"Medical Exile" - A CBC interview with a woman who can't return to the US ( Podcast)

[Canuckistanian]

Kathleen Kelly is an American who married a Canadian and now lives on Bowen Island in British Columbia with her husband and six-year-old son. The thing is, she'd really like to go back home to California. But her son has a rare health condition ... a "pre-existing condition" that would keep her from getting health insurance. So, like many other Americans, she's a "health care exile."

http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/current_20090925_20739.mp3

This is a heartbreaking story. Her son had reached his health insurance lifetime cap - at 8 years old.

[Thickasabrick]

1. My son married a canadian and they can't move back here because

she has a medical condition where she has to go to an emergency room every so often because of this allergy thing. It's free when she visits in Canada but they would be in debt the rest of their lives if they moved here and had to visit the ER even twice. I miss him :(

[SoCalNative]

2. Believe it or not

some employers DO provide health insurance that immediately covers any and all pre-existing conditions.

It's not impossible to find one.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Only NEXT-to-impossible....

and what about the premium for such "insurance"?

[SoCalNative]

4. Not really

I work for a large media corporation. They're not hard to find at all.

[BrklynLiberal]

That makes sense seeing that jobs are so easy to come by nowadays..

especially ones with outstanding benefits.

[McCamy Taylor]

16. Ah, now we know why the MSM pimps for private insurers. They are bribed

with affordable policies for their employees.

In Fort Worth many years ago a local HMO was violating Texas state law, but the only Fort Worth newspaper would not report on it....because the HMO provided their health insurance.

Thanks for the info. I had been wondering if the privates are giving the corporate media a sweetheart deal in exchange for propaganda. Now I know it.

[Thickasabrick]

5. Thank you - he's not exactly the most employable type so I wouldn't

want them to bank on the possibility of finding an employer with health insurance only to be fired, let go, etc., and be unable to make Cobra payments. He has told me that as long as the insurance situation in this country is like this, they can't take the change.

However, when he goes to a clinic or hospital - it's really cheap....and he never has to wait in lines ;)

[Lars39]

7. But you're still out the money for overpriced premiums and those ER visits.

[SoCalNative]

9. Not really

My co-pay at the ER is $75 or nothing if I'm admitted. And my share is approx $60 month and employer pays the rest.

Co-pays are $20 to see a Dr. and my prescriptions are $14 for 3 month supply for generics and $50 for 3 mos supply for name brand/not on formulary.

[Thickasabrick]

10. Wow....that is awesome. You have a great job. Hope you can

keep it forever.

[SoCalNative]

12. I only have to keep it for about 20 more years

then I can retire and enjoy the benefits of Medicare

[Gabi Hayes]

13. I'm certain that those 47 million or so without health insurance are very

happy for you

as for the sample size upon which you formulate your opinions, and the conclusions drawn therefrom.....

you don't really expect to be taken seriously, do you?

[robinlynne]

15. and those of us with. I pay 400 a month for the cheapest health insurance around.

I know if anything ever appears to be from the past in any way I am not covered.

[Gabi Hayes]

17. I have better insurance than the poster referenced, thanks to my evil union.

doesn't keep me from empathising with those who don't have it, or, as you mention, are underinsured, or paying outrageous premiums for said underinsurance

[Merlot]

21. 20 more years until 65 - good luck!

that makes you about 45. Look around, are there a lot of people over 50 where you work? except of course for the executives?

I hope you can keep your job and the benefits, because I wouldn't wish being uninsured on anyone. But if you think anyone can go out and just get a good job with benefits, you are wrong.

[robinlynne]

14. You are the exception, not the rule. and very very lucky!

[alarimer]

18. Of course these benefits are subject to change at any minute, for any reason.

Even if we think we have good insurance, chance our the employers are busy plotting ways to get rid of it, so as to pad the bottom line. Or, another trick is to fire the older employee "for cause" (though really because they are older) to hire someone cheaper to insure.

You may think you have it good, but I wouldn't turn my back on them if I were you. Corporation like to stab their employees in the bag. There is not a single business that is not run by assholes in this (or probably any other) country. You can count on them to cheat you, to steal from you, and treat all their employees like shit.

[Hepburn]

8. And it's beyond the budget of nearly everyone and...

...there is a cap on treatment.

Other than that...great stuff...:eyes:

[BrklynLiberal]

11. As long as no one in the family gets any sort of chronic illness..that really costs money to treat.

[Hepburn]

22. And it is an even numbered day in an odd numbered month...

...and no one in the family has NEVER had a pre-existing condition such as fleas and/or acne.

:hi:

[Nikki Stone1]

6. Great interview--and very sad.

Her parents are still in US and her mother is a cancer survivor.

[Oregone]

19. Yeah, I don't ever think I can go back because of the health care situation

Take away all the pre-existing condition shit, being self-employed, I just simply cannot afford it there without sacrificing my children's social mobility. In Canada, I simply never have to worry about losing it all every time I get behind a wheel, or my children get sick. Its total peace of mind a US insurance policy will fail to give you (reformed or not)

[flyarm]

20. Pelosi Says “F*&k You” to Trumka and the AFL-CIO

Pelosi Says “F*&k You” to Trumka and the AFL-CIO
By: Jane Hamsher Saturday September 26, 2009 11:17 am
please read this in it's entirety............
http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/09/26/pelosi-says-fk-you-to-trumka-and-the-afl-cio/
snip;

It's notable that among the Change to Win unions, only the Teamsters came out against the Baucus bill. (Whoever sold Hoffa on ditching the public plan is no doubt talking fast and trying to explain why he is now being kicked in the face.)

Incoming AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has been outspoken in his insistence on the inclusion of a public option in any health reform bill, and has threatened to withhold support from Democrats who won't vote for it. Over the past week there was a lot of winking in reports that the White House was leaning on progressive groups to drop their support for the public option. It absolutely did happen, but the use of the word "groups" is probably misleading -- the organization they are talking about, the only one that matters, is the AFL-CIO.

Since other unions outside the AFL-CIO are working the yo-yo on the trigger, Trumka is the lone holdout. He's the mainstay, and there is tremendous pressure building within the AFL in response to arm twisting from the White House for him to cave. And if he falls, it's going to be difficult for the rest of the veal pen not to follow suit. So, he's being directly threatened.

The message is clear: "Get in line or we pay for your precious 'public option' by fucking you on health care benefits."

If Trumka suddenly starts singing the praises of triggers (even if they instantly "yo-yo" it back and insist he was misquoted), you'll know it worked.

[BrklynLiberal]

23. That is just so pathetic....after all the Trumka did for Obama....