Let's Change Health Care before it Kills Us
Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 7:09AM It's happened to everyone lucky enough to have health insurance. You walk into your regular doctor's offices for the millionth time. Someone at the front desk smiles and says,
"Any changes to your address? Phone number? Same insurance?"
You answer, "No. No. Yes."
A pause. Then the dreaded response, "I'm sorry, but the doctor doesn't except that insurance company anymore."
You feel two things. One: guilt, because you're supposed to have a real insurance company he or she will accept. Two: panic, because you immediately ask yourself, "How am I supposed to pay for this visit, let alone the lab fees that will ll be mailed in two weeks? And, why does it cost $600 dollars a pop to test a Petri dish anyway?"
Worse, you get that sick feeling in your gut. It has a voice that starts to wonder, "Hey, what if there is something REALLY wrong with me?" And, in that split second, you're in the same situation as the 46 million people in this country who don't have insurance.
I used to work at companies that offered me insurance plans. Then, I became a freelance writer and joined those 46 million Americans that don't have health insurance (15% in the past 5 years). I called around for individual plans and got some very confused agents on the other line (when I could get to a human). I joined the National Writers Union, for the same reason many people join unions, to get health care. Even that process was fraught with waiting time and regularly changing plans.
As I traveled the country, talking to people about their wallets and lives, on this issue there was almost complete agreement. Our health care system is screwed up. It's not just a matter of rich vs. poor. No matter who you are, you worry. As do the people in the health care chapter in JACKED: a mother with two autistic children whose mental needs aren't covered, a Hollywood producer with a stellar plan who still wants to retire to Canada, a struggling actor with SAG coverage when he can find jobs -and when he can't - it's no job topped by no insurance, and a NY based woman who went from middle class to destitute because of medical problems for which lack of coverage nearly killed her.
It's wrong. We need to stop settling for mounting premiums and diminished coverage. We need to scream about cuts to Medicare and Medicaid to balance a budget boated with corporate tax cuts that make this okay in the eyes of Congress. We need a plan that cuts the insurance middleman or regulates their breadth of coverage, so no one has to choose death over treatment. Not in a country as rich as ours.
We need to stop settling for mounting premiums and diminished coverage. We need to scream about cuts to Medicare and Medicaid to balance a budget boated with corporate tax cuts that make this okay in the eyes of Congress. We need a plan that cuts the insurance middleman or regulates their breadth of coverage, so no one has to choose death over treatment. Not in a country as rich as ours.
Reader Comments (1)
I really kike what you said about our health care system. Straight up and down it is completely flawed. I mean every penny we earn the government expects us to pay taxes on it. The rate for medicare is 1.6%. Now you saiid 46 million Americans dont have health insurance. Lets just say that the average income for those 46 million Anericans per year is $30,000 per year and each person pays 1.6% in health care that equals $22,080,000,000.000. I spoke about my issues with health care on my blog as well.