Before you begin second guessing what I’m about to say, let me state a couple of points:
1. I live in New York State. Hillary Clinton is my senator.
2. I am a registered republican.
3. I was divorced many many years ago from a man who was brilliant, like Bill Clinton, and addicted to alcohol as Bill Clinton is/was addicted to having liaisons — and I wholeheartedly disagreed with Hillary’s decision to stay with her husband after he humiliated her the way he did. Just my opinion, but certainly based on a parallel experience.
4. I am a business owner and a firm believer in making the world go round based on capitalism. I’m all for a profit-driven economic base.
So — now you have some idea of my political, business and personal leanings….
…. and I still say, God Bless Hillary Clinton for giving national health coverage a shot, and adding enough details that it has more substance than lip service. While I don’t know enough about it to tell you she’s now got my vote (I don’t know enough about ANY candidate to have made a decision yet), I do say she has chalked up plenty of bravery, chutzpah and attagirl points to deserve a positive mention on this blog.
I know all that seems quite disconnected, doesn’t it? Who would guess that the same woman — me — described in #1-4 would make such a statement?
Here’s my perspective:
I have stated before that I think it’s important that everyone in this country have access to healthcare. Those who are uninsured or underinsured don’t currently have access that is helpful to them.
I have also stated that I think the solution lies somewhere between that gawdforsaken label “universal” healthcare (representing a solution that is entirely government/public based) and the dysfunctional private-based system we have now.
And that’s what Hillary has suggested: a format for healthcare coverage that provides coverage for everyone, and only involves the government when necessary.
Is it perfect? I can’t imagine it possibly could be. But it’s a starting point.
Will it be expensive, and cost us more than it does now? We don’t know, but yes, it probably will be.
But — at least she has a well-thought-out plan, with enough details that it can be reviewed and analyzed. Hillary’s clearly ready to take on the health insurance companies that will do their d*mndest to make sure she fails. She moved off the mark and stuck her neck out.
Hillary has more cajones than any of her male talk-around-the-subject-and-pretend-you-have-a-clue co-runners.
And you know what? I’m willing and ready to learn more. HOWEVER — and I can’t state this emphatically enough — I WILL ONLY conduct the conversation with anyone who has suffered a major health challenge. Sorry — but those of you who think you have great coverage, and don’t understand the huge holes in the system because it’s never been tested by yourself or a family member who was really sick, or really hurt — your opinions don’t count. Nope. Because you’re living in a healthcare cost bubble that exists only in your mind.
But for those of you who have had a major health challenge, and know what it’s like to have to fight not just the health problems but the financial problems, too — bring it on. I would love to hear what you have to say…. I’m as open minded as anyone who’s been burned by the current system could be.
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I just wanted to say that I really respect the article/blog your wrote. I have chronic illness/disease as do many of my family member and some of my children. I also have children without medical insurance because of their age and their employment does not provide it for them. They go to school and have to pay for it so it’s too much to also pay for medical. I have private insurance and Medicare and still struggle with medical bills and coverage. they fight over what is covered and what they will pay. So when I read Hillary’s outline of medical, I did feel some hope, even if it cost, it means my kids will all be covered, it means that some of my conditions can continued to be treated without interruption, it means the potential of a much normal life for me, my loved one’s and others like me. I just wanted to share.
Hey Trish,
Its good to hear your story, people should be reminded that doctors aren’t always right. I might be able to offer you a new insight as to why someone with a chronic health condition might oppose universal coverage in the current state of affairs.
I had all the best coverage and I went MISdiagnosed for about 11 years. In that time, I had been offered at least a dozen prescription medications, two surgeries, and everything they could possibly want to sell. I went along with it for a few years but the consequences of the treatments were to ultimately weaken my body and make it more susceptible to the disease.
Well it turns out no doctor would ever diagnose the condition correctly – my girlfriend, the art teacher, figured it out first. After eleven years of progressive decline and essentially missing out on high school and college, I started getting better within days of dietary modification and without a single drug.
What health insurance did I have to pay for all this wasted medicine? The family coverage they give to federal employees, some of the “best” you can get.
Now Hillary and Obama and Edwards, and probably even Romney and Thompson and Giuliani – want to simply fork over to these insurance companies some $110 – $150 billion dollars a year? Call me a skeptic…
I have never been so healthy as since I stopped going to the doctor and started focusing on the basics like diet and exercise and keeping track of what different food makes me feel like. The World Health Organization even says this disease is so common it should be screened for in every patient, yet America has undiagnosed or misdiagnosed 97% of the statistically expected Celiac’s. For the 3% who do eventually get a diagnosis or self-diagnosis, the average time is 11 years – exactly the time from my first trip to the doctor complaining of mysterious symptoms until the time I started getting better.
Whats the killer? Wheat – Another one of those industries the government spends billions of dollars on.
I found this site from CNN tonight and read through a few of your posts. I work in a hospital as a lab tech involved in outreach. Our insurance through the hospital has changed and is one of the worst in our area and my husband’s is somewhat better.
Hillary does have a plan, however, when people say that they don’t want government involvement, what do they think Medicare is? Since 1998 most of what we do for billing and coding is based on medicare and compliance. Wouldn’t you say that there is already government involvement? I think there is a middle ground including insurance companies, but I would like to see everyone have the same coverage with a co-pay for every visit. There are people who abuse the system when it’s free and there should be immediate out of pocket expense.
It would be fascinating to find out the type of health coverage offered by the firms who include lawyers involved in lobbying for Health insurance companies. It’s all about the money, have you read Money-Driven Medicine: The Real Reason Health Care Costs So Much
by Maggie Mahar (Author) ? I wish more would learn about what drives our health system.
Glad I found this site, will put it on my Google reader.