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HEALTHCARE FOR ALL SHOULD BE A RIGHT GUARANTEED IN THE CONSTITUTION... As an RN of 20 years,if it was up to me...and I think Florence Nightingale would agree...and in all my years of Nursing it is the thing that breaks my heart as much as when Reagon pretended that we did not have an AIDS crisis,pretended millions were not sick or at risk. This is just another such Crisis. But after Katrina I think we all know that MUCH of our Infrastructure is Broken, Healthcare is One More Broken Piece.
( We can just add it to the List it actually fits with Financial Hardship of Lost Homes and Bankruptcy, Crumbled VET care,and even homelessness).
50 Million Americans WITHOUT Healthcare, that is a HUGE Number. It would be like if a Whole Country had NO CARE, like the size of Canada. This means that there are 50 Million not just without Insurance, but without Healthcare. AT ALL. It means when they are sick for the most part they don't go to the Doctor, they ride it out or pray it goes away or they use Over The Counter Remedies. It also means that many of these people may well have diseases, conditions and illnesses that are not getting any kind of Care or Treatment. It also means that there are millions not even getting basic care or monitoring or any preventative care. NONE.
It means that Sometimes that people do end up in the ER, but it is the place of LAST resort. It is the not the First or Best Option, it is quite simply the ONLY Option. Many of those that are ending up in the ER, it is not that they are poor, or lazy or "irresponsible" ( as Hillary has said in her Road Tour Speechs). People , especially the Middle Class and the Working Poor have No Where else to go. Many Clinics Require Payment or Credit or Insurance. Many People can not get Insurance either it is VERY Expensive or MANY, and that Means Millions ARE DENIED COVERAGE FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS OR HEALTH HISTORY OR EVEN FAMILY HISTORY.
WHO CAN AND IS DENIED INSURANCE AND HEALTHCARE, OR HAVING IT CANCELLED AFTER PURCHASING IT ?
Many People with the Following disorders and Diseases:
Asthma,Autism, ADD&ADHD, Depression,PTSD, Diabetes, Obesity,Cancer Survivors,Thyroid Disorders,Cardiac Disease.
And this includes Family History. There are other States that are Denying or Cancelling Care based on Credit Scores.The other phenomena that is occurring is that People apply , they pay their first three monthes coverage, and THEN they get a letter that they are cancelled due to one of the Conditions mentioned above or due to Discovery of One of the Above.
People are literally DYING from Lack of Care, NO ONE is actually tracking the hard number, but the estimates are staggering. One study placed it at 10,000 / month. Another issue that has not gotten any focus , is that many of the VETS that have returned , if they are in the Guard, they are ONLY given care or coverage for TWO years- that is it. That is WHY there are so many Homeless Uninsured Vets with PTSD on the Streets. That is why we should be very concerned that over 300,000 are estimated to have Mental Health Issues, Brain Trauma, and PTSD. That is Hundreds of Thousands Vulnerable and how many thousands without care....and their Families struggling to get them care, daily.
Another Issue that gets NO media Mention is that People are Overcharged, and Under Care for that do have insurance. They pay their premiums and copays Hundreds of Dollars a month, but the insurance still ONLY pays what they want to pay and that means that people are getting only so much care paid for ( they are being Walmarted by their OWN insurance...discounted...but not getting ALL the care they need or having ALL of it reimbursed). This means that they pay What they can , their insurance being up to 10% or more of their income, Thousands per years, and they then must find more money. Many people during this crisis the last 10 years declared bankruptcy or refinanced Homes BECAUSE OF HEALTHCARE CRISISES CREATED BY THE INSURANCE LIMITING WHAT IT WOULD PAY FOR CARE. WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT HAS THIS CRISIS.
PEOPLE ARE LOSING HEALTH, HEALTH CARE AND THEIR HOMES ALL AT THE SAME TIME. AND THE GOVERNMENT AND THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE COMPLICIT. HILLARY'S PLAN WOULD AND DOES NOTHING TO LIMIT OR STOP THIS PROBLEM. SHE THINKS THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE THAT WE PAY UP TO 10% OF OUR INCOME, AND THAT WOULD NOT CHANGE. SHE ALSO HAS SAID NOTHING ABOUT PEOPLE BEING UNDERCARED FOR OR OVERCHARGED OR THE PREEXSITING CONDITIONS AND DENIAL.
