I just wanted to share a little bit about my experience with government programs. I worked as a dietitian for the WIC program (Women, Infants, and Children) for quite some time. This program provides food to Pregnant/Breastfeeding women, Infants, Children who meet the criteria. Have to have a financial and nutrition need. I saw the affect this program had on women who were truly grateful for it. Sure, there were some people who didn't really appreciate it, and it's not perfect. Not too many program that are not-for-profit are. We were frequently short staffed and people had to wait.
My son is getting speech therapy, and occupational therapy. He was born 1 month premature and has a small problem with muscle development that is causing him trouble to speak. He's been at it for 6 weeks now and it has worked wonders! I can actually have a conversation with him. If it weren't for the Early Intervention program in NYS, I don't know what would have happened. I surely can't afford it on my own.
And while, I am benefitting from all of your precious tax dollars... I never begrudged anyone that did before I used them. I was so thankful that women had access to WIC. That there is Medicaid, Food Stamps, Social Security.
I think we need to remember that nobody is perfect and everyone will need help some time in their life... and that is what being a country is all about isn't it. Isn't that more patriotic than flying a stupid flag outside your home? Picking up the weakest to become the strongest.
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here is a great take from one gal who has major medical issues with one of her kiddies and her ideas about Obama's health reform
http://pipsylou.blogspot.com/2009/08/socialized-medicine-primer.html
Thanks for the link, but I take issue with quite a few of the things she is saying.
First of all, the Canadian and UK system are not awful. I have friends in those countries who wouldn't trade for our system for anything. Not every thing needs to be done tomorrow, but if something is immediate, it gets done.
Secondly, No where has Obama said that people will be able to get the Govt option for free. He said it will be competitive. You still have to pay for it. And don't let private insurance companies fool you. They say that they will lose business, but they will gain business because they will gain new customers.
Also, young people. Let's talk about this. How in the world could they afford health insurance if they get a job that doesn't provide it with student loans etc? I chose to go without insurance for a couple of years in my 20's for that reason. Yes, I took a gamble, but I had to pay my tuition, rent, bills etc. My crummy part time jobs didn't provide health insurance. The gov't option would have benefitted me.
And that's why Obama was for the mandate so that people would have to be covered instead of depending on the ER and racking up costs at our expense. For illegal aliens? Well, Obama has said that his plan does not cover them...
COBRA is a joke. When you leave your job, you are eligible for it... $1000/month is what it would have costed me when I was eligible. I'd have gladly taken a govt plan then too.
I sure wish everyone who says they are opposed to healthcare reform would try and have a rational conversation about it instead of using fear and actual violence (as seen yesterday in Tampa) to get their point across. I'm all for trying to understand another point of view, but I stop listening when there are no other ideas and no wish from the other side to come up with a solution that benefits everyone. Where are the other ideas that supposedly exist? All I ever hear is NO and "don't let government take over my Medicare!" I'm sorry, but if you don't realize that Medicare is run by the government, you don't deserve it.
I just wish more people would use their brains and think for themselves, rather than repeating all the stuff they get in an e-mail or see on Fox News. And I wish the media would actually do reporting. You know, get the facts and give us the pros and cons of any reform plan. Instead it's all about politics. Well, my medical bills are not political, and I see no politician trying to help me when I can no longer afford them. And I have pretty darn good insurance.
All you have to do is follow the money. Any information you hear, figure out who financed the ad or which PAC is sending out the e-mail. If any healthcare organization is involved, you know they are trying to keep the status quo, they don't care about the average citizen's health. Just the $$$.
I'm extremely grateful for government programs like SCHIP that provide health insurance to my students who have no medical insurance. Without it, these kids, through no fault of their own, would not get the preventive care they need, such as vaccinations and well-child check-ups that are so important.
I was without health insurance for a time in my 20's, too. Wouldn't want to go through that again. One of the reasons I went into my current profession was health insurance for my family.
And you're right about COBRA. Who, after losing their job, can afford to keep it? Something has to be done, and it needs to include the public option. It's time to make affordable care available to all Americans.
Great post, and great discussion!
Oh yeah canada has such a "great" system, not what insiders are saying!
http://www.google.com/
hostednews/canadianpress/
article/
ALeqM5jbjzPEY0Y3bvRD335rGu_Z3KXoQw
Everyone will find something to complain about, but at least they all have coverage.
I have family in Australia and they are soooo thankful for their health care coverage which works on a tiered system.
It's not just about the 47 million uninsured Patrick, it's also about the tens of million of under-insured in America.
People, like myself, whose family pays high monthly premiums, have high deductibles and the insurance company looks for any excuses valid or not to deny the claims.
They take our $1,000/month and then balk at paying for my daughter's vaccinations...WTF?
I'm tired of trying to work with a health care system that is just trying to make a buck and doesn't care if I live or die.
MG-
Its what they are complaining about that scares many!
MG let me ask you how many of those 47 million uninsured are legal tax paying residents of this country? How many of them choose to not participate in their employers health insurance plan?
you think about it, UPS and FedEx are doing just fine, right? No, they are. It's the Post Office that's always having problems. So if the Government runs the USPS why would you want them running your health care if even Obama says they cant get that one right?
That's just it though. People who have the money to afford FedEx or UPS think of the post office as substandard and view it as not being run properly. At least they have a choice.
There are some people that can't afford to use FedEX or UPS so they use the post office. They probably don't complain about it because they're able to get their mail delivered for free and send out mail at a lower cost.
Just like healthcare, while more people would stick with private and feel that private insurance is superior... at least they would have a choice. For those that have no health insurance or have to pay ALOT of money b/c of an existing condition, would probably be okay with the government version.
