I was about to say I try to stay out of politics, but the truth is I’m a passionate, opinionated person, so no I don’t. But I do like to look at multiple sides of an issue. That’s why I decided to do this post, because I think that with all the pros and teabaggers fighting over this issue a lot of us who are in the middle are getting lost.
Let me first start out by saying I am a 30 year old uninsured woman who is currently also unemployed (traditionally. Ask any care takers of a special needs child if it’s a job, and they’ll say hell yes. It’s more than a full time job, it’s one I can’[t turn off, can predict the workload of. It’s all consuming. My priorities are the last to get factored in, and only in between everyone else’s needs. But I’m not complaining, because I love my family very dearly and honestly I love the challenge. As hard as it might be there is no question in my mind when it comes who to put first.) I’ve been on Medicare twice for pregnancies, one of my kids is on SCHIP and one is on Medicare. Jason is on a traditional HMO (The traditional HMO actually, yes the one that pops right into mind when you think “insurance”.)
For me not having health insurance is a mixed bag. I get reduced cost visits at a local clinic that take care of all of my basic needs (yearly paps, birth control, etc). But two years ago I fell into a hole in our yard, dropping a weed wacker on myself and wrenching my ankle. I couldn’t walk on it for almost two days and it didn’t stop hurting for about three months afterward. I’m pretty sure I had a chip or a small fracture because of the grinding quality to the pain. But since after two days I could walk in it going to the hospital wasn’t an option.
Do I worry about it? When I go down the stairs. When I get in the car I think of how I hope nothing goes wrong because we can’t afford medical bills. Jason has been in the ER a few times the past few years. I get statements from when the kids have had stuff done at the hospital. I see how much it costs and pay what insurance doesn’t. I know I can’t afford for anything to happen to me.
On Twitter today someone posted this link explaining why health care reform is good. I absolutely believe that. I know it’s true because if you skip right to the PS that’s where I am. Two years ago things were tight, but workable. This year chances are good we’ll have to go to a food bank at some point. There was no pay raise this year, but the cost of living is up, so now suddenly we are living on the edge of the hole. We’re taking steps to cut down costs, but there’s only so much you can do when you have loans still to pay off and legal obligations.
We are doing worse every year despite Jason having been at his job for 7 years now and me bringing in more money through freelancing and writing as well. That’s a shitty feeling that you you are doing better when it comes to working harder and having more stable income, but somehow your finances are getting worse.
I am absolutely in favor of health care reform. However, I also have little confidence in the government. Yes, I’m worried about how we’re going to pay for this. I don’t think we can as long as we are still fighting two wars and have a struggling economy.
I also think health care reform should include capping malpractice suits, maybe even doctor pay, hospital costs, and I’m in favor of 24 hour urgent care centers as alternatives to ERs. (I like the idea of an urgent care clinic being close to or part of a hospital and only emergency patients are funneled into the ER. Sort of like triage.)
I think we need reform on every level. This isn’t a simple fix, and furthermore there is not perfect option. There’s just doing it better, and dammit we should be doing it better.
What I’m scared of is that instead of any real reform they’ll just require everyone to have insurance, like they do with auto insurance. Then, I’ll be screwed because there is no way we can afford it. But like so many, my voice is getting lost behind political rhetoric and half truths. And I suppose it’s too much to expect people to stop and listen for a bit, rather than just repeat what their favorite media mogul or spinner says.