It is unfortunate that one of the Big Lies she told about the poor woman in Ohio was about such a HUGE issue that needs focus. Instead of being dramatic and making up the story she should have just talked to the crowd and asked for their stories , there are thousands of horror stories.
Most people if you ask them WHAT is their Biggest Expense per month after mortgage/rent, and many with insurance will tell you that Food and Healthcare Costs are tied at this point. Many will also tell you that there are many times they do not eat as well because they have meds to buy. It is like a Horror Story that you hear of a Slavic Country back in the 1970's. How many of us have seen old women buying cat food, knowing damn well they don't have a cat. I have.We are the only Country in the World that the MEDs cost MORE than Food.People should never have to choose.
Hillary wants Mandatory Insurance, like Cars Being Insured. It is NOT that simple , and she never mentions ANY kind of Regulating or Control of the Greedy Insurance Companies. She wants to cut deals with them. THIS is the Same Wall and Hellfire that caused the Failure the first time back in the Nineties, she turned it into a Competitive Bidding Bloodfest and we all lost (and she did it behind closed doors with limited participation, and it turned to chaos).
Obama's Plan is stronger,and he has promised to have Public Accountability and to have Hearing on cspan to watch the Process. He also has told of his mother's story and watching her die from Ovarian Cancer, and Fight the Cancer WHILE fighting Insurance Companies....For Obama this Issue is REAL and personal. He KNOWS what Millions are going through every day.His Plan is For Universal Healthcare FOR ALL. Even people that have been Cancelled and Denied. He also would Regulate the Companies and make sure those Horrible Practices ceased. ( Hill's would not). He also has said that ALL Fees and Rates would be reviewed because we are paying too much. ( Hill has said in speechs - and I have watched many- that Rates would be capped- but if they are too high already- that does NO ONE any good- it is too late). Obama has made no promises to Pharmacy or Insurance Companies. Obama's Plan addresses Problems on all levels, and admits that we all are Paying too much for too little, he talks that it needs an overhaul. I would rather have someone that recognizes HOW broken it is be honest and willing to fix all of it. "Caps" is not enough. Please do look at Obama 's Plan in his website, and read it ( it is very similiar to John Edwards plan).
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My personal Epilogue. I am an RN Without Health Insurance. I work really hard at attempting to be healthy and take of myself. I don't smoke, and I am not obese.I don't drink alcohol. I don't eat alot of salt, fat and sugar. I buy organic when I can. But after searching high and low, and being turned down by 14 companies. ( Because if you work partime and perdiem you have to buy an individual policy). I found a company, and within 4 monthe and after paying thousands of dollars, I was cancelled due to a Cardiac History and History of Cancer in my family. This is wrong...I am being denied care for two things totally beyond my control. And I will probally die younger because I am not being monitored for the two Risks that I do have.
So this year, I had to go to the ER, for the first time in many years, because I had a bad fall and smashed my illiac crest and hip.Within hours it was a bruise larger than a football, and the pain was like childbirth. I was treated terrible at the ER , like I was Invisible. I would think it was because I had No Insurance, but all the people around me also were treated as poorly, so I ended up taking care of 3 patients near me, hobbling about.It took many hours to get any care, and the care I got was less than adequate, and yet I know that it will be a bill for thousands. I dread it daily.And the Hip still has not healed, but there is nothing I can do.Nothing.
I am a nurse, I should not have such a story.....and there are Millions like me. 50 Million.
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**{{ If you need more details and info- please see my Other Previous Health Care Post up in case people need more Information about the Plans, and was originally posted 2.1.08 , and last posted 2.21.08. The Song linked to the title:" Not Ready to make Nice" by the Dixie Chicks}}**
Really wonderful interview with Michelle Obama by Suzanne Malveaux. Caroline Kennedy also sits in for part of the Interview as well. Michelle's brother is also interviewed. Excellent Interview. She handles the questions with grace and warmth...all class. She will be a wonderful First Lady. 
