Why I feel so strongly about health care reform

(Whether you are for or against reform please read)

 

The health care reform debate has created a great division in this country. I believe that the fact that I work in the Social Services field and have a daughter with Cystic Fibrosis gives me a special viewpoint of the debate. I already knew this country was in desperate need of health care reform before I had heard of Barack Obama. Even so, I have been accused of drinking the Obama Kool-Aid. What I do know is that there is a huge gap between people who qualify for Medicaid or Medicare and people who are able to obtain health insurance through an employer.

 

Here are some facts. According to the US Census Bureau in 2007 the number of people covered by private health insurance was 67.5%. Also, according to the US Census Bureau in 2007 the poverty rate in the US was 12.5% and therefore those people qualify for Medicaid. So this means that in 2007 20% of people were without and/or had no access to healthcare coverage. Another interesting statistic is that 1 in 3 people will become disabled before they retire.

 

I happen to work for a non-profit agency that works with people who have a disability(s). Most of these individuals became disabled during their adult years. These people were not born with their disability(s) they obtained them through an accident, or an illness, etc. Once people have a disability their choices become very few. They can A) receive disability payments and Medicaid and live well below the poverty level, B) be lucky enough for employer to actually hire them despite their disability and offers health insurance to boot or C) go to work for themselves and not be able to obtain health insurance because they have a pre-existing condition.  

 

I also happen to have a 15 year old daughter who was born with a very expensive disease called Cystic Fibrosis. Now we are very lucky because her father works for a company that has excellent health insurance coverage. She has several medications that cost a couple thousand dollars a month and we only have small co-pay. This is great now, but there are two major problems with this in the future. First, the industry her father works in, is always laying people off.  We’ve had to bite our nails through many lay offs, and even as of today, there is a chance he will be laid off next month. Secondly, my daughter is only covered while she is still in school, so when she graduates she will have to scramble to find a job that offers health insurance and hope that her health remains stable enough to keep that job. I suppose she could marry someone who has health insurance, but I really hope my daughters’ choices do not come down to her marrying someone just so she can have health insurance coverage.

 

As for the 67.5% of people who have insurance they are still taking a gamble because if they become disabled, or obtain a significant health issue before they are old enough to receive Medicare these people are screwed. They will be left with the same choices as the clients that I work with through my agency. I also know that Health Care Reform is not the same as Universal Health Care. It is not meant for the people who already have insurance and are perfectly happy with it (like me). It is there for the people who don’t have it, and as a back up just in case your life doesn’t end up just the way you planned it. Because let me be the first to tell you life is not going to end up how you planned it.

 

*Statistics obtained by the US Census Bureau at http://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/p60-235.pdf

Facts on health care reform

Epilepsy Foundation: The Facts on Health Reform

From the Epilepsy Foundation (8/17/09):

Get the Facts on health care reform efforts!

The Epilepsy Foundation recognizes that there is a lot of information, research, reports and opinions on health care reform – and this information is only growing as Congress debates this issue and moves further with legislation. While there may be many areas for disagreement on some aspects of health care reform packages, the Foundation has long supported health care reform that will provide access to affordable insurance products that cover the treatment and care needed for all Americans with epilepsy.

There are some myths that deserve to be addressed and understood so that everyone can move on to the most important issue – ensuring that health care reform addresses the needs of our nation in a responsible manner. Some of the top myths are discussed below.

MYTH 1: Health care reform will result in government control of the health care system and universal health care.

1. Health care access for all is a principle supported by the Epilepsy Foundation. This means that all people with epilepsy have access to insurance products that do not discriminate against them based on their health status.
2. None of the proposals put forward in the United States Senate or in the House of Representatives or by the President have proposed a government-run health care system in which the federal government is the single payer. The proposals being considered in Congress build on our existing employer-based system and strengthen it by providing the following:
   • premium subsidies for lower income families with the subsidy adjusted on a sliding scale based on income so that health coverage is affordable;
   • tax credits for small businesses so they can afford to offer health coverage to their employees;
   • prohibitions against preexisting condition exclusions and waiting periods;
   • and the creation of a marketplace for individuals and businesses to purchase affordable and high-quality health plans from private or public insurers.

