Health care.

I'm fortunate. I have health insurance. My health care providers this week keep calling it "the good stuff." I'm grateful. Really. Even though I'm also resentful.

You see, 2 years and 1000 miles ago, I had better health insurance. I had "Blue Cross Prudent Buyer," paid for by my employer, and everything I ever needed was covered 100%. Prescriptions cost me $7 or $8. I got a new pair of glasses every year, and only needed to shell out cash if my frames went over the allowance. There were plenty of frames available within that budget. Dentist, vision, and everything else...just make the appointment and go.

We were hearing the cost rumbles. We'd made concessions elsewhere for several contracts in a row to keep the benefits. We knew it was going to come to an end, but were determined to go down fighting, keeping our benefits complete as long as possible.

Then I moved. New state, new employer. They provide benefits. Whew! That's good, because I took a full 1/3 pay cut to do the same job in an area where the cost of living is no lower. Except...I have to contribute money every month to pay for the benefits. Ok. That wasn't figured into the budget when planning for the pay cut, but I'll make it work.

Of course, there are also copays. That's what I really resent. Paying for the insurance, so that I can pay the copays. I resented it so much that I didn't even use the insurance for 2.5 years. Just this week, I've finally gone in for all the neglected maintenance. I'm pissed. Between eyes, teeth, and regular doctor, I'm down $400 so far, and have more work to do with doctor and dentist. There's no extra $400 laying around, so I took on some extra days of work to "cover" it. Still, my health is suffering I neglected known issues because it cost too much to visit the doctor even with my insurance. And I have the "good" insurance.

My adult sons have none. They're living paycheck to paycheck, and haven't been to a doctor, dentist, or optometrist in 7-10 years, since they were no longer covered under my insurance.

My mother has medicare, but it doesn't cover the dental work she had this month. Removal of all the teeth she had left since they didn't work any more, replaced with dentures. Guess whose credit card covered that one?

If I am struggling to cover my own health care costs with "good" insurance, how about all those people who aren't as fortunate as I am?

I want universal, single-payer, not-for-profit health CARE. Now. Before anybody has to incur anymore debt or stress.

WE have to force the PARTIES to Represent US.

to support those legislators who represent us, and withhold support from those who do not.

I don't withhold support to be contrary. I do it because I consider the issue to be important enough to act on, and expect those I support to do so.

Start cross referencing: universal, single-payer, not-for-profit health care.

Voter-verifiable paper ballot.

Who is left that actively supports both of those things?

You're not supposed to point that out. He isn't on the list of "legitimate" candidates. We're not supposed to mention him without the "U" word.

:rofl:

That's not the "u" word I was thinking, but it sure fits a lot better!

He's definitely the underdog.

I have to date myself here by saying that when I read your subject line, I immediately heard a cartoon slogan from the "underdog" cartoon that played when I was a kid. A reeeeeally long time ago:

"There's no need to fear...Underdog is here!" Considering that he campaigned in '04 on "The end of fear, the beginning of hope," it seems appropriate.

HR 676 and Dennis Kucinich in office is the best, most efficient way to health care for all, that's for certain.

Yes...that's right: $16,500 to get rid of a kidney stone the size of a blueberry.

I'm lucky, too, as I have insurance. I'm also lucky in the fact that I can easily write a check to cover the $1,200 or so that is considered my "co-pay."

I was cringing, though, at the thought of facing something as routine as a kidney stone without any insurance. I was wondering how many people there were out there going through the same procedure with no way to pay for it?

I hope "Sicko" or SOMETHING snaps people in this country to our collective senses and demand something be done about the abysmal state of health "care" we put up with.

If my $400 + for routine maintenance pinches, how will anybody without insurance get any of the care that would prolong their life and raise quality of life?

I've drained every last resource, as has my son, in the last 2 years to care for 2 family health crises; my senior citizen mother, and my young grandson. I look at my adult son, pouring everything he's got into his own son, and if I had the resources, I'd drag him in for long-overdue maintenance myself. I'm tapped out with the oldest and youngest, though.

I went to my local Family Independent Agency to re-apply for my Medicare insurance recently and when they found out I was re-applying for the Medical they were so helpful to make sure my forms were filled out correctly and everything....in fact when I saw my worker she was typing my info on the computer and signing a bunch of forms, I asked her "Wouldn't it be easier if you had you're name on a rubber stamp?", and she replied "I would, but I would have to pay for it and money is tight since both of my children are ill.". So I then asked her "Don't you have good insurance coverage?", then she replied "Due to a new policy that just got enacted were not allowed to discuss our insurance, or insurance company with anyone.?".... I was like hmmmmmm....ok I wonder why. lol

But wait...maybe not as surprising as it appears on the surface.

There has always been a "gap" between people who qualify for public assistance and people who make a living wage. I think that gap has gotten larger, and larger, and larger.

A former employer of mine pays good benefits for full time work. You must work at least 30 hours a week to qualify for benefits, so worker's hours were capped at 27.5.

There are so many ways to make sure that people make enough money, or hours, to disqualify them for any assistance, but not enough to provide health insurance.