Share My Pain
You got it. If you haven't seen Michael Moore's recent movie on the subject, it's worth seeing. It made me extremely embarrassed to be an American, to tell you the truth. This will absolutely be one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) issues for me in the presidential election.
I totally agree with you. Health coverage should not be tied to your employment, either. I hate changing insurance companies when switching jobs, never knowing what the next coverage will be like.
We're still fighting a bill from Mira's birth - even though newborns are covered under the plan, because her name wasn't on the bill (it was just listed as Baby Girl of...), our insurance rejected it. Because of course we switched babies on them.
It's crazy that one of the richest nations in the world can't provide basic health services for all of its citizens. There is such a disparity between the rich and the poor here, and sadly the healthcare crisis is playing a strong part in eliminating the middle class. Some rise above, but many in the middle class are sinking into poverty.
My husband works for the State, so you'd think we have good coverage. It's only OK. We pay a lot, but we can't go without health coverage.
just to add another response regarding Canadian health care, to Wendy and the hesitancy about government that she brought up.
while Pharmadaddy makes an excellent point that the single-payer health care system is by no means the only model of socialized medicine, even the single-payer system doesn't mean that a bureaucrat is sitting back somewhere deciding whether or not you can get a medical procedure you need. it's not an insurance-based model, where each case is assessed in time - it really is blanket coverage for the majority of conditions, chronic and crisis.
when our Medicare system was instituted in the late 60s, procedures covered were decided - and after that, they're covered. c-section? covered. pacemaker? covered. well baby? covered. flu shot? where i live, it's covered. some things aren't, including drugs, or aren't entirely, including the airlift that took me to another city when i went into labour at 24 weeks with my firstborn. and we've actually been fighting that bill for two years because we were told by the med staff it would be waived - but in truth, it's only $750 of a $13000 bill. which, after reading all these comments, seems like very very small change indeed.
Although Canada has one form of socialized medicine, it is not the only way it is done. In fact it is one of the few remaining single-payer health care systems in the world. Most nations find a good compromise between private and public health care. The best health care systems in the world have some portion of services provided by private providers. So completely socialized medicine is not necessarily the answer. But the way they do it in the US is certainly not working. Most recent analysis by the World Health Organization gives France's system top billing, with Italy, San Marino, Andorra, and Malta rounding out the top five. Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, and Canada are all in the top 30 among major Western nations. USA is down at 37, below Colombia, Chile, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Costa Rica, and Oman. It's not a black and white issue, but there are some excellent examples out there of successful systems.
Sing it, sista! This is my hot button issue.
I'm sorry, but I think socialized medicine is probably the only viable answer. Yes, it costs money, but it does right now as well.
I also know people are concerned about rationing of care and access to care, but many people in the US have absolutely no access to care because of the cost. Let's guess what is the cause of most bankruptcies in the U.S.? Yep, medical expenses.
As for access to case, if you live in a populated state you may have immediate access to a number of specialists. But try finding that same access in a rural state.
This is an issue that must be addressed. Reforms will be necessary, yes, but something has to change. We can only make it happen by discussing it. Thanks, Mrs. C!
Wendy,
Of course, be informed. I hope no one here thinks I will blindly vote for whomever proposes healthcare.
What I am looking for is a way for all Americans, myself included, to have some kind of reasonably affordable healthcare coverage.
However, that will not be my sole yardstick by which to measure a candidate. Many other factors will also come into play, along with a careful consideration of the actual proposals being made.
Mrs. Mustard,
These are not my feelings on Canadian healthcare. There was a 20/20 show and it was food for thought. I thought Canadian had great healthcare, but I don't know if I want complete control over my healthcare in the hands of the government.
I heard on the radio, this afternoon, that Clinton is proposes some kind of government/insurance program. I don't like that she seems to want to work together with the insurance companies. We all know that the insurance companies can talk with their pocketbooks and the average citizen gets screw.
All I am suggesting is that everyone know the facts before voting and make an informed decision.
I have nothing against Canadians or their healthcare. 
Great post.
I haven't decided on a candidate yet, but their plan to deal with health care and the big money insurance companies behind it is VERY high on my list of priorities.
When my ex died and the kids went onto COBRA right away I paid $644.05 a month PER CHILD for mediocre health care coverage and still there were plenty o' out-of-pocket costs. I then had to battle til I was mentally bloody to obtain private health insurance for my son who had a pre-existing condition.
Amen to all this.
We pay over $600 each MONTH for a family healthcare plan. That's over $600 a MONTH.
