Faithful Democrats
Speaking as one of the 47+ MILLION people without health care, I have an intimate understanding of the problem.
I have listened to politicians for over 15 years promise me health care and I still do not have it. In fct in over 35 years as an adult I have had health care for approximately 5 years and only because I got married and was included on my husbands insurance. I have raised two sons without the benefit of health insurance, welfare or child support so I believe I am qualified to address the subject.
Why don't I have insurance? I bet that's the question you are asking. Initially it was because I worked for small businesses who weren't required to provide insurance or even offer access into the sytem. As a single mother working for slightly above minimum, I just couldn't afford it. Yet I made too much money to qualify for medicaid. The reason my premiums were unaffordable was because I was of childbearing age. At least this is what the insurance companies repeatedly told me when I made inquiries. The ironic thing is that once I wasn't of childbearing age any longer, the excuse was just the opposite. Now it was because I was post menopausal, i.e. could no longer have kids.
Today I don't have insurance, NOT because I can't afford it but because I can't use it. I mean why pay good money for something that I won't be able to use? See I am a self employed business woman. I run a small business which compromises of mostly me, myself and I. Therefore my company doesn't qualify for group coverage. I could get individual insurance but I would never be able to use it, so why spend the money. And if I did use it, afterwards one of 2 things would happen; a)my coverage would be cancelled or b)my premiums would be increased to become unaffordable and I would be left with an uninsurable preexisting condtion.
I recently read an article that talked about the drop in mammograms. People were curious as to why. Well, I can tell you why. It doesn't matter if the mammogram is free. If you can't afford the cure and you don't have insurance, you can't afford a KNOWN pre-existing condition. Once I know that there is a problem, I am obligated to tell an insurer about that problem. If I don't, it can result in them cancelling my coverage and refusing to pay any premiums at any time. Of course they have to prove that I knew about it first.
When I was younger, practically everyone except the very poor had health insurance. It was something you paid for years with the same company and it was to cover hospital bills and related services. The problem was that as costs of living increased over the years, there was not an appropriate increase in medicaid incomes so it left an uncovered amount of people referred to as the "working poor." These were people who worked and made too much money to qualify for federal assistance such as medicaid. However, they weren't paid enough money to live adequately and purchase health insurance. And they weren't provided health insurance or even access to the system by their employer.
This went on until the 90's when the issue became a political issue in the 1992 election. The insurers answer to the problem was PPO's & HMO's that on the surface appearred to provide a solution. But it was all a smoke screen to change the way insurers paid out benefits slanted to increase the insurers profits versus paying out benefits to now an aging population. The result of this was predictable in that we have even more people today without insurance and costs have gone through the roof.
It must be said, here and now, that Medicaid and Medicare are huge problems. They are both being outrageously overcharged routinely by doctors and hospitals for services not even provided the patients. And our answer, is to keep feeding the monster and ignoring the problem. I have to conclude that if Medicare is overcharged by doctors and hospitals in this way, then other insurers most likely are as well, hence the problem with spirally costs.
Look, all I want is a reasonably cost policy that can't be cancelled when I use it. I don't mind paying a fair price. But I look at what men my age are paying versus what premiums for a woman my age are and I find the results are women pay twice as much as men and that is totally unacceptable. I could afford the premiums my ex-husband pays and he is an overweight smoker. But I'm healthy, not overwieght, non-smoker who is female and it's double the money. This is not fair.
And Bush's proposed Health Savings plan is NOT THE ANSWER! I repeat, I just want a reasonably priced policy that can't be cancelled just because I use it. Is that too much to ask? I want to be able to go to my own doctor. I don't want my treatment to be dictated by the insurer. And if I have a terminal disease I should have access to all procedures that could improve or extend my life especially if it is federally funded with my tax dollars.
The Declaration of Independence states that we have inalienable rights and amongst these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The lack of access to health care is a denial of these inalienable rights. How can I have the right to life without access to the health care system?
Oh, and I don't want the gov't telling me what to do with my body. If my doctor suggests a procedure or a well exam, that's fine. But I don't want the gov't mandating that I have to have a certain procedure, PERIOD END OF STORY! In fact, I am leary of any BIG government coverage of my health insurance because I have seen and experienced how intrusive the govt's beareaucratic mess really is.
I am willing to take responsibility for my health. All I ask for is access to a system that currently excludes me at a reasonable price.
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