Healthcare and Self Respect

[Vinca]

In another post about the tragic, breast cancer death of Rep. Davis, I mentioned the fact that at least she had a chance to beat it and that an uninsured woman might not. Another person responded that free mammograms and some treatments are available through the American Cancer Society. While I've seen free cancer-testing clinics advertised from time-to-time for several forms of cancer, I've never been aware of one sponsored by the American Cancer Society and have definitely never heard of them providing treatment. But I'll assume maybe all that's true, because that's not the point of my rant. The point is self respect. In the so-called greatest nation on the planet, people should not have to go begging for healthcare. Decent healthcare should be a right of every citizen and easily available to all comers. Survival should not depend on a person's ability to convince a charity of their need. We shouldn't have to go on hands and knees to plead for care when we're sick. I'm thoroughly disgusted with this two tier society - the "haves and have mores" and the rest of us. To hear the conservatives talk, you'd think I can't afford healthcare because I have to buy gas for my Cadillac. They don't seem to get it that hard working people cannot afford the shakedown currently taking place in the health insurance industry. The mantra is charge as much as possible, provide as little as possible and don't forget the political contributions. So far it's working out well for them. Meanwhile, 50 million people have hat in hand.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

1. K'd, R'd, and bookmarked for future use

You are so right. It's about self-respect, and basic human dignity. What about that is so hard for many to understand?

[Yael]

2. And off to the Greatest Page with you!

[midnight]

3. Wednesday, I along with another family member get to

listen to a review of our health care benefits. Insurance Co. says our doctors treatment is: experimental, not medically neccessary, and now not effiecient. Unfortunately we have been invited at last minute and and hope someone from our clinic will also have the opportunity to partake in review. We have appealed all of the above excuses.

[kurth]

4. Poor cancer patients are really on their own

ACS is just a fundraising and public-education organization. Qualification for ACS screening is based on federal poverty guidelines and the number of mammograms available is very limited.
http://www.highcountrypress.com/weekly/2007/06-21-07/running.htm

[Donnachaidh]

5. It's especially galling to watch those phony ads about *helping* people by Big Pharma

"Last year they helped 4 million people" -- uhh, 47 million are un-insured. And how many million under-insured did Pharma help? Have any numbers on that? Have any numbers on people choosing between medications and bills to pay?

Of course, that bus is tax-deductible for the company. And I'm sure Montel William's fee is also tax-deductible. Win-Win for the corporations.

And Americans need to beg for help, and that *help* is a tax break for business.

[Hepburn]

6. A-fucking-men! I hear you!

I have ALWAYS been of the opinion that three things in our nation should NEVER be dependent on money and these are:

1. Healthcare
2. Justice
3. Education

I fully, totally and for as long as I recall support complete healthcare coverage at NO cost to everyone. PERIOD. End of discussion...there is NO need to even question that our nation if they want to discuss the issue of respect for human life NEEDS to make sure that EVERYONE gets necessary medical and dental care.

Great OP...:applause:

[slipslidingaway]

7. Thank you K&R n/t

[ProudDad]

8. HR 676 - Universal Health Care for All

"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane."
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_hr676.htm

Brief Summary of HR 676: “The United States National Health Insurance Act,”
Or “Expanded & Improved Medicare For All”


· The United States National Health Insurance Act establishes an American national health insurance program. The bill would create a publicly financed, privately delivered health care system that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding and improving it to all U.S. residents, and all residents living in U.S. territories. The goal of the legislation is to ensure that all Americans will have access, guaranteed by law, to the highest quality and most cost effective health care services regardless of their employment, income, or health status.
· With over 45-75 million uninsured Americans, and another 50 million who are under- insured, the time has come to change our inefficient and costly fragmented non health care system.

Who is Eligible

· Every person living in or visiting the United States and the U.S. Territories would receive a United States National Health Insurance Card and ID number once they enroll at the appropriate location. Social Security numbers may not be used when assigning ID cards.

Health Care Services Covered

· This program will cover all medically necessary services, including primary care, in patient care, outpatient care, emergency care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, long term care, mental health services, dentistry, eye care, chiropractic, and substance abuse treatment. Patients have their choice of physicians, providers, hospitals, clinics and practices. No co-pays or deductibles are permitted under this act.

Conversion To A Non-Profit Health Care System

· Private health insurers shall be prohibited under this act from selling coverage that duplicates the benefits of the USNHI program. Exceptions to this rule include coverage for cosmetic surgery, and other medically unnecessary treatments. Those who are displaced as the result of the transition to a non- profit health care system are the first to be hired and retrained under this act.

Cost Containment Provisions/ Reimbursement

· The National USNHI program will set reimbursement rates annually for physicians, allow for "global budgets" (annual lump sums for operating expenses) for health care providers; and negotiate prescription drug prices. The national office will provide an annual lump sum allotment to each existing Medicare region; each region will administer the program.