MYTH 2: Health care reform takes choice and decision-making out of the hands of patients and will lead to euthanasia for senior citizens.

This is a disturbing myth that has been brought up in debates and media stories. The bills being considered in Congress and the ideas being proposed by the President do not put your health care decision-making authority in the hands of government and will not lead to euthanasia by requiring senior citizens to submit to “end-of-life consultations.”

The Epilepsy Foundation encourages all individuals to plan and discuss living wills and health care proxy (someone appointed to make health decisions in the event that you are unable to do so yourself). The health care reform legislation being considered in Congress preserves choice and decision-making for patients, including the choice for seniors to consult with their doctors about the
care they choose to receive if they have an advanced disease. The bills before Congress would provide reimbursement to cover such advanced care consultations for seniors once every five years, and slightly more often if the patient has a life threatening disease. These consultations are not mandatory, and if chosen, would do nothing to promote euthanasia which is in fact illegal in 48 states. Patients regularly consult with their doctors about end-of-life treatment and this provision in health care reform will simply establish a method of reimbursing physicians so they can be paid for the time they spend consulting with their patients. Some reports have supported this initiative because it helps patients and families preserve their end of life decisions, plan for expected health care changes, and save money on health care costs as patients, families and doctors know the patient’s care choices in advance.

MYTH 3: Health care reform will provide coverage to illegal immigrants

None of the health care reform bills would provide any health coverage to the nation’s estimated 11 million illegal immigrants. In fact, section 242 of the House health care reform bill, “America’s Affordable Health Choice Act,” contains explicit language that states that federal payment is prohibited for undocumented aliens and that nothing in the subtitle shall allow federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.

MYTH 4: Health care reform will put private insurance companies out of business

Many national organizations representing the insurance industry support health care reform. Considering that all of the reform proposals before the Congress are built upon the existing private insurance market, there seems little or no chance that any of the plans would lead to extinction of private insurance companies. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Congress’ nonpartisan budget analyst, has analyzed the House health care reform plan and found that it will not force out private insurers, contradicting one of the chief criticisms of health care reform.. The vast majority of uninsured Americans will move into some private health insurance plan either offered by their employer or purchased by them in the new health insurance marketplace created by the reform legislation.

MYTH 5: Health care reform won’t benefit people like me, who have insurance

While reducing the growing number of the uninsured in the United States is a major goal of health care reform, all Americans will benefit – and not solely from a healthier society. Under health insurance reform, every American will have health coverage they can count on, even if they lose their job, change jobs, move, or get sick. Health care reform will prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage based on preexisting conditions, cap the out-of-pocket spending on health care for individuals and families so that they do not go bankrupt trying to pay for necessary medical care, and provide consumers with more choice and portability in health insurance coverage.

We encourage everyone to learn more about health care reform legislation and to share their health care stories and needs with policy makers.

The following resources can be very helpful for education and background: http://energycommerce.house.gov/
http://help.senate.gov/
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/MoreInfo.asp?section=52
http://edlabor.house.gov/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care/

The ugly side of divorce

We all know that divorce can be ugly. We’ve seen examples of divorces  and shake our heads and think, “They should know better then that.” When my ex and I first seperated I really thought we were going to have an amicable divorce. I thought, “Well we can’t live together but we can be friends, and raise three amazing children together and this won’t be too bad.” Wow! Was I wrong. What I did not know at the time, was my ex had something different in mind. He may have been shaking his head and agreeing with me, and he may have been saying, “lets get along for the sake of the children”.  He even convinced me to fire my lawyer and we would just have a cheap, easy, one lawyer divorce. Unfortunetly that’s not how this divorce has gone.  

My idea of a cheap and easy divorce was not the same as his idea of a cheap and easy divorce. I was the idiot who fired my lawyer to save money. However, he is essentially making me pay by not paying his child support. And since the divorce is not final I can not force him to do so legally. I can’t believe he really is not able to see that his selfishness is essentially hurting his children and breaking down my patience. I’m not exactly sure how much longer I can bite my tongue and live this way. I’ve had to swallow my pride and ask for help from friends, my church, and family. I’ve also had to apply for public assistance, so now everyone is helping to raise my children except for their father.