I for one, have no complaints about the US Post office. Sometimes it's quicker to mail things there than to use Fedex or UPS.
JEN, you do know that it was Obama that said the USPS was not running properly, right?
So if this one government agency is crappy do you really think if they (government) gets involved in health care it will be any better? Just look at the Vets, and Elderly.
Also you do know that most folks in Canada have private insurance on top of what the government gives them cause the government plan SUCK!
I agree health care needs reform, just look at the elderly as an example, or perhaps the pharmaceutical portion.
What scares me is that while you are saying I would have a choice to keep my private insurance if I am happy with it there will come a point and time where I will no longer be allowed that option under Obamas plan...that is scary!
Also as a side note I would love to see all state and government employees forced into the public pool of health insurance. I mean if its good enough for you Jen and the rest of the public it should be good enough for them...no special perks for Nancy and family or Obama and family!
To be fair, he didn't say it wasn't running right. He said it was the USPS that people complain about. Everything has it's share of problems, but overall the post office works. Do you get your mail delivered to you?
I agree that Congress should have to have the same healthcare as us. Maybe then, they would get off their asses and see how horrible it truly is. As far as Pres Obama goes, he said he would participate in the plan, but currently since he's president he gets his own doctor to follow him around... as it probably should be considering he is the leader of the country.
And please tell me where in Obama's plan it says that you are going to have to give up your insurance.... it has been maintained from the beginning that if you like your plan you get to keep it.
As far as Pres Obama goes, he said he would participate in the plan, but currently since he's president he gets his own doctor to follow him around... as it probably should be considering he is the leader of the country.
Kinda like he supports public schools but his kids dont attend them
And please tell me where in Obama's plan it says that you are going to have to give up your insurance.... it has been maintained from the beginning that if you like your plan you get to keep it.
• Page 16: States that if you have insurance at the time of the bill becoming law and change, you will be required to take a similar plan. If that is not available, you will be required to take the gov option!•
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&
docid=f:h3200ih.txt.pdf
************
"There's been a lot of misinformation," Obama said, complaining about people who are "bearing false witness."
He said the first thing he wanted to correct was the idea that the proposed overhaul would force some people into different health care plans. "If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan," he said, repeating one of his stock lines.
That's not true, however, according to FactCheck.
http://factcheck.org/2009/08/keep-your-insurance-not-everyone/
Patrick,
I'm sure many Canadians complain about their healthcare...but at least they have it.
You complain about our USPS service, but you still get it six days a week.
As far as people who choose not to participate in their employees health care...I've got no idea. But I bet their aren't many who deny a lower cost insurance plan.
If you're so happy with your health insurance plan, then keep it and turn down Medicare when you turn 65/67...and their prescription plan.
As far as illegal immigrants getting health care, if you're not going to take the time to deport them, then if they manage to get healthcare, good for them. I don't see how it would be possible without a job, however.
Anyone can walk into a hospital and see a doctor, but it's their inability to pay the padded bill when it comes two weeks later that keeps many of them from seeking medical attention.
Do you want your children going to school with an illegal immigrant who couldn't afford to get their children vaccinated? Or their parents can't afford to take time off when their kids are sick, so they send them to school anyway.
Do you want your children going to school with an illegal immigrant who couldn't afford to get their children vaccinated? Or their parents can't afford to take time off when their kids are sick, so they send them to school anyway.
My kids already attend schools with sick kids and kids without inoculations. Inoculations are optional in our state (religious & health reasons). As to sick kids in school I am sure that it is no different from adults going to work when sick.
I'm sure many Canadians complain about their healthcare...but at least they have it
What good is healthcare if you can not get the care or treatment you need? Also many canadians also carry private insurance on top of the government plan, why? Cause the government plan is SHIT!
What good is healthcare if you can not get the care or treatment you need?
BINGO!!!!
Cause the government plan is SHIT!
Don't hear too many complaints about Medicare/Medicaid.
that is right Jen "BINGO"" the Canadian system sucks hence the people take out private insurance on top of what they already pay for so they can get treatment(s).
Don't hear too many complaints about Medicare/Medicaid.
Once again people have secondary insurance to supplement these programs cause these programs do not cover things 100%. Also lets look at all the corruption/ fraud involved with these programs that end up costing the tax payers millions if not billions each year.
Also there are many things tucked away in the 1500 pages of this health bill that as a citizen of this country scare me...here is an example.
Section 431(a) of the bill says that the IRS must divulge taxpayer identity information, including the filing status, the modified adjusted gross income, the number of dependents, and "other information as is prescribed by" regulation. That information will be provided to the new Health Choices Commissioner and state health programs and used to determine who qualifies for "affordability credits."
Section 245(b)(2)(A) says the IRS must divulge tax return details -- there's no specified limit on what's available or unavailable -- to the Health Choices Commissioner. The purpose, again, is to verify "affordability credits."
Section 1801(a) says that the Social Security Administration can obtain tax return data on anyone who may be eligible for a "low-income prescription drug subsidy" but has not applied for it.
Over at the Institute for Policy Innovation (a free-market think tank and presumably no fan of Obamacare), Tom Giovanetti argues that: "How many thousands of federal employees will have access to your records? The privacy of your health records will be only as good as the most nosy, most dishonest and most malcontented federal employee.... So say good-bye to privacy from the federal government. It was fun while it lasted for 233 years."
http://www.cbsnews.com/
blogs/2009/08/26/
taking_liberties/
entry5268079.shtml
After this I am really done going round and round.
I meant BINGO, because there are plenty of INSURED individuals in THIS country that has so-called healthcare and are denied care they need in order for CEO's to reap in big profits. That's just unexcusable and inhumane.
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