Healthcare Crisis

Our healthcare system is in shambles. There are so many factors and reasons that they need to be dealt with one at a time. Fix one, wait for the leak, plug it, and when the dam threatens to burst, then take care of it. That's how it's being dealt with now. Only now, the government has decided to stick their noses in it. Yeah, that's gonna make it right.

Mandatory health coverage is an issue that is being bandied about. That will so not help any American. It's not a lack of coverage that is the problem. It's that the coverage that is available is horrible. It is super expensive and covers almost nothing. We had looked into private coverage because the coverage through hubby's job had skyrocketed leaving us with a higher premium to pay. We couldn't afford it. Even with the coverage that we have, it's still cheaper than going the private route. And why do we have copays? Aren't we already paying for it? Why do we need to copay? We don't give you enough money that a doctor visit is too much for you to pay?

I heard today that if you do take the government coverage, you are stuck with it for the rest of your life. You can no longer have employer offered or private insurance. That's like saying once you are on welfare, food stamps, and Medicaid, you can never get off those programs. Fine, I'll stay on the system the rest of my life, have my husband's Viagra covered, but not my birth control pills, and let the government and the rest of you poor slobs pay for my groceries and my housing. Sweet! That's a win-win for me. But what about the rest of the tax payers? Now you have to assume my portion, because I'm not allowed off the system and if I get a job, I'll make too much and they'll kick me off. Now I'm confused. Am I on it or not? Even the government doesn't know for sure.

Mandatory vaccinations was the other topic that makes me want to slap somebody. We have chosen to stop vaccinating our children. We have no faith in the FDA, the pharmaceutical companies that produce the vaccines, or the government that mandates their use. I would rather not subject my children any further to chemicals that I do not have to. These are created by man. As far as the government not linking vaccines to disorders like autism is another example of burying their heads in the sand. If wrong is admitted, the government would be inundated with lawsuits. They can't admit they are wrong because it would cost too much. And who would pay for that? The government, or rather us when they increase our taxes to pay for all the lawsuits. And though the doctors and pharm companies may say there is no longer mercury in the vaccines, do not believe them. Of course there is. They just tell you there isn't to make you happy. Check it out.

And why is the government talking to Big Pharm, the American Medical Association and insurance companies on ways to fix the problem? They are the ones that started the problem to begin with. Think about the high cost of medical school. MDs have to charge high prices to pay off their bills. Hospitals have to keep their "usual and customary" charges higher so that the insurance companies will pay them at higher rates. Check with someone that has recently been in the hospital. Look at what the hospital charged, and what the insurance company paid. HUGE diffference. And why? Why can the hospital not just charge the discounted rates? Because the insurance companies would only pay them a portion of the price. The higher the hospital charges, the more money they get from insurance.

And why does this have to be done so quickly? It sure didn't take 2 weeks to get in to this problem. It will take years to get out of this mess. Please do not fool yourselves that this Socialism take on government is going to be so much better. I don't have an answer, but there is a lot of eye opening that needs to happen. Time to think, discuss, and dissect the problem is what we need. Time to figure out the pieces and the right people to talk to.

I called one of our Senators today. There has been a flyer in the mail that said he was working to solve our health insurance crisis. It was actually distributed by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and the Healthcare Leadership Council. When I called, I was informed that they just used the Senators name and that he was in no way associated with either one of those entities. I said good. I then repeated all of the things that I have just written. Call your Senators and your Representatives. That's their job is to talk to you. You elected them. You decide if they keep their jobs. Let them know that their jobs are in jeopardy. We can control this issue just like any other. But you have to speak up. If you don't, you just let it happen. Don't let others control your health or your family. Think and act.