 Printer friendly version |
 E-mail to a friend |
Updated Friday, March 05, 2010 6:31 PM
Look at yourself when weighing healthcare reform option
 |
|
Click to enlarge
Kathy Williams |
I'm going to talk about health care.
I'd appreciate it if you would focus strictly on yourself. Don't think about what any member of Congress, the president or any advertisement have said on television, radio or the Internet. And, for Pete's sake, don't think about what any talking head, left, right or middle, has said about it.
This really is all about you.
If you're a working person and have insurance, how much have your premiums and co-pays gone up in the past 10 years in relation to your salary? How long can you afford to keep your insurance if that continues?
If you've used your insurance, have you found parts of your claim denied? Have you been surprised when procedures or tests the insurance company doesn't cover did not count toward your deductible or out-of -pocket expenses? Have you or your medical providers had to file claims over and over again to try to get them paid?
Have you put off going to the doctor, having a recommended test or procedure because of the cost, even with your insurance? Have your prescription co-pays climbed to the point that you don't get them refilled as often as you should or you take less than the recommended dosage? How close are you to your annual or lifetime maximum?
Have you been forced to decide between paying your mortgage, rent or utilities in order to pay medical bills or insurance premiums? Are medical and medical insurance costs endangering your ability to meet bills to the point you are considering bankruptcy?
Have you or a member of your family been denied insurance coverage because of past illnesses or conditions? Have you based a critical decision like whether to change jobs or follow your spouse or children to another place on the fear of losing your health insurance? Does your Preferred Provider Organization or Health Maintenance Organization dictate which doctors you may use and which you may not?
Have you watched as your children lost their insurance because they graduated from college or are three years out of high school and can't find jobs that pay enough to afford to buy insurance?
Have you, your parents or adult children lost jobs to the recession and find insurance premiums impossible to afford? Have you lost your health care insurance and can't afford to buy it? Do you have pre-existing conditions that keep you from qualifying for health care coverage?
Have you gone to the emergency room lately? Did there appear to be lots of people seeking help whose illness might have started during regular doctors' office hours? Do you know that the most expensive place -- both in terms of human suffering and cost to all the rest of us -- is in an emergency room?
Do you know that doctors and other medical service providers suffer staggering amounts of uncompensated care costs for treating people who have no or inadequate insurance? Do you know that much of that cost is passed on to you, about $1,000 a year in extra premium charges on your insurance. Can you even guess how much extra you pay in city, school, county, state, federal and other public entity taxes to cover those extra costs in insurance for public servants?
If the answers you gave to yourself about these questions bring up disturbing realities in your life, do you think you will be less disturbed next year and the next and the next?
Today, there are 47 million Americans without health care insurance.
How far are you from joining their ranks? Estimates are that premium costs are rising three times faster than pay raises or inflation. Your premiums are expected to double by 2016 unless we do something now. And that something must cover as many of those 47 million uninsured as possible. Otherwise, we're still paying for their care and in the most expensive way imaginable.
Adjusted records show that one in 10 Texans in the last quarter of 2009 were either unemployed, took a part time job and gave up unemployment benefits or work at marginal jobs without benefits because they lost their jobs. All of these people either just lost their health insurance or are living on borrowed time.
So, here's the part where I'm asking you to look down the road of your future and see how it lines up with what is happening to other people. An estimated 45,000 Americans die each year because they have no health insurance. But I've never known an American whose heart is so hard he or she would point to another human being and say: She's poor, let her die.
As chronic joblessness grows, something only the eldest of us has witnessed, more and more people will face the fate of not having insurance. Every one of us will either be in that position or footing the bill. The only question is, what is the best way in human and financial terms to do that.
If you think the answer is to free up the insurance industry market and let consumers choose among more, unregulated options, I ask how that has worked for you in the deregulated electricity market, or with cell phones or long distance providers? Do you feel confident as a consumer with those choices? Has your electricity bill gone down?
And if you think the answer is tort reform, did your medical costs go down when Texas did that more than five years ago?
The health care debate is about you and your family's future. Is doing nothing an option you can live with?
KATHY WILLIAMS is co-city editor of the Herald Democrat. E-mail her at kwilliams@heralddemocrat.com
 Comments ... 21 found!