Ridiculous. Obscene.
Well said, Mrs. Chicken. And whatever you do, don't stay home on voting day. Like you said, this issue alone is enough to justify voting.
Several years ago my son broke his arm at recess and it cost us $6000 for a simple fracture. (My husband had just started a new job and I was a student at the time and were without insurance for 3 months). It was awful and took us 2 years to pay off.
Our healthcare is so off-base.
Viagra is commonly covered, yet birth control is not. Preventative care is often denied, resulting in disease/suffering, that could have been avoided.
It's really sad.
Amen, amen, amen!
Insurance companies (medical, homeowners, the lot of them) have a lot of questions to answer, in my book. Maybe not legal questions, but moral ones.
Don't let "them" chase you away from the polls, Mrs. C. We all need voices (and votes) like yours.
I have to disagree with Wendy on her feelings about Canadian healthcare.
As a Canadian, and I must say that our healthcare is NOT bad at all. It's great!
Yes, we wait for some elective procedures, but we are not essentially denied them on the basis of income or ability to pay. I'd rather wait for a procedure than have to pay through the roof for it. And that would be IF I could afford to pay for it, which many people in the US cannot.
I love our healthcare system, and I think the US would be so lucky as to have a system like ours.
When Clinton first proposed an Universal Health Care Plan, I was all for it. I was a student and was paying out of pocket for many things. Now, I don't think it is the answer.
20/20's show on Friday was about this. They discussed Michael Moore's movie and then discussed Canada's health care. I am cautious to take everything in that program as truth, but it made me think. There were many facts: Canadians wait longer for services and sometimes needed surgeries are marked as elective, Moore claims that Canadians live 3 years longer than us, well their murder rate is not as high and Americans are fatter (Hello, Mr. Moore), America does advance in medical science, American drs see this as a profit business rather than sick people and on and on.
I agree I hate insurance companies, but this doesn't just go for medical. Homeowners insurance is just as bad. Many people from Katrina have the insurance companies fighting over whether it was flood if the water came rushing in or not, if it is wind damage that caused the flood in your house and on and on. People along the coast can't get insurance because of Katrina. Insurance is a necessary evil and people need to know what their policies cover. People need to do some leg work. Many say that they were told they didn't need insurance, because they lived in a no flood zone. We were told that, but the fact that I live a block from the Mississippi River and have lived in N.O. all my life made sure I was getting floor insurance, which is funded by the government.
After what went down in New Orleans after Katrina, I have very little confidence in the federal government making deicisions for me. I want to be able to get a medical prodecure if I feel it is necessary not wait for some beaucrat to discuss it. I wait to have choices and decide who would be the best to treat me and my family.
I understand that many can't afford insurance. You are talking to a woman who was paying over a $1000 a month for a family of 3, because her husband is self-employed. And even though I was on a co-pay plan with maternity coverage, we were still out of pocket for my daughter's birth. We have moved to a HSA plan where we have saved for our high deductible and we pay out of pocket until that ded is met. Not the best plan, but my premium each month is cheaper and if you are going for well baby visits, shots and birthing babies you meet it pretty fast.
I admit we are lucky that we can afford this plan and that we can afford medical costs if they arise, however, I don't think that socialized medicine is the answer. I think we need to look at the whole picture and make reforms. One should be that everyone should be able to understand their coverage not just those who work in the insurance industry. There are many more, but I fear I have taken up too much space, already.
Damn, woman! Preach it! You are so, so right, on so many points here.
I loved the Newsweek article on Clinton this week, with respect to the health care plan work she did. I didn't think I was a supporter of hers necessarily, but maybe? Just maybe?
Great words! Now, what are you going to do about it besides VOTE?
I got pregnant with Micah a few months before my grad student health insurance ran out. Once it expired, I had a month before my husband's new job's benefits kicked in -- a month with no insurance, 7 months pregnant. I called about 15 different insurance companies and NO ONE would insure me for that month because of my 'pre-existing condition.' In fact, they wouldn't insure my husband either, for some reason. We didn't qualify for low-income insurance. Basically, I stayed at home for a month and prayed that nothing would happen. We'd have been bankrupted if my C-section had happened early. :P It was so infuriating.
To the Canadians who replied - Thanks I'm glad to hear that things are not as bad as I've heard from others. From what you said, it doesn't sound too bad.
Like I said before though, we've been fortunate to have good insurance. I've looked at past insurance statements and have always been thankful. It's amazing the costs of some things on there!