Believe me he is not having to sacrifice anything. He makes more then twice as much money as I do in a fourty hour week and then he works over time and makes even more. He also has a roomate and does not have to provide a home large enough to accomadate 3 children. I however do not have a roomate and had to find a 3 bedroom home for us to live in. I also have to listen to my kids say “Aw macaroni again!”, because I can’t afford to feed them anything else. I have to tell my teenage daughter that I can not afford to pay for new school clothes,  and then I have to watch her cry because I don’t have gas money to take her to her friends house. These are things he does not have to deal with. This is the price that I am paying.

The stress is taking its toll on my body also. The anger and resentment I feel on a regular basis is definitly not healthy. Excessive stress always makes me feel physically ill. My body feels tired and achy. My stomach has been tied up in painful knots, and I nearly always have a headache. I used to volunteer alot but I don’t anymore because I feel so drained physically and emotionally that I feel I have nothing left to give. I’m sure my co-workers think I have permanent PMS, and wonder what happened to the friendly women that used to inhabit my body.

I wouldn’t wish this on my enemy. Everytime I hear of a couple breaking up now I am terribly saddened, because I already know that  no matter how bad the marriage was, the divorce will be a whole new kind of Hell. This, my friends, is the ugly side of divorce.

Adventures of a divorcee

Well I have to say the past 9 months have been nothing if not interesting. From dealing with the guilt and emotions of a pending divorce to trying out the dating scene. This has truly been the best and the worst year of my life. Lets start with the worst because I always like to end on a good note.

Lawyers, Judges, n’ courtrooms oh my.  From filing for divorce, then having to file for bankruptcy, and filing for a continuation on my divorce and it being nine months later and I’m still not friggin divorced. *sigh* And what do legal issues always lead to? Being broke. Need I say more. If I never see a lawyer again it will be too soon.

And then we have the guilt issue. I have always suffered from chronic guilt. My grandmother installed that button at a young age.  But it has ballooned since my divorce. I know that I am doing the right thing for myself, but not so sure its the right thing for my kids. I have guilt about splitting up my family, and splitting up our financial resources. Really the only thing I can do at this point is raise my children as best I can. Then hope and pray I didn’t mess them up too badly.

Which leads us to emotional baggage. I am rarely aware of my baggage until its pointed out to me or it smacks me in the face. I just don’t seem to have that type of self awareness. However,  since my divorce its been pointed out to me repeatedly, and it smacks me in the face on a regular basis.  All I can say is I’ve got a good therapist and she is making a lot of money off of me too.

Oh and the dating scene. UGH! Well, I can say I tried it, I didn’t like it, and I ain’t gonna do it anymore. Dating in this day ‘n age is like walking through a freak show, an awful, horrific freak show. Not to mention a self esteem squelcher. The only guys I have found that would date me were all Jerry Springer show wanna-be’s. I can only guess that culture has led all the quality men that are left to believe that they can only find true happiness, with skinny, bitchy women. And thats a whole nother topic to dive into at a later time. Now for the good stuff.

I went straight from living with my mother to living with my husband at a very young age. I never gave myself a chance to see if I could take care of myself and experience the freedom of not being accountable to someone 24/7. It has been a true self esteem boost to know that I am a strong women who can take care of myself. I love my new place and I love essentially being the ruler of the roost.  I can decorate however I want, eat whatever I want, and walk around nakid if I want. (When the kiddos aren’t around) It’s great.

Then finally, last but not least there are my friends. I had no idea how truly loved I was until my divorce. Not to bash on my ex, but I was not allowed to explore any of these friendships until he was out of the picture. And just knowing all of them makes the whole experience worth it. My group of wonderfully, crazy, lovable friends have truly been the “wind beneath my wings”. They have taught me how to fly and for that I will always be truly grateful.