Health Care Reform : 3/24/2010
Excellent article, Kathy. It is sad that many people are believing the "talking heads" who are spouting dooms-day rhetoric, myths and fiction. We have had government-sponsored Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security for many years, and the beneficiaries of these programs are not about to give them up.
President Obama, Democrats and the media need to explain the benefits of the healthcare reform bill patiently and relentlessly. Is it perfect? No, but I trust that the reconciliation process will address the problem issues. Can we afford it? Can we afford not to have healthcare reform?
I am disappointed that the Texas Attorney General has filed a lawsuit to keep this bill from becoming law when our state has one of the highest percentage of uninsured children and adults who could benefit. In answer to those who think there will be a deluge of newly insured people making appointments to see a doctor--those uninsured people already see a doctor, or go to an emergency room and/or hospital when they get sick. Because they don't have insurance and have limited means, the doctors, hospitals and emergency rooms don't get paid. By having state exchanges, those who formerly were unable to buy health insurance will be able to to do so--if Texas does not squander this opportunity.
Sandi Froese, McKinney
God bless the Chinese? : 3/19/2010
The USA creates jobs in China.
The Chinese create jobs in the USA.
Maybe I should write my Chinese Congressman and see if he can fix the insurance companies treatment of old people. My Texas "Pro-Inscruance" Congressman just had his picture in the paper supporting the insurance giants and their teabaggin' buddies.
Okay:
Jacketland "Disgusted" Okay, so cancel your subscription if you can't come up with an intellectual argument.
El Badone "I get it insurance is fake." funny, true, but shorter posts please dude.
Steve "Things are gonna go up." Okay but, so, can "you" sell me a cheaper policy?
Donny "making insurance companies compete" Okay but, that's what the Democratic "public option" was for that Joe Liebermann got killed because he is from CONnecticut where insurance companies go to mate at taxpayer expense. Donny your no Democrat so don't try to use words like competition.
DW/W "Problems? We are in our 60's we don't see any problems." Really? Because if "You" were a self employed gent or lady, then, not only would you have seen problems over the years but, you would have dropped your employee's coverage back in the early 90's.
DW/W: I hope you don't become offended but, that argument of "not noticing" a problem is so shallow that I am going to have to say that "You" must not really exist. In fact DW/W I think someone made you up just to "teabag" this article from a different perspective. I apologize if you really exist. However, your lack of concern for people "your age" that are being dumped by their insurers is uninformed.
Sinkeysand and drainy swampy's
El Bad one here : 3/19/2010
Why are you going to sell me some insurance?
I don't think so, I have more insurance than you if you are the above average American.
The problem is most people in Sherman don't have insurance. They need "healthcare" not a company representative that tells them that they are smarter than the doctors.
Research your insurance costs Mr. 60.
You are happy with your co-pays?
You are happy with the system that Richard Nixon started?
I don't drink kool-aid but I am a 35 year student of business history.
No one has anything to be happy about with the current system. I say we insure our household pets if it will bring about the quick demise of the Insurance system.
If you are happy with our current system then you probably have early onset dementia...Good luck with that, if you are not on Medicare now you are up the creek without a policy. Soon, you will find that your rates have increased to 4000 dollars per month and/or your kind, gentle, neighborly, insurance company has chosen you to be their next "patient purge".
You scared lil' insurance guy
what a crock : 3/18/2010
This story is a crock, She says not to think about anything but yourself and then rams all the left wing crap down your throat.
jacketland
: 3/17/2010
I agree with DW/W and Steve. The USA should be focused on creating the kind of jobs that provide good benefits with the jobs. The government helped create this mess with free trade and nafta. America should take care of ourselves and quit trying to take care of the rest of the world. We can't fix everyones problems and the government can't provide all theses social services at the expense of us that work hard and try to provide for our family. The government needs to balence our budget and operate with in that and get us out of debt.
none
INSURANCE PREMIUMS : 3/17/2010
Anyone who thinks this bill will lower their insurance premiums is living on another planet. If the bill passes, and it probably will, insurance premiums will increase. When insurance companies are forced to insure previously "uninsurable people" it will have to raise everyone's premium. Insurance companies are in business to make money. Everyone wants a job and the majority don't want this healthcare bill. Why can't we focus on what will do us the most good and work on job creation and work to get real healthcare legislation that will benefit every American. This bill will not do what a lot of people think it will.
