I Will Direct My Apologies Elsewhere

[n2doc]

By Dr R Scott Poppen

....So everyone is now apologizing to folks in the individual health insurance market who can’t renew their current cherished policies, some of which are so crummy that it is a stretch to call them insurance, and will be paying much more in the Marketplaces because they make too much money to qualify for a subsidy.

So, since repentance is the order of the day, here is mine.

To the woman who testified at my state’s Medicaid expansion hearings last July I’m sorry that you developed advanced breast cancer several years ago, lost your job during your radiation and chemotherapy treatments, couldn’t afford your COBRA payments to keep up your insurance, and had to stop your chemo prematurely. I’m glad you got a new job, albeit without health insurance benefits. I was so sorry, and sad, to learn that your breast cancer has returned, is metastatic, and that you have no insurance.

I’d like to apologize for a member of our legislature, a health care provider himself, who an hour after your testimony stated publically that he didn’t want to hear anymore testimony from patients. You see, his innate compassion for your situation is colliding with his anti-government ideology producing painful cognitive dissonance. His only option is avoidance.

Perhaps, if you are still alive, you can sit down with some of the folks who are going to have to pay more for their insurance and help them find a cheaper cell phone plan, alternatives to cable Tv, or more affordable vacation options. That is, of course, if you are still alive.

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http://www.drsforamerica.org/blog/i-will-direct-my-apologies-elsewhere

[NYC_SKP]

1. K/R!

Yes, the ACA is producing winners and losers. But in my mind the financial setbacks facing the few losers are greatly outweighed by the improved health, prolonged life, financial security and access to affordable insurance available to the many winners. It may never happen, but I hope that those who think they have lost financially will someday see that the health insurance security that the ACA will establish in 2014…guaranteed access, guaranteed continuation, and guaranteed limits on out-of-pocket costs…makes us all winners. The financial sacrifice by some is well worth the health insurance security gained by all.

[Skittles]

2. good to see a doctor weigh in

k&r

[babylonsister]

3. Great read, everyone should. Spread the word! Rec'd. nt

[passiveporcupine]

4. read the link

Yes!

[Scuba]

5. Excellent read ...

Finally, a shout out to the guy who sat next to me at the governor’s summit. I’m sorry that you got multiple sclerosis, lost your job as an electrician, lost your union benefits, your COBRA lapsed, you lost your house, and your marriage failed. It must be rather humiliating to now be living in your friend’s basement. I was really impressed when you ambled over to the governor’s table, got past his body guards, and explained to him why you can’t afford the expensive medication needed to manage your MS.

Let me apologize for the governor. It has been nearly two months and he still cannot decide whether expanding Medicaid is good for our state’s citizens. You see, he is fearful that the several hundred million federal dollars that our state will receive over the next few years will bankrupt the U.S. treasury and turn us into Greece.

But hey! Did you see the picture in the paper of our brand new nuclear aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford? What a beauty and soon to be carrier number 12 in the fleet. I thought of you because although the federal government has already spent several billion on this state-of-art warship, they still need to spend a few more billion as they get her fitted out for sea trials. I’ll bet they will need some cracker-jack electrician like you. Maybe the governor could loan you the money to get your medicine and you could get working again. Just don’t tell him how much the ship costs ($13 billion) cause we don’t want to worry him.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. K&R