (with 2 small children in my care 24/7).
So when I see people say, "if you can't afford it you don't deserve it." or "get a job with benifits." or "move to Canada." I get a little cranky. Unless hubby and I brought in over 6 figures a year I couldn't afford to see a doctor who stands a slight chance at being able to help me. Even then, that still probably would not be enough to afford treatments and tests. If I owned a fortune 500 it may be affordable. A job with benifits wouldn't do much since most (like my husband's employer) have a pre existing clause... and since I have a paper trail of my medical problems they would find out and not cover anything related.... plus charge me monthly premiums that are far too high when you have a mortgage, utilities, living costs, and kids to feed. Most deductables at jobs other than gov or state related have very high decuctables and exclusions anyway. 20 year old kids still covered under mommy and daddy wouldn't know that I guess (most with the above mentioned attitude seem to fall in that category). Of course moving to Canada is not the answer. I don't know how their health care system works but I know that we own a house we couldn't make a profit from in selling... and likly couldn't sell for it's value in this market, can't afford for lapse in pay while finding new income, and probably couldn't find income comparable to what hubby has now. So far those are the only "solutions" people have given. 9000x more terrible than the reform bill. Hubby has applied for every state and gov job that could bring in enough to pay the bills we have because right now... thats our only shot at me seeing a damn doctor. So far, no luck and little opportunity.
This new bill does scare me. I wonder how much it will cost, if there will be a negative spiral effect on the economy, if we will qualify for free or low cost (because we can't afford much else), and if I will indeed be able to see specialists. But, it's the only thing that has crossed my desk lately that presents a possibility for health.
"What solutions would
you offer to give...ALL...Americans a chance at health care? "
Good question. Unless they have some damn answers people need to STFU.
@shoujo - totally a shame to be locked into a job...NO MORE! It is WONDERFUL that is passed! @haloed - right on, STFU! If ONLY
I'M ALL FOR THE BILL
I LOVE THIS POST AND I'M ALL FOR THE BILL! :]
@DessertHer - exactly. the only thing. don't let it scare you that much, that's teabagger hype is all.
@OhItWontBeForever - stupid teabaggers
@radicalramblings - Well that's obviously not the case, because actually buying the government plan it's adjusted for your income. It will be affordable for people who it wouldn't have been otherwise.
@shoujo - OMG, the way that both parties have been behaving about this bill is so out of order. The dems putting on a show with a "take that!" attitude. You have the repubs yelling and screaming, behaving in a totally shameful manner. I've been embarrassed for both parties.
@Made2sing4Jesus - I can understand you on that.
@radicalramblings - @TheModernBunny - I totally agree with you both when they say you have to insured. I may be wrong but it seems like, in that case you're taking away a right.
@UnworthyofHisgrace - sorry about your experience. I feel that it's gonna be a wait and see how this all turns out. If doctors really care about patient care and not all about the dollar....then patient care shouldn't be compromised.
@Ricardo98 - I've not seen it, but I've heard it was good.
@OhItWontBeForever - I hope everyone wants health care, they surely deserve it. I think the issue is, how can government tell me I have to purchase it, instead of it being a choice.
@coolmonkey - That's playing politics at it best.
@msimotion - I'll have to check your blog out.
@DessertHer - Wow! I've often wondered how the nay sayers would feel if they were in your shoes, or a family member of someone in your shoes. I feel they really need to do something for those that are uninsured or can't be insured do to pre-existing medical problems. I'm not sure how all of this is gonna to pan out in the end, but as you said...it's seriously the only bright spot most people in your position have had.
@haloed - LMAO, thank you!
@And_I_love - Someone had to do something and stop all the talking about it.
@FoliageDecay - you see that's one of the most important issues to me, will the people be able to afford it.
To me, that just proves this idea of "you can't please anyone." I am just left thinking, WTF? Even if it was a choice, why would anybody NOT choose it? I don't see the big deal.
