This is a page I included for when I've been thinking about important topics with regional or national, or even world impact. Maybe we'll get some civil communication going.
As I watch and listen to comments, arguments, and inflammatory statements, these are my thoughts on health care reform.
“Death Panel” My father lived ten days of absolute torture because his physician, knowing full well that the cardiologist had told my dad that he was at the end of the line, intubated him in the midst of his final heart attack, effectively sentencing him to more time of an existence that was not life. He had no advance directive giving my mother or any other person the right to refuse treatment. My mother had an advance directive and I used it to make her last two days comfortable. I have an advance directive, a durable power of attorney for health decisions, and think anyone would appreciate information on options for end of life decisions….advance directives, hospice, notifications, etc. That’s what is in the House bill. Nothing but information, no decisions by anyone other than the patient. My granddaughter with Down Syndrome would be as safe as any of my other grandchildren. And I am a senior citizen who will appreciate the counseling.
“Bureaucrat between me and my doctor”. Next month, I will reduce my health insurance bill from $405 per month for hospitalization, prescription drug, dental, and health care to $235 per month. I will have government health care. Known as Medicare, my plan provides for the same doctor, same insurance company, with basically the same coverage except for the dental plan. My husband made this change about a year and a half ago. He’s been happy with Medicare, as have most of our friends who have been covered for many years. Folks, it’s security. And it’s government health care.
My family tends to be self-employed. That means that we either have to be married to someone with a group plan, or try to provide coverage ourselves. One of my brothers has almost never had health insurance. Bands usually don’t.
Another brother and his wife have their own business. Brian developed a heart condition at 42. His premiums are over $2,000 per month for himself, his wife, his two sons, and one employee.
My sister lost her job a few months ago when her nursing home was bought out. She applied for COBRA coverage, but was told that when the new owners took over, they cancelled employee coverage and were not required to provide that extended coverage – even if she paid the premiums. The policy was just no longer in existence.
I have had coverage because my husband worked at Hawker.
It seems to me that the best plan would be to gradually expand Medicare coverage to everyone. What would it cost? Less than we are paying now. And why is that? PROFIT!!! Insurance companies have the same expenses that the government has, with much higher “administration” costs. The extra is paid to the shareholders. Great, if you own that company’s stock; not too great if you’re paying the higher premiums.
And why didn’t Congress mandate standardized forms and records years ago? (Lower costs and improve accuracy) And ban prescription drug commercials? (Decrease the cost of our prescriptions!) And allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices? (Also getting those prices down)
We keep hearing about increased national debt. According to the United States General Accounting Office (GAO) estimate published in 2007, the Iraq War cost $407 billion in the first five years. I’d rather have an improved health care system than a war any day.
We are the only industrialized nation in the world without guaranteed health insurance. We have the most expensive health care in the world, well, the second most expensive. The Marshall Islands have higher costs – barely. And theirs are going down, while ours are increasing. We rank 37th in mortality. 24th in life expectancy. 72nd in Health System Attainment and Performance. We need to do better.
That’s what I think.