Steve
To El Badone : 3/12/2010
You have either drank the class warfare kool aid of politics or you don't buy insurance of any kind. The writer of the article would have us believe that everyone runs into these health insurance problems. Well, we have not and we are in our 60's. I'm sure it has happened but the DEMS (Libs) would have us believe it happens to all...it doesn't. Again, one budgets for all insurance. I know of people who would rather drive a nicer car or live in a bigger house than take the insurance offered by their employer. They get sick, they run to the ER. Makes me ill just thinking about how Americans scam the system. I wasn't raised that way....in Denison. Too many Americans feeding off the taxpayer.
DW/W
Right on El! : 3/12/2010
If I can call you El? I totally agree. I don't see ever changing the game.
Apathy
Insurance = electricity in watts / 0 : 3/11/2010
Division by zero is undefined...
When I turn on a switch the light comes on.
When I hit a bug with an insurance policy he dies but only as a result of physical forces like mass, energy, acceleration and time.
Two very different things. Big difference.
If everyone on the face of the planet has insurance it is the same as NO one having insurance. It is the ORIGINAL PYRAMID SCHEME. You are paying fatcats to live in the tallest buildings on the planet, drive the fastest cars, ride in the finest aircraft.
Insurance is a multi-continent, world wide racket, it is the Ponzi of Ponzis for Ponzis and the Madoff of Madoffs for Madoff's.
You are paying the INSURANCE house 3 to 1 that you are going to be ill, sick, or die and yet you are probably going to a church on Sunday where someone, sometime, has preached that gambling is a sin. Right?
We don't need insurance anything. Insurance is a scam and for 2010 years it has been used to lead true believers to the promised land.
We need treatment for health conditions which equates to health care. Insurance has nothing to do with healthcare except to emplace a layer of corporate welfare and greed between your choice of life and death. Get rid of the insurance companies and you will get rid of the overinflated costs of healthcare.
HEALTH!
The insurance companies are able to insert themselves into the argument only because your representatives are on the corporate welfare take.
The descendants of hundreds of years of American soldiers and patriots who have no health care deserve better than the crumbs from corporate welfare.
EL BADONE
Good Comments : 3/11/2010
I agree wholeheartedly with the "Disgusted W/Washington" comments. Where are the solutions? Making us pay for our own and everyone else's health insurance? That's not a solution. Doesn't every American have a right to warmth in the winter and cool in the summer too? So, should we have to pay for their gas and electric bills as well? Where does it stop? I am all for healthcare reform and think that the entire medical, pharmaceutical and insurance professions are rotten to the core and I will not argue that one bit. However, just making those who work and prepared pay for everyone's insurance is NOT the solution! Try regulating hospital costs and letting insurance companies compete. Try to understand that those who habitually do not work (not the laid off people) are subject to what we give them and should be if they voluntarily refuse to contribute. Try to understand that those who DO work but refuse to spend their money on insurance....well, that's their choice - not mine or yours. Let's do something Obama has not done yet - focus on jobs and putting people back to work. Then, most will have access to healthcare and, for those who truly don't have access or can't afford it, I say let's focus on helping THOSE people and NOT the deadbeats who stay on the government programs or refuse to pay when they are able to!
Donny
Health Care : 3/11/2010
I've read the comments. Where are the solutions? Do you want the government to take care of you? Do you want those taxpayers who prepared for life to pay more so you can have health care? (You get it in the ER anyway.) Is it 47million, 30 million or 20 million who need health coverage? The numbers are all over the board. There are many problems with the current bill...whatever it really is. Are you proud of the deal making, arm twisting going on in Washinton? I'm not. It disgusts me as I was taught this was wrong growing up in Denison. The main problem in our country is too many people don't take preparing for life seriously. No, you don't have to have a college degree although that would help. How about learning a trade. Health insurance is just like your electric bill, you have to plan for it. If I had to, I would work part time just to pay for HC for my family. 50% of us can't continue to pay for the other 50% who didn't prepare.
Disgusted W/Washington
Medical Profession is an oxymoron : 3/10/2010
How do you think that the rest of the world feels about the "Rich Yankees" stealing away their doctors?
Doctors without borders should be an organization that makes certain that poorer foreign countries can keep their medical talent. However, instead one only has to go as far as the hospital to see where the recruiting takes place in our diminished but poor neck of the woods.