I think the key is to lower the cost, this can be done by lowering demand. First, eliminate all insurance. That way everyone would have to pay out of their own pockets. Fewer people would go to the doctor for "peace of mind." A lower demand would cause doctors to have to compete for those who are really sick and lower their prices. Second, eliminate commercials for prescription drugs. All of these commercials say "ask your doctor," and that is what people do, taking even more time from the doctors. Third, reform malpractice law to where the person bringing the claim is responsible for all fees for both sides in the case the claim is bogus. This will lower what doctors have to pay in malpractice insurance. Finally, once demand has been lowered followed by cost, friends and relatives can much easier come to the aid of those in need because health care will be come much more affordable. These are not new concepts, this is how things were done prior to World War II.
@notjus4ne1 - My career has been delayed so more than half my monthly paycheck goes into student loans. I technically qualify for economic hardship forbearance but I'm paying anyway. I wasn't expecting the plan to go through and when I was looking it didn't look like I could afford health insurance without going into EH forbearance. But when I did the math with the new reform it looks like I will be able to keep paying my student loans and get covered.
Are there people worse off then me? Well yes. Let's hope they account for that. But I COULD go into forbearance and have more money to fool with in the mean time until my career picks up.
The big issue might be for people who had kids before they started their career. It will be crappy for them like it always will. That's one sad fact that a lot of people fail to accept.
Do you want health insurance companies to stop denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions? To stop dropping coverage or jacking up premiums when people get sick? To stop setting caps on the maximum amount they will pay for treatment of a serious illness?
Basically, requiring insurance companies to offer health care insurance to all applicants without denial or sky-high premiums based on pre-existing conditions requires that everyone purchase health insurance. The risk pool must be large to make such a model fiscally sound. Otherwise, everyone will wait until they get sick to buy health insurance. This is like buying life insurance when you know you are about to die!
And don't kid yourself. Just because you exercise, eat right, etc. doesn't mean that YOU can't be among the sick or seriously injured in just a flash!
I have never personally known or heard of a person who had insurance and got dropped because they got sick, but I keep hearing it happens so I guess it does. My (admittedly simple) understanding of insurance is: you buy it, you pay the premiums, you get sick and they pay. If you got dropped because they didn't want to pay, that seems criminal to me and it should be stopped. But as far as the rest of it...it just seems like a gigantic mess to me. Making a bunch of laws to stop insurance companies from acting like insurance companies and putting limits and taxes on people who are currently paying for insurance and fining the young adult population who don't necessarily want insurance does not make logical sense to me. Insurance companies aren't insurance companies anymore if they are required to cover every person and there are limits on what they can charge and there are services they are forced to provide. They're just bureaucracies. Why do we need more bureaucracies? It is inevitable that the insurance companies will go out of business, which doesn't bother me too much but then what are you left with? Government health care. I was a government lawyer for a long time. I know what it's like. Shabbier, older, long wait times and overloaded professionals. That's my point of view. As for solutions: let's do public health clinics the way we do public schools. Keep the private and also have the public. It would cost a lot but at least it would make sense.
@redhairedgrrl - I've been wondering whether a person who is fined $675 annually under the new bill could just buy health insurance when they get sick. It would be cheaper. If the penalty for failing to buy insurance is an annual fine, and the annual fine is less money than the insurance, and the insurance companies can't deny you, why WOULDN'T you wait, under the new bill? I've always been afraid to let my insurance lapse in case I developed something during the lapse but now I guess I don't have to worry about it anymore.
I'm not on health insurance right now, because I can't afford it. I've had to stop taking medication because of it. I do think that some aspects of this reform could be good, but others...I don't know. I worry about people like my little brother, who has an insulin pump and insulin that's paid for by insurance, otherwise we couldn't afford it. I'm afraid he'll have to lose the pump and go back to giving himself shots every time he eats. My mother was speaking to a woman in a forum for parents who had a little girl my brother's age, who couldn't get a pump because of the type of universal health care they had. You may say it's selfish of me to worry about something like that, but when I see my brother in tears because he can't get the injection right, then it's all that I care about.