I, like millions of other Americans, am still coming down from, the high that was, the inauguration. But, it is also a very nerve-wracking time for me, as I have been unable to find work for the past year, have been without insurance since last April, and have a baby due in July.
The job thing isn't a big deal, as I am able to scrape by doing odd jobs for cash, and my girlfriend has a job that covers the majority of our monthly expenses, and I have a few job prospects that look good.
I am not too worried about becoming a father, as well. Sure I have the same worries that all parents do, but, in the end, I am usually able to put those fears on the back burner.
I need health insurance.
Unfortunately, I, like millions of Americans, am unable to afford health insurance. Most of the time I don't worry about it, as I am relatively healthy. Sure I'll battle a cold every so often, or maybe get the flu, but that's usually the gist of it.
Until now.
This past Sunday, I noticed that something was wrong. Every time I coughed, I was having a sharp pain in my side, like someone was stabbing me in the kidney. I had gotten sick the night before, from imbibing to much of my favorite adult beverage, and attributed this pain to a pulled muscle from vomiting, and that over the next few days, the pain would subside. I was wrong. Yesterday, while drinking a soda, I tried to inhale some of it by accident, and the resulting coughing fit dropped me to the floor. It felt like someone had stabbed me, and was twisting the knife each time I coughed. I started to worry.
I know I should go see my doctor, but I am hesitant, because I simply cant afford it. We are just barely managing to get by as it is, and a bill for a doctor visit would cripple us financially. For a while anyway. My girlfriend thinks I should go in, and that I'm being stubborn, and she's right.
The sad thing is that I am not alone. There are millions of Americans in the same position. People who need to see a doctor, but won't, because they simply can't afford it.
We need to drastically overhaul the health care system in this country, and make it affordable for everyone.
This is the part where the "Now that President Obama is in office, and we have a majority in Congress..." rant would go, but...
I need to go see the doctor.