So to sum this blog up, my divorce has been full of ups and downs, laughter and tears, clarity and confusion.  But, I wouldn’t take it back for all the world. Peace out, Christina

Struggle

Even when I know what is right and what I should do. Even when God is clearly telling me and pointing in the right direction I still struggle. Wisdom and common sense tells me to follow the path that God is directing me toward. It seems so easy, too easy. Yet I struggle. Why does the “other” path look so appealing? When I know it will end with loneliness, heartbreak, and possible destruction. Somehow it still looks appealing. I do not understand this struggle. Yet still I struggle.

My kindergartener

This morning my five year old told me that when she grows up she is going to be a singer and a maker of statues. I hope she does, I hope all of her dreams come true.

Pity Party, table of one

So if you’ve read my latest Blogs, you would know I’ve been in major pity party mode. Even I couldn’t stand to be around me. Sometimes it takes me a while but eventually I get a grip on reality. My life is great, and I am counting my blessings. I had a long talk with God this morning and I am a lucky women. God has blessed me with many things and I am grateful for each of those things. Mainly I am grateful for my children. They are a constant source of never ending love and entertainment. Secondly I am grateful for my friends. I have really great friends, they are supportive and loving and thoughtful and I am lucky to have been graced by their presence. Thirdly, I am so thankful for my church. GracePoint continuously points me in the right direction and I would be lost wondering through the dessert without this church.

 

Out with Pity Party, table of one…In with Grateful Girl, party of many!

 

 

Not a tear

I don’t cry anymore, and I just have to wonder why. I used to cry every once in a while and it was very therapeutic. I always felt so much better after a good cry, it would be an emotional release and then I would be happy as a lark afterwards. But the other day I was answering one of those “getting to know you emails” and it asked, “How long has it been since you cried?” Well it’s been so long for me that I can’t remember. AND I AM GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE FOR HEAVENS SAKE! But, I haven’t cried, not even once. What the heck is wrong with me? I can tear up at a sad movie, but not for my own mental health. There is definitely something wrong with this picture. L

No best friend

Is it normal to have lots of friends, but no best friend? I have not had a best friend for about five years. I had a best friend in my teens and another through a good chunk of my twenties. But in my thirties I find myself wishing for a best friend. I have some close friends that I can confide in, but it’s not the same as having a best friend. Best friends are special because it’s like having someone who accepts you flaws and all in a platonic fashion. Finding a best friend is very difficult too, because it takes a special chemistry. Not just anyone can be your best friend. J

My loneliness and I

            One thing that I didn’t realize until my divorce is that being single is very lonely. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret my divorce. But, while I was married I would look at the lives of some of my single friends and not understand what they were thinking. I now understand why single people make some of the bad choices that they make. First of all when I say lonely, I don’t mean “Gee I want someone to go shopping with lonely.” I am talking about a loneliness that gnaws at you, and feels like a deep wound. This kind of loneliness is extremely painful and I believe even otherwise secure people would go to great lengths to fix. I have recently been one of those people.

            My loneliness and I decided to do the online dating thing. The strange world of online dating is very exciting at first. You post some pictures and give a little paragraph of how wonderful you are, and then you are able to search through page after page of potential “singles”.  You start to talk to a few people and it’s a rush and an ego boost all at the same time. You think to yourself, “Wow, look at all these people who are interested in me. I’m hot stuff baby!” But just like many things the “high” is followed by a very low, low. That low is followed by a crash and burn then a dusting off, followed by several more crashes, etc, etc.

            The highlights of my online dating experiences have been several guys who I went on one date with, and then followed it with a “lets just be friends”, then a guy with a serious bi-polar disorder, another guy who thought that a relationship can be obtained through a series of text messages, and another guy with blue hair. The latest being a guy who obviously only wanted one thing and when I let him know that our dating would be rated PG, suddenly kept “forgetting to call.”

            Disgusted with the whole thing, I took my profile off of the dating sites. My heart seriously just couldn’t take the disappointments anymore. And now today, I am left with a seriously injured ego and my loneliness.  So, dare I ask? What does a girl do now?