One of the features I like best on Facebook are the alerts that show up on your homepage that gives you updates on your friends. One of my friends changed his "interests" to "not waiting in line for health care". He added it right before the PA primaries and reading it got my wheels turning.
This week I got sick and needed antibiotics. Six months ago this wouldn't have been a big deal. But now that I am working for myself I don't have health insurance that will cover it. I have what they call a catastrophic policy. Translation: I pay $100 per month just in case I get struck my lightening - in which case I pay the first $5000 of my hospital bills and the insurance pays the rest. Supposedly. Lucky for me I have a friend who has the means to obtain prescriptions but I'm buying antibiotics on the black market because COBRA would cost me $350/month to give me coverage.
This made be think about my friend's statement about "not waiting in line for health care". I am a liberal. I think he is a Neal Bortz (I forgot what they are called). Anyway. I agree with him. I don't want to wait in line for health care. But the system in hypocritical. This country hangs its hat on the "American Dream" - making your own wealth - achieving success. However, when someone tries to take that leap it is nearly impossible to insure yourself. I have to chose: drive a car or have health insurance? How are you supposed to live your dreams when you are tethered to an antiquated system that controls you by fear? Fear of getting sick, injured, maimed.
It sucks. The whole insurance business is based on fear or getting sick - getting in a wreck - dying and leaving your family in debt. They capitalize on fear and they know people will pay what it takes.
I'm not saying socialized medicine is that way to go. I have an uncle in Ireland who has been waiting a decade for heart surgery - but something has to be done. Affordable health care HAS to be available. It just has to.
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