In 2004 when mom was sick and in the hospital, she had coverage. She died on 12/31/2004 - and we kids and dad were the 'death panel' she faced.
Let her suffer, or let her go.
Was not about money, was about her.
In those last few months she had good care (up until the last week looked like she was gonna make it).
When I went to see her I did not think about what it all was costing, or whom it was costing. She was sick and getting care, the thought of bills for it all really did not enter my mind.
Lucky me. I was not worried she would die because of money, she died because it was just her time.
So many others are not as lucky as we were - they die because the money just is not there for them. I have mentioned Andy in past posts, and will continue to do so, because he was exhibit A in how money often drives whether or not you live or die here.
No health care solution in the world is perfect, but I for one know we can do a lot better.
Especially when we make it about each other and not dollars and investments.
I posted this the other day, and will once more quote Nixon from that article:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6512271 Ehrlichman: Edgar Kaiser is running his Permanente deal for profit. And the reason that he can … the reason he can do it … I had Edgar Kaiser come in … talk to me about this and I went into it in some depth. All the incentives are toward less medical care, because … the less care they give them, the more money they make.
Nixon: Fine
Ehrlichman: And the incentives run the right way.
Nixon: Not bad.
Not bad, indeed. Here's Nixon in a speech the following day:
I am proposing today a new national health strategy. It helps more people to pay for care--but it also expands the supply of health services and makes them more efficient. It emphasizes keeping people well--and not just making people well. The purpose of this program is simply this: I want America to have the finest health care in the world--and I want every American to be able to get that care when he needs it.
I keep hearing how 9/11 was a milestone and that day used to justify spending hundreds of billions + to keep us safe.
And then I hear how we can't spend less than that to keep us safe from the things killing us here day to day.
War on drugs. War on terror.
How about a damned war on death by lack of access to health care.
Maybe because it affects the poor the most.
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