I think about insurance all the time. I have an autoimmune disease and have a team of specialists I see regularly. With good insurance, we still pay big bucks. (The liver test I take every 1-2 months, alone, is $64. That's at 10%. Holy smokes.) Want to see me quake? Ask me what I would do if Greg lost his job and our benefits...
(Ok, I need a cup of relaxing tea now. BTW, I finally got my fab four meme up.)
I agree with you binkytown, 100%
Dawn- The visit didn't actually cost $299 in all probability. The clinic bills the insurance that much, they receive a "discount" and then a smaller amount actually changes hands. Unfortunately, if you don't have insurance, I am not sure that there is a "discounted amount."
Chicken- I think that you can get TB tests done at the public health department for free (or little charge). And like I already said, try to use McKinley in the future for flu shots (I can't remember the exact amount, but it was less than $15).
Everyone- I know that most hospitals have a social worker who can negotiate down the prices of services. Always worth a try if you don't have good coverage.
But yes, we need better coverage for all Americans. It's just ridiculous- the cost of doctor visits and prescriptions. For many people it's a choice between their health and feeding their family. And we're one of the richest nations in the world (ok, there are a lot of very rich people, but many, many more poor).
Who knows if Clinton is actually electable (or Obama for that matter). But anyone is better than that yahoo we've got now!
If I could hug Canada, I would. I love my country.
Anytime someone in the states points out our wait times, I refer back to my mother sick with cancer-the costs would have bankrupted us, not to mention ruined my father mentally.
I wait for things that aren't life threatening-but if it's dire, you're in fast. My friend needed her gall bladder out-a month later, it's out.
It's not perfect, but there is no way I could live as many americans do. Scares me actually.
great, great post. as a Canadian, i have to admit my eyes glaze over in incomprehension every time i read a blog post by a sister south of the border regarding insurance policies and all the myriad complications and things that don't seem to be eligible...but with the glaze comes a lot of sympathy.
which is not to say our system doesn't have significant problems up here - it does. but to respond to Margaret, yes appointments for a speech delay can take a long time, though those are actually with OTs and speech pathologists, for the most part. referred after a regular appointment with your family doc - which i've been lucky enough to find, admittedly, and who will slot my son in anytime there's a worry on our part. fibroid removal? my friend just had it done - she was in a rush to conceive and got in within a month. my own experience with OBs and neonatal crises has been one of fabulous and timely care. we do have a doctor shortage and finding a family doctor can be a long wait in many parts of the country, but i'd still take our system over yours any day, sorry.
*Sitting on my hands trying not to write anything*
I have so much to say about this. Many will not agree with me.
Right now a company I know well (a health insurance company)is undergoing an examination brought about by an East Coast state that is costing this company millions of dollars and is in my own opionion, unwarranted as this company did not break any laws. So who winds up paying for this? Everyone.
I agree, everyone should have acces to affordable health care but the government is pointing fingers at health care companies and putting the blame on them when they are very much a part of this viscious cycle of costs. Physicians have a lot of influence in Washington, as do the drug companies. Hospitals keep introducing new technology that costs billions of dollars. The costs keep rising and rising and rising.
Yes, insurance companies make a profit, but they are a company. Health insurance companies are not out to screw consumers. They pay benefits according to the policies consumers purchase. It's not the policies that are the problem, it's finding ways to offer policies that have benefits people can afford.
I am not saying things should stay the way they are, it's not acceptable to have to wrestle with decisions like the ones you are trying to make, but all I'm trying to say is it's not a simple as Hillary (and I love Hillary) makes it out to be.
This is an issue that needs to be thouroughly flushed out. I want to see a change but I am very worried that politicians are ready to implement sweeping change because it's going to get them elected, not because they have the answer to a very complex problem.
I can't say I agree with a National Health Plan but I've been fortunate enough to have good health care. I've heard alot from people in countries where they have the National Health Plans about the cost (because yes there is a cost - it's an overheard large bundle tax taken out similar to our income tax) and about the service received. I've heard the wait time for services - routine for us - take forever.
Talking to some parents in Canada - the wait to have your child screened for a speech delay can take months or even years! Getting into a specialist can take even longer.
So unless they can offer the same quality of care, I'd have to say I'm not in agreement with it.
Amen. It's so obvious it makes me want to scream.
Amen, sister. We should all be shouting this from the rooftops.
Our 4 month appointment with 2 shots billed 299 to insurance... I'm not really sure for what ... why is a doctor visit that much unless it's 1) to cover malpractice insurance or 2) b/c insurance covered it so why not charge that much
Commenting by HaloScan
