My mom isn't a liberal in the slightest. During the Bush years, I argued with her constantly about the need to get out of Iraq, Bush's screwing over of veterans, and the evils of privatizing Social Security. Sometimes we've argued so badly that we would even stop speaking to each other for a few days. Despite all that, I probably owe her more than anything for my interest in politics. Nothing makes you dig your heels in and become an activist more than motivated opposition:).
So it's been a big (and welcome) surprise that my mom has become active in her support for universal health care. After dealing with the horrors of Blue Cross Blue Shield for years, she wants to be able to buy into a public option. She's convinced that the government can provide lower cost, higher quality care than the bastards that just raised her insurance premiums.
She recently wrote The White House and after doing so, I asked for her permission to post the following letter to Blogging For Michigan and Daily Kos. Here it is, in its entirety (name redacted and bold emphasis is mine):
Dear. President Obama,
I am writing to encourage you to keep the public option in the health care reform bill. I am becoming very discouraged when I hear that the health care reform may not carry the public option or that we may not have health care reform at all.
I just recently had to drop my health care because of costs. My husband has not had any income since June and I only make about $10000 a year, luckily I saved some money when I had a great paying job that can help see us through for the next year as long as nothing catastrophic happens.
We had BCBS and faithfully made the premium payments, every month, since in the middle of 2004 We made these payments to BCBS for insurance we couldn't even use because of all the high co-pays and deductibles. I have not been to see a doctor since 2005 because when the doctor wants to run a test, I have to pay for it myself. This year I was told that my anniversary date with BCBS would have a rate increase. I called and asked how much they said 5% I got the new bill and it was 10%. Recently MI approved a 22% increase for Blue Cross, so I called to see how much my premium was going up and was told the full 22%. SO in just a few months my premium was jumping about $100.00 per month. Since our income at this time is very small, I had to drop the insurance. I can make 6 house payments for the amount I was paying Blue Cross every year.
Last year my son had to go to the hospital for a few days. He has Aetna insurance through his employer. The hospital bill was approx. $24000.00. After Aetna reviewed the bill the cost came down to approx. $15000.00 . Aetna paid their share of $1600.00 and my son got bill for $13000.00 - his portion. When Aetna was questioned about the amount they paid vs the amount my son had to pay out of his pocket, they said they only pay for the hospital room! With this kind of help from the insurance company when you are sick, I have to ask why do we pay for health insurance at all. and why is that the insurance companies can get away with paying only a messily $1600 and the patient is stuck to pay $13000? Health insurance companies are the biggest legalized scams that have ever existed!
I know there are a lot of people out there worse off than myself that aren't writing to you. People need heath insurance that is going to cover them when they have to see a doctor or have a test done. We need to be able to afford the health insurance premiums we pay without having to decide which is more important, my house or my health, so I hope and pray that you get the health care reform bill with public option passed soon.
Thank you for your time,
DJ's mom