This isn't about me, but I'm going to use my situation to make a point.
I'm one of the lucky ones. I have a chronic disease, not life-threatening, but requiring treatment by medication, which I will take for the rest of my life. I have health insurance, and am blessed enough to be able to pay the difference between what is covered by that insurance versus what is charged by my specialist and the pharmacy. Along with all of that, I'm an RN and my son is a physician. As I said, I'm one of the lucky ones and yet, you wouldn't believe what I go through to receive that treatment and what I'm charged for it.
This is for you, nyceve, because you do such a wonderful job of bringing the healthcare situation in this country to light.
My chronic disease is so rare that I have to see a specialist capable of treating it. Just getting a diagnosis took several years. So, I make a five hour roundtrip drive to see the specialist and also see a physician locally, in case I have an emergency and cannot make it to the specialist. This takes alot of coordination between all parties.
It doesn't always go well and is often frustrating and expensive.
I had my appointment with the local physician not long ago. I have to see him so that he can legally treat me if I need him to. Ah, advantage physician! He was one hour late seeing me, spent 10 minutes chatting with me, and charged me $150, not covered by my insurance.
Now it's time to have my yearly appointment with the specialist, who I also keep in touch with by email and phone. Typically, I receive a notice from the university healthcare system as to what date and time this yearly appointment is. I didn't receive it, so being a compliant patient, I contacted my doctor's office about the situation. Oops! Someone dropped the ball and I can't be seen until December. Luckily for me, since I am doing what I'm told and staying in touch, my specialist can continue to prescribe my medication even though I won't see her within the required year.
I should note here, the medication I am on would cost me $12,000 a year retail if I didn't have health insurance. Even with insurance, it is quite costly.
Now I ask you, and the question is rhetorical, with all that I have going for me and I still have to slog my way through the healthcare maze and pay exorbitant prices for charges not covered by insurance, what in the world are those less fortunate doing?
They're going untreated, undiagnosed and right down a rat hole. This is a travesty beyond words in the wealthiest country in the world.
We have a moral responsibility to make sure that this time around we insist on Univeral Healthcare as a number one priority of our nominee for President.
One of the many reasons I support John Edwards to be that nominee is because Universal Healthcare is a number one priority for him, and he has a plan.
Families without insurance will get coverage at an affordable price.
Families with insurance will pay less and get more security and choices.
Businesses and other employers will find it cheaper and easier to insure their workers.
It is truly universal.
Requiring businesses and other employers to either cover their employees or help finance their health insurance.
Making insurance affordable by creating new tax credits, expanding Medicaid and SCHIP, reforming insurance laws, and taking innovative steps to contain health care costs.
Creating regional "Health Care Markets" to let every American share the bargaining power to purchase an affordable, high-quality health plan, increase choices among insurance plans, and cut costs for businesses offering insurance.
Once these steps have been taken, requiring all American residents to get insurance.
We need this plan, all of us. It is obscene that medication costs $12,000 a year. An office visit of 10 minutes costs $150, it's obscene! We can't afford to wait any longer, any of us. Our very lives depend on it!