A while back, I published a diary with my idea on how to help victims of mass shootings and terrorist attacks. While I was unsuccessful, I am trying again after seeing a story in ThinkProgress about brothers who lost limbs in the Boston bombings.[http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/09/16/2625731/boston-bombing-victims-cash-checks/ Some of the commenters on my last diary suggested that any Massachusetts resident would be fine because between Romneycare and charitable contributions the victims should have all their expenses covered. Well, if the ThinkProgress story is accurate, while many victims are doing fine, these brothers are facing a difficult choice:
Paul and J.P. Norden, two brothers who lost legs when the second bomb went off, are both still struggling to recover. And they haven’t cashed their $1.2 million checks from the One Fund charity — a fund set up specifically to aid bombing victims — because they’re currently dependent on Massachusetts’ public health insurance program for the poor. Although the charity donations are tax free, once they claim them, they may not qualify for that type of state assistance anymore.
That wouldn’t be an issue if they could access health care through an employer, or if the funds were enough to cover all of their expected medical costs. But the Norden brothers’ recovery process has been slow, and they’re not sure when they will be able to work again. They also worry that the high cost of prosthetics will quickly eat up the $1.2 million sum, leaving them with nothing.
My idea remains unchanged and it's relatively simple. I would like Congress to negotiate with the Congressional health plan provider to insert a new type of claimable dependent, namely a special citizen dependent, into the plan to allow these victims access to health coverage in the same way a Congressional family member could gain coverage. This way these brothers, and other survivors in similar circumstances,
could have access to quality care and maximize their charitable donation dollars.
Some commenters on my previous diary said they'd prefer the country get universal health care, I do not disagree. I'd be more than happy for my proposed measure to become wholly unnecessary, but we do not live in a country of universal care and we have victims of horrific violence that need a real solution right now. If you agree, please click on the link below and sign my new petition. Thank you.
http://petitions.moveon.org/...
Fri Sep 20, 2013 at 6:53 PM PT: Only need 5 more signatures to go to a broader MoveOn audience. Please sign!!!!!!!!!!