My wife, Alma, celebrates her 60th birthday tomorrow. I use the word “celebrates” loosely. Last fall she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of the bone marrow. She has been undergoing aggressive treatment since the diagnosis and the disease is now in remission.
There is a treatment involving the extraction, freezing and re-implanting her own stem cells and massive chemotherapy available which could prolong her life for an unknown number of years. The only problem is that it costs nearly a quarter of a million dollars. We’re hoping the new insurance I have through my work place will cover it, but we’re just not sure that it will. She lost her insurance through her former job when her grace period to return to work ran out. She cannot go back to work, probably ever. Fortunately, she does have disability insurance, and we’re trying to get her on Social Security disability so we can get her Medicaid or Medicare benefits.
Since she’s in remission, the doctors want her to go to Seattle ASAP for the transplant/chemo treatment. When she called the new insurance company, she was told, rather coldly, that there is a one-year waiting period – no exceptions. It doesn’t matter if it’s a matter of life or death; no exceptions. And never mind that they might be breaking HIPPA laws, because there was no interruption of coverage between her former insurance coverage and the current coverage. No exceptions!
I know there are those of the conservative bent who vehemently oppose any kind of national health plan, or as they would call it, “socialized medicine.” Most of the other developed countries in the west have national health coverage, but not the good ol’ USA. It might raise taxes a little so we can’t afford the fancy new RV, boat or summer home we’ve just got to have. We can spend billions and billions of dollars fighting an unwinnable war in Iraq, but we can’t afford a national health plan?
I served four years in the U. S. Navy during the Vietnam fiasco. The current state of affairs in this country – the neoconservatism and the “screw you, I’ve got mine, to hell with you” attitude that so many people have adopted here make me wonder why I didn’t run off to Canada back then. At least the Canadians have a national health plan.
There is a treatment involving the extraction, freezing and re-implanting her own stem cells and massive chemotherapy available which could prolong her life for an unknown number of years. The only problem is that it costs nearly a quarter of a million dollars. We’re hoping the new insurance I have through my work place will cover it, but we’re just not sure that it will. She lost her insurance through her former job when her grace period to return to work ran out. She cannot go back to work, probably ever. Fortunately, she does have disability insurance, and we’re trying to get her on Social Security disability so we can get her Medicaid or Medicare benefits.
Since she’s in remission, the doctors want her to go to Seattle ASAP for the transplant/chemo treatment. When she called the new insurance company, she was told, rather coldly, that there is a one-year waiting period – no exceptions. It doesn’t matter if it’s a matter of life or death; no exceptions. And never mind that they might be breaking HIPPA laws, because there was no interruption of coverage between her former insurance coverage and the current coverage. No exceptions!
I know there are those of the conservative bent who vehemently oppose any kind of national health plan, or as they would call it, “socialized medicine.” Most of the other developed countries in the west have national health coverage, but not the good ol’ USA. It might raise taxes a little so we can’t afford the fancy new RV, boat or summer home we’ve just got to have. We can spend billions and billions of dollars fighting an unwinnable war in Iraq, but we can’t afford a national health plan?
I served four years in the U. S. Navy during the Vietnam fiasco. The current state of affairs in this country – the neoconservatism and the “screw you, I’ve got mine, to hell with you” attitude that so many people have adopted here make me wonder why I didn’t run off to Canada back then. At least the Canadians have a national health plan.
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Re: We Need a National Health Plan
Sun, April 22, 2007 - 2:11 AMSorry to hear about your struggles, Frank. It breaks my heart...it really does.
And what if we DID have a war and nobody came? You hit the nail on the head...that IS where the bulk of our spending lies.
Think of what we could do with all that money if we spent it on healthcare, affordable housing and education....
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Re: We Need a National Health Plan
Wed, May 16, 2007 - 8:37 AMYou really have a burden to bear. I can only hope and pray somethng good comes your way to help you and your wife, and that you have the strength to bear up.
Yes, we need a National Health Care Plan. I believe Mrs. Clinton spent a year trying to organize something and couldn't.
I am old enough to remember when doctors came to your home, you didn't sit in an office with other possibly infectious persons. Now all medical everything is so expensive. I have a single cousin who was bankrupted by medical bills, had to sell her home and go through all her inheritance which was suppose to last a lifetime. That scared the heck out of me.
Due to increased medical costs out health insurance has doubled for half the benefits. Makes me dread the future if anything serious would ever happen.
...and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and not learn war any more. As a Christian I hope I am alive to see that happen, but not likely in my earthly life.Today it is, Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who didn't.
