Technology

I continue to be amazed at how President-Elect Obama uses the technology available. His team is very clever. Back in the campaign days... I got such a kick out of him putting his Early voting message in video games!! Who would have thought of that?

Well, it appears as if he's going to make very good use of the internet during his presidency. He has launched a healthcare page by which he is allowing people to comment on what they think of the healthcare system and generate a discussion as how best to fix it.
http://change.gov/page/content/discusshealthcare

I love the idea of a president who is interactive. That he keeps all Americans involved.
With the radio address, I've heard bits and pieces on the news over the years and now PE Obama is video taping them and putting them on the net for mostly all to see. How refreshing.

I need to vent!!

Healthcare is one cause that is near and dear to my heart. I believe that everyone should have it. And, I think there is a way that gov't can help provide it without "being in control" of your healthcare. Many countries have various versions of universal health care. When you have an entity that is as large as the government, it can cut costs by bulk buying.

My company is great to work for. However, they struggle just like every other company. Every year they scout out the best deal for health insurance. This means they will switch to a whole new company if they have to. My first year here, we had United HealthCare and my Primary doctor didn't take it. It was okay because I am healthy and will go for a physical or cold every once and awhile. But then I got pregnant. And that changed everything. The next year we switched to Blue cross, blue shield.. which worked out wonderfully. It covered all maternity visits and I only had to pay $250 for my hospitalization when I had my beautiful son. And we were able to get my son into the office where our PCP is because they take BCBS, and I'd like to keep the doctor who knows my son and has seen him his entire life. For two years we've had this insurance.

Well, it's the end of the year and the shopping begins again. The cost of our policy is going up 10% and the owners don't want to absorb those costs. So, they are thinking of going to a HSA with a high deductible health insurance. Now, to be honest, I don't know all that much about it... But what I do know is that it works out well if you never go to the doctor, which really defeats the purpose. Most companies are going to start leaning this way, I'm told. So, you have a savings acct and your payments will come out of there. Naturally at the beginning of the year, you better hope nothing happens, because you haven't put anything into your acct yet.

This makes me angry. What if your a person who takes good care of yourself, but you have an "accident", fall and break your leg or something? Or what if you simply have a larger sized family? And in my case, if I want to have another child... it will be very costly as I likely will have to have a Csection. So, where is the justice in that? Anyone with kids knows that unpredictable things happen. No one should have to worry about providing for their family or not getting the care they need to restore their health.

So, yeah.. .Universal Healthcare is looking pretty good. Heck, I pay a huge premium right now out of my check... and I don't mind because at least I know that all I am responsible for is a copay here and there. I don't want FREE health insurance, I want AFFORDABLE health insurance.

All that nonsense about how you don't get to pick your doctor.... Well... if most people have a govt plan, doctors will take it. Waiting a long time to have a surgery? Ask most people from Canada or other countries, it's simply not true.

So... I will be waiting to see what President Obama can come up with. I'll be hoping that someday, my children won't be forced with a tough decision of trying to figure out how to get affordable health insurance.

Providing Health Care is "Pro-Life"

This article says it all. How come Pro-life is used only in terms of "abortion rights". Why can't we be that passionate about the people that are already living?

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/catholicamerica/2008/10/catholicism_and_health_care.html