THe thing that pisses me off the most (Health Insurance)

[gaspee]

When I watch these heartless bastards (both D and R) go on and on about how horrible government insurance is and how it would reduce people's choices and blah blah blah, is that every single one of them sucks at the teat of government for their health care. They get gold plated health care for themselves and their families and don't see the irony at all in their position that government run health care is evil.

I have repetitive stress injuries that make my forearms painful and my hands numb (one of the reasons I haven't been posting here is that typing hurts) and I am completely uninsured. And even if I *could* afford health insurance, it would be considered a pre-existing condition and wouldn't be covered. So I live in pain. The nerve damage is permanent.

I haven't had a dental exam in ten years. I'm very careful with my teeth and hope that will get me through not having access to health care.

I'll be 40 in a month and I"m coming up on the age where mammograms might be a good idea. Yeah, good luck with that one.

I have untreated high blood pressure. I'm working on getting a spot in a clinic. I've gone to their once a month "lottery" each month for the past six months now and I still can't get in.

And these scumbags want to complain about what will happen if *government* gets in the way?!?!?! All the while, they see the damn doctor for a freaking splinter.

I wouldn't care that I had to wait in line for hours to see a doctor to get my blood pressure under control. I wouldn't care if I had to wait a damned YEAR to get treatment for my hands, I wouldn't care if I had to go to my government appointed dentist to get my teeth cleaned.

And know what? The rich bastards who get rich off the labor of the rest of us could still get their best in the world health care - they can afford to pay for it.

It just makes me so damned angry to watch these cruel, lying, disingenuous scumbags get on TV and tell us that single payer health care is a bad thing. And I won't even get into how we always seem to have money for war, but never enough to have health care.

Fuckers.

[Enthusiast]

1. "Fuckers" is too good for them. nt

[geckosfeet]

2. They are the textbbook definition of hypocrites and liers.

[WillowTree]

3. Just for the record, they don't have "government run health care".

They have regular commercial insurance plans which are paid for by their employer, which happens to be the Federal government.

[ejpoeta]

6. isn't that what a public option would be??? a regular insurance plan that happens

to have the finances collected and distributed by the government?

[bigbrother05]

12. That's true, but if they show up at Bethesda or Walter Reed

they are treated like kings.

Also, it's not "regular commercial" insurance. All the plans available are vetted by the FEHB (Federal Employees Health Benefits) with coverages and admin fees monitored by the program. Has been noted before, but any doctor's office will verify that BC/BS Federal is a different animal from "regular commercial" BC/BS.

[TexasObserver]

4. Recommend

[ejpoeta]

5. i agree. it's almost laughable.... every time they talk about how a congress

or senator went to the hospital for x,y,z... they are in there for a week or so... I think, if I went into the hospital for that, I'd be out in two days. but they stay for two weeks. Hell, I had Emily and was out in less than three days.... I had Ashley and I was out in less than three days.... With ashley I paid extra so I could have a room with a bathroom in it.... only the private rooms have bathrooms in them. Try waddling down the hall with a bunch of stitches where the baby ripped you to go to the bathroom. uggh. and these jerks get the premium stuff... The saddest thing is that these people are supposed to be representing US not the corporations. And I don't know how we can get it back to that way... because it had to be that way at one time, right?? where they were doing a civic duty and representing the people of their districts?? now, they might as well be working for GE and blue cross and blue shield.

[foginthemorn]

7. I will give you the 5th rec. btw..

be sure to check with your county health dept. Most have set up for free mammograms--or can direct you.

I am for single payer and without insurance last few years also. My county public health has covered some problems including a dentist bill. they are a lifesaver. I realize counties vary by county though.

also, it seems by your narrative that you should check into disability SS??

[FunkyLeprechaun]

8. Me too

I am astonished with how misinformed people are about UHC in other countries. I've lived in the UK for three years and although it's very basic, it's still a really good service.

[Orsino]

9. Idea: challenge them to describe their own personal horror stories...

...that kept them from showing up for work or enjoying nice vacations.

[Vinca]

10. I couldn't have said it better.

There's a woman who works at a local supermarket who plods along with braces on both wrists and hands because of repetitive stress injuries. I don't know how she does it. It's completely inhumane you do not have access to care for that condition.

[Prophet 451]

11. And they keep decrying British healthcare

I live in Britain, under the NHS. I suffer from extremely severe depression and anxiety disorders. As a result of that, I self-harm frequently. I also suffer from an unconnected condition where my stomach produces too much acid and I have slightly high blood pressure.

I take antidepressents and acidity regulators every morning. I pay £7 (about $15) to get my prescription filled. If I were unemployed, young or elderly, I would be exempt from that. That's all I pay. My psychiatric tests and care, home visits from a psychiatric nurse, doctor's appointments, hospitalisation or operations if required; all of those are fully covered by the NHS. My other half gets a notice once a year that she should probably get a mamogram and/or smear test. It's not required that she get one but it is strongly recommended and that's covered by the NHS. Because my blood pressure was noticed very early during routine checks, it can be taken care of with a few minor changes to diet (and the recommendation that I quit smoking which I'm ignoring) but if I needed medication for that, that would be covered too. My stomach condition is pre-existing from about twenty years ago. Doesn't matter. There is no such thing as a "pre-existing condition" here (except in the sense that your doctor will ask before prescribing you drugs to ensure they don't interfere with any other condition).

As for government getting in the way? Yeah, they're just plain lying. I could ring my doctor this morning and get an appointment this afternoon. But maybe I'm special because I have "SUICIDE RISK" on my file? Nope, most people will get appointments the same day or, at worst, the following day. I get whatever treatment my doctor and psychiatrist think are necessary, they note it down on a computerised system and the NHS reimburses them. No forms to fill in, no suit deciding if you really need that treatment. You just get the treatment and the exchange of money doesn't involve you. The career civil servants who run the NHS don't decide what treatments you need either, they just direct resources where they're needed, quickly, quietly and with a minimum of fuss and they do it for an average 6.8% of the budget (including pensions and benefits).

As for dentistry. Yeah, British detistry sucks, that's why Brits tend to have bad teeth. But it's not because our dental service is "socialised", it's because, due to a loophole, dentistry in this country isn't socialised.

I'm sorry for your pain, I really am. And it makes me personally angry that you live in the richest nation in the world and your country won't provide healthcare for you. Britain, France, Germany, Greece, even Italy manage this with much less resources (and in Italy's case, legendary corruption) but it's outrageous that the USA, the "shining city on the hill", doesn't give a shit about it's poor.

[Laelth]

15. Thanks for sharing the truth.

I would love to have the NHS in the U.S.

:dem:

-Laelth

[raccoon]

13. Rec'd! Check your pm's. nt

[ClearPresentDanger]

14. Try Windows 7 Speech Recognition

Windows 7 (which you can try for free) has very good speech recognition built in. I've used it myself. It will take the load off your hands.

[Gormy Cuss]

16. People who don't understand why we need guaranteed access to health care

are either willfully ignorant or lying cheapskates.

gaspee, I hope that you can find affordable resources for some health care soon.

[Bluenorthwest]

17. Typing hurts. I'm so with you there

Ouch. Good luck with it. You and me both. Peace.