I know that talk of health care reform really polarizes people these days. Some people think that the government would make it worse. Some people think that another year of rising health care costs and lack of accessibility will surely drive them insane. I am one of these.
I have health insurance, it’s from a large corporation. We have a $2500 deductible. Then they cover 80%. With my daughter’s need for specialists visits, therapy and medical tests, this is nearly unbearable. Add to that the 2 MRIs my husband has had this year, my husband’s specialist visits, he is newly diagnosed with narcolepsy, yes I have a narcoleptic husband. Oh, and then there is me. I try never to go to the doctor, but with a toddler and being a person, even I have to go to the doctor sometimes. Our health care costs are large. Each year they go up A LOT. I can’t take another year of increases. It has to stop.
My next gripe? Lack of accessibility or accountability. For example, my daughter had to have a endoscopy and menometry done about 3 weeks ago. We had to wait until yesterday to get the test results during an appointment with her gastroenterologist. I kept Lucy home from school and my husband had to take time off of work. We waited an hour,and then I complained. They sent the student doctor in. That’s what she called herself. I knew it was a ploy to waste time until the doctor came. He never came. I went out and talked to the nurse and she said he had just gone in to see another patient. I said, “Someone had an appointment before 10:30″, as it was now 11:45. She said yes, I said “Have the doctor call us with the results.” And left. I was not going to make my daughter wait in a 6 x 6 room any longer. My husband had to go back to work. We have medical bills to pay!
Really, is my time worth nothing? Would you wait an hour and a half for a scheduled doctor’s appointment? Do you think the doctor would wait an hour and a half for anything?
So, I ask you: How can the government make that worse? Our doctor never even showed up at our appointment. Just so you know it was Dr. Fortunato, at Brenner’s Children’s Hospital in Winston Salem, NC. I just know I’ll get bill for not seeing the doctor.
Two words: Single Payer universal health care. Our country needs it now but I think it’s pretty clear that President Obama doesn’t even want to fight for a public option.
Rose,
So, what you’re saying is we need a stint in jail. Then we could get our needed care! It’s so sad!!
Joie,
Thanks for sharing your story. I don’t understand how anyone could see it any other way. My heart hurts for people that struggle so much just to afford the health care they desperately need!
Here ya’ go, if you want to read it, feel free to delete this if you want. I don’t mean it to spam, just to link you to read it.
Blessings,
~RNW
http://wp.me/ppVmm-eS
I can always count on my dear friend to beat me to any posts in regards to medical coverage, well actually lack there of.
My family can’t get medical coverage, we simply can’t afford it. Husband and I both have pre-existing medical conditions that would be set off. I do have to say I am very, very thankful that my children get the state medical coverage.
However it’s so difficult to function when we have problems with the pre-existing medical conditions. I have lyme disease, and they suspect fibromylagia and/or lupus. Not to mention the migraines, and issues with “Aunt Flo”.
We have tried to get state medical coverage, lol we make too much money, of course the guideline for that is (and I’m NOT exaggerating here) for a family of 4, you can not make more than $342 a MONTH. Now, if I quit working, and had no income coming in, I could benefit from food stamps, AND state medical coverage with little to no copays on medications.
Isn’t that a kicker?
It pisses me off for those of us that need a hand up, and not a hand OUT. It’s a huge difference.
You may have very well sparked more of my evil letter writing for today, and I may dig out my old post or rant about medical help to share with you. Take a peek in a bit, I’m going to go ahead and post it back.
It’s disgusting, the shape our medical is in. And to then think that prisoners get full medical, hey, our tax dollars at work. I’m so freaking proud.
As I type this with cramps from hades,and a migraine built to make a person sin.
~RNW
I think there definitely needs to be reform too! It is so sad. My dad is close to retirement age but my mom is 13 years younger and won’t have any health coverage if my dad retires. She has a decent job but is considered an independent contractor and isn’t offered insurance. She is fine with paying into a plan but guess what? Nobody will insure her because she is a breast cancer survivor! Even if she could find a plan it would be outrageously expensive. Now unless there is reform I fear my dad will be working until he is 75 which is not what he deserves.
What kind of society makes health care/insurance a BUSINESS? Why is it not-for-profit? The only way to make a profit is for some members of society to get screwed. My opinion is that health care is a human right. Yes, we all need to be accountable to pay for it but it should be available to ALL people to pay into the system. We shouldn’t get denied for coverage because it would hurt profits. We shouldn’t have to struggle with insurance companies to pay for procedures while they deny deny deny in order to stay profitable. Where is the value in human life? Who says my life is more valuable than another just because my husband has a job that offers health insurance?
Thanks for the post. I don’t normally touch on these subjects in my blog but maybe I should!
You know you have so many strong points here I can only nod and agree. We have health insurance but what people don’t realize we pay 370 a month for it AND we have a deductible AND copays. The doctors will not see you kids unless your bill is paid in full. My youngest has a hole in his heart and they wanted us to pay for the echo gram in advance. WTH ??? Our insurance will cover all but 80% and they wanted 100% I don’t have the 20% let alone 100%. 2 years ago my husband had surgery and I’ve just finished paying that off. People ask where my money goes it goes to doctors and the mortgage. We are NOT making it.
Redneck Witch the other witch has Lyme Disease we call it her friend Lymie but its damn near killing her. She doesn’t have insurance at all and the doctors don’t want to treat her and when they do they charge her MORE than the people who have insurance are billed.
We need reform but we need the insurance companies to be accountable. I had minor knee work done. Minor being they had to inject it and the labeled it surgery instead of an injection and with a specialist the only one in our area and I have to pay 100%
I am almost in tears reading your post and thinking of our situations and all of the people out there that are in the same boat or worse.
Though your doctor’s behavior is unprofessional, I would separate it from the issues associated with health care reform since even a purely public system would have “unprofessionals” like this involved. I think that this where it is important to remind them that you are one responsible for their being paid.
However. a $2500 deductible is, in of itself, a reason why many will avoid even going to a doctor. Add to that the need for you to cover 20% of expenses out of pocket and its easy to see how quickly the current system victimizes those with congenital and unforeseen conditions. With what I think was 62% of bankruptcies resulting from medical costs, the system needs an overall that only a centralized government activity can control. Whether a public option is the best option is another discussion, but it is nearly impossible to get meaningful change without strong government involvement.