The last time my wife had surgery two anestheologists each sent a bill all the while the nurse on staff pumped the gas.
Medicine is a racket and it has nothing to do with professionalism.
Insurance is the most fake substance in the universe. It exceeded "unobtainium" as the most existent, non-existent years ago.
Insurance is a gluttony reaped through suffering and lies. Shakespeare was wrong it isn't the lawyers that need to be done in. It is the inscruance companies that finance the lawyers on both sides of the aisle.
Insurance doesn't really exist
Great article! : 3/10/2010
Good to hear some common sense on health care. We've heard enough from the hysterical right on this subject.
Michael Macon
: 3/10/2010
Doctors seem to be worried they would make less money if there was equal health care for everyone. Why doesn't the government offer to pay for the Mal-practice insurance and cut tax rates for doctors Then they would not mind treating everyone at a reduced rate, because they would still make the same amount. There should not be one set of doctors for the "poor" and another set for the "wealthy" everyone deserves good health care.
Drop tax rates for Doctors
Voice of Reason : 3/10/2010
Kathy,
A voice of reason as always. Good column
Carolyn Gebhard Johnson
Carolyn Gebhard Johnson
The Washington Swamp : 3/10/2010
Nancy Pelosi said she would 'drain' the Washington swamp. How is she trying to do this? Back room deals? Hidden earmarks? Buying votes? Denying what 'We the People' deserve and ask for in our elected officials? Asking our elected officials to pass the health care bill, and read it later! Trust them? What a joke! It seems the 'swamp' is still there with her, and her progressives jumping in and making 'mudpies'! Mudpies are nasty, stinky and good for nothing except throwing away! Pigs love to wallow in a swamp and they 'stink'. To drain the 'swamp' requires our President and Congress to be open/honest with the American people and consid
er the Constitution was written for "WE THE PEOPLE" Nancy Pelosi needs to GET REAL!!!!! THE MAJORITY OF AMERICAN'S ARE NOT STUPID!
Elizabeth Bausell Sherman
Elizabeth Bausell
Health care : 3/10/2010
I am a Texan living and working in a country where everyone is required to buy insurance and the insurance companies cannot deny it for anyone. It costs about 120 USD a month per adult (kids are free). The doctors don't have to spend any time on paperwork. They only treat patients, and I have never had to wait more than 1 week for an appointment, and when I fell on the ice and hurt my arm in January, they squeezed me in right away when I walked in. There are enough medical professionals if they are allowed to set sensible priorities.
Dallas Alice
Listining : 3/8/2010
RE: ANeedForSmallerGovernment
You are not listening to what the lady is saying. Take off your political blinders like the lady said and think for once. If you want to stick your head in the political sand with the do nothing unless we get to make the decisions crowd, think about if your children will be able to afford health care. And please shut up about abortions. I'm sick of everyone who wants to do it their way using that dead horse and spouting that rhetoric. Offer solutions, not be part of the problem.
Worried
Thank you : 3/8/2010
Ms. Williams,
Thank you for your article about health care.
Very well written.
Thats's all
Doctor's and Healthcare : 3/8/2010
I read the article by Kathy Williams on health care. It sounds plausable except for a few details which I would like answered.
1. Since most doctor's are booked several weeks in advanced, especially specialists, how are all these 40 million plus (supposedly) people without healthcare going to get worked in without more doctor's? Doctor's are already having to hire Nurse Practioner's/PA's to just handle their patient load. I am not against anyone getting healthcare but this question has been asked by a local doctor. I have heard it asked in Congress by the conservatives but the question is just ignored by the progressives who seem to be hell-bent on passing this present mess of a healthcare bill. IT seems to me that there will be MORE people going to the emergency room for service because they can't get into see their doctor because of his increased overload of patients. Is this a logical question or not?!!!! Elizabeth Bausell Sherman
Elizabeth Bausell
Healthcare Reform Options : 3/8/2010
You must be from California. I suppose you'd like us all to pay for everyone's abortions too. You'd best look long and deeply into the "no-options" plan put forth by this administration. It's covered up with warts and boils.
ANeedForSmallerGovernment
Terms & Conditions
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of the authors. Heralddemocrat.com does not guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.
Comments do not display immediately due to manual review. Comments are reviewed periodically throughout the day. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
|
|
|
| 
LOCAL AND WIRE 
RSS Feeds 