· The conversion to a not-for-profit health care system will take place over a 15 year period. U.S. treasury bonds will be sold to compensate investor-owned providers for the actual appraised value of converted facilities used in the delivery of care; payment will not be made for loss of business profits. Health insurance companies could be sub-contracted out to handle reimbursements.

Proposed Funding For USNHI Program:

· Maintaining current federal and state funding of existing health care programs. A modest payroll tax on all employers of 3.3%. A 5% health tax on the top 5% of income earners. A small tax on stock and bond transfers. Closing corporate tax loop-holes, repealing the Bush tax cut.

[LWolf]

9. I just had this conversation with my mom this morning.

She's about to turn 69. She's retired, gets a social security check, is on Medicare, and has a little home business to make ends meet.

Medicare doesn't cover her dental work, and her bone loss was so bad that she had to have most of her teeth pulled last summer. Thousands of dollars. On a credit card.

She has Depuytren's contracture. In both hands. It's gotten steadily worse, and she has lost the practical use of one hand. She's still driving, doing all of her own cooking, cleaning, and yard work, and running her little home business. But she can't get her hands fixed. She's got "clearchoice," an HMO available through medicare. They won't cover the treatment. She's going to have to pay for that, too. Except that she maxed out the card on the teeth. Dignity? She, one of the working poor, a single mom who worked 2 jobs most of her life, has a work ethic like you wouldn't believe. She comes from people who disdained charity. And, although she doesn't disdain it for others, it humiliates her to ask for help, even from me.

Of course, I have insurance through my employer. I keep being told it's the "good" insurance. That's why I waited 3 years to even see a doctor; it was so good that I have limits and co-payments, and it pissed me off to pay again after I'm already paying every month. Still, this summer I went to the dentist, went in for a general check-up. I didn't get the pap, the mammogram, or have those funny morphing freckles on my leg looked at, though. By the time I was done with the dentist and the doctor, I was $1200 down in copays and prescriptions for a previously undiagnosed condition. There was no money left for the rest, so I get to keep paying for insurance that I can't afford to use.

Everywhere I listen, someone has got a story like this. Health care should not be a commodity, bought and sold for those with the means to access it.

[Vinca]

10. Your poor mother. What is so insane is that if they don't cover

the cost of the treatment now, they'll end up having to cover much more expensive treatment later - or the cost of a nursing facility if she loses use of her hands entirely. It's heartbreaking that our government allows this to continue and continue and continue. The American people deserve so much better than this. She'd probably get treated if she was in Cuba.

[LWolf]

11. She'd be treated in many other countries.

You're right; it makes no sense to deny care now when it will cost more later. Unless they are hoping she won't last long enough to cost them.

She's in good shape, though, outside of her hands and teeth, and she'll stay that way as long as she can stay active and keep doing things.

Hard to do without hands.

She had some trees go down in a storm last winter; she's been slowly turning them into firewood. With her chainsaw. :scared: I'm going to finish the job for her this winter.

[havocmom]

14. Speaking of other countries, are some insurers still forcing Americans abroad for some surgery?

That was a real nice trick too.

[LWolf]

15. She tells me the procedure she needs is common in France.

She doesn't have to go to France, though. There are places in the U.S. that do what she needs. She'll just have to pay for it up front, since her medicare HMO rejected her appeal.

[havocmom]

13. "paying for insurance I can't afford to use". Says it all for most working people

lucky enough to have some insurance coverage.

Those commercials the insurance industry ran back in the 90s, threatening people that government sponsored medical care would mean rationing just pissed me off. Knew then there was rationing by insurance companies and economics already and there would be more just as soon as the industry used scare tactics to make Americans turn against their own best interests.

There is LOTS of rationing of medical care... by the corporations that don't pay living wages and the insurance industry that scares people into paying for policies that they really can't use.

[LWolf]

16. It says it all, and more.

Remember, I'm the lucky one with the good insurance.

I wonder what the bad insurance costs, or covers?

Not to mention, of course, the vast number of people with no insurance at all.

[brer cat]

12. Yes, it is about self-respect

as well as obtaining affordable care. It is so embarrassing to see my health care provider a year after she asked for a follow-up the next month, and have to say, but I just couldn't afford the visit OR the meds you prescribed, much less the bone density test (yes, I am 61 and had 8 broken ribs, so the test did make sense, but WHO was going to pay for it?) Uninsured patients wind up much sicker before they seek treatment, are far more likely to seek care in ERs which cost a fortune (and may interfere with truly emergency care for other patients), and lack follow-up treatment because few physicians will take on uninsured and poor patients.

And we must always remember...the uninsured are charged FULL price while insured/Medicare/Medicaid patients have negotiated lower payments. All of the burden put on the poor, and very little compassion or understanding.

Thank you for a very understanding post.