Health Care
Jul. 7th, 2009 10:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tsukinofaeriiNote for the unwary: I'm an American. This is relevant.
Today's rant! Health care. That is, my utter lack of it. (headdesk) Myowner boss was asking for doctor recs, and I just sort of stared at her for a long time and then blurted, "I haven't been to the doctor in five years". You know, pity is not a fun thing.
Blunt fact is, I can't afford health care. Yes, my job offers some sort of group plan thing for a price, but if I had that much extra money a month I'd be a very happy camper. The net result is that if I end up with some sort of serious health condition (or dental condition, but no one puts the two together for some reason), I'm SOL. I haven't done more than look at premiums for a normal person and shudder. I'm kind of afraid to find out what I'll need to pay. But enough about me now. Lets talk about me when I was a kid, shall we? Since that was the last major health crisis I went through.
At four, I was diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus. Not a debilitating or immediately life-threatening issue, but my parents were basically told that I'd die eventually if it wasn't corrected. Now see, they were both USAF veterans and had their health care needs covered. Unfortunately, I wasn't, and for reasons I'm still not sure I understand, I didn't qualify for state assistance. My parents were given two options:
That's exactly where the free market landed us. My parents' only fault was that they didn't earn enough to get me health insurance but simultaneously earned too much for state help. I keep hearing complaints that the state will be too costly, too inefficient, too useless. Oh, and they'll run the other guys out of business because they'll be cheaper. Personally, if the free market can beat the state in terms of service, selection and value, people who can pay more will do so. The only people who will go with the state option will be the people who need it. And if they can't keep up with the state? Then it's time to get out of the business.
Today's rant! Health care. That is, my utter lack of it. (headdesk) My
Blunt fact is, I can't afford health care. Yes, my job offers some sort of group plan thing for a price, but if I had that much extra money a month I'd be a very happy camper. The net result is that if I end up with some sort of serious health condition (or dental condition, but no one puts the two together for some reason), I'm SOL. I haven't done more than look at premiums for a normal person and shudder. I'm kind of afraid to find out what I'll need to pay. But enough about me now. Lets talk about me when I was a kid, shall we? Since that was the last major health crisis I went through.
At four, I was diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus. Not a debilitating or immediately life-threatening issue, but my parents were basically told that I'd die eventually if it wasn't corrected. Now see, they were both USAF veterans and had their health care needs covered. Unfortunately, I wasn't, and for reasons I'm still not sure I understand, I didn't qualify for state assistance. My parents were given two options:
- Get a divorce. Then my mother would qualify for help.
- Let my grandparents adopt me so I could be treated under their insurance.
That's exactly where the free market landed us. My parents' only fault was that they didn't earn enough to get me health insurance but simultaneously earned too much for state help. I keep hearing complaints that the state will be too costly, too inefficient, too useless. Oh, and they'll run the other guys out of business because they'll be cheaper. Personally, if the free market can beat the state in terms of service, selection and value, people who can pay more will do so. The only people who will go with the state option will be the people who need it. And if they can't keep up with the state? Then it's time to get out of the business.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-08 05:37 pm (UTC)I've heard so many stories in this thread, where people have been forced to do without when they needed care, or were forced to make shitty decisions to get the care that they needed. Me, the only reason I have health-care at all is that I'm damned lucky to be my parents spoiled only child so that they give me the money for it. But at the same time, I can't help but fear that accident that'll land me in the hospital, 'cause how much you wanna bet that the procedures I'd need most will be labeled 'Experimental' and therefore uncovered?
And there's no choice but to stay with Anthem BlueCross in my area either. My dad's company was given an ultimatum, pay double for the same coverage or lose coverage. The managers went out in search of a better deal and no one else would even give them a quote! Obama and the Dems need to get on the ball, the 'Health insurance' companies are holding the entire nation ransom, and I'm not the only one sick of it!
.... U_U;;
no subject
Date: 2009-07-09 01:34 pm (UTC)Exactly. I can admire wanting to be bipartisan. It's admirable. But it's still only a method, not a goal, and it shouldn't be allowed to stand in the way of fixing things. Really, when we have the insurance outright refusing to stop targeting the seriously ill for coverage removal for minor reasons, it's really hard to justify giving them anything.