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me, on politics

i despise politics. i never liked it, but i married a man fascinated with it. a man who wanted to be part of it all...and was, briefly. boy were our eyes opened...

anyways...it seems like this election has several hot button topics. one of which is universal healthcare. my cousin started a blog called politics for mom and there have been several heated debates going on. i was reading several comments on healthcare. and frankly i was bothered!

now, i don't know that a strict universal healthcare is the answer, but i do know that we have now doesn't work for the average person. here is our story....

hubby worked in a small business - 3 employees at the most that i can remember. we paid 1/2 our insurance..until it came to the point where our half each month was twice what we would pay if we were on our own. but for the owner it saved him money. so he agreed to cover ours in full. we were very grateful. i also know at times, that because of the healthcare cost, it was a struggle for them to pay us.

in august hubby left his job. with it, went our insurance. it was good insurance and had great doctors. we were covered until the end of august so we began looking for our own. now, for us, the thought of now adding insurance into an already tight budget also knowing there would be very little income for quite a while was a bit daughting. but we found a plan just like our old hsa that seemed reasonable. it was the same provider that had been covering us already. i filled out all the paper work, then some more paper work, and then we heard nothing. so with a week left we got a little pushy. our agent was finally able to find out that they were covering me and the kids, but not hubby?? say what?? i'm the one with genetic health problems. he is a clean bill of health.

so we waited for this letter the company told us they sent. they knew when we wanted to start coverage and why. we received the letter on the very last working day of the month. do you want to tell me how we can appeal that? they wouldn't release the reason to the agent or to us over the phone. only in this letter. so they denied him because he visited a chiropractor for a pulled muscle.

we filled out the paperwork and appealed. still denied. in the meantime we took a month long plan out on hubby to keep him covered. so we are getting even more information and sending it. hubby says it well, they have him now! you see, they now can say that he has medical issues and charge us like crazy. it is so frustrating. all of the doctors are baffled because he is healthy - extremely heathly!

oh...and for those of you who are interested....i did look into hoosier healthwise. we don't qualify because we have a small savings account. and once we all go uninsured for over 6 months then we might.

so the system is broke on both ends....broke for the average american who is trying to do what is right and get coverage but can't because even though he is healthy and the doctors say so, the insurance company doesn't agree. and broke for the average american who could really use some help to get through difficult times, but can't because they were recently covered and have some money set aside.

so in my opinion...the winners in america right now are the poor or the rich...not your average american. i don't mean that to offend - but it is stinking hard to be average these days!

we need some changes in health care...it is broke in many areas and while i don't know the answer i know it needs changed.

there...i'm done....next post guaranteed to make you smile, or just think i'm one odd bird!

Comments

Natalie said…
I understand your troubles, and have experienced our own insane issues with insurance. One is my doctor has to lie to my insurance and tell them I'm having stomach issues so I can get a preventative colonoscopy. Otherwise they won't cover it. Crazy.

But universal healthcare isn't the answer. We really need to be thinking outside the box on this one and not just assume the govt. has the answer.
the back door said…
natalie,

oh yes, we were just discussing the colonscopy thing. because i have it from both my mom's side and my dad as well, i'm high risk too. but insurance won't cover it. that makes no sense to me. wouldn't they want to cover preventative so they don't have to cover full blown cancer? weird.

i don't think universal health care is the answer either. i just want to see some real change - i'm not sure who can really make that happen.
oh, i'm so with you dear. what to do. what to do. working for a doctor, i hear plenty from his end of things, too! sorry it's so crappy.
Anonymous said…
Unfortunately, your story is common in America. As you can probably guess, I couldn't disagree more with Natalie about universal healthcare. Every industrialized country in the world has a version of universal healthcare, except the US, and is healthier and more statisfied with their healthcare systems. If I can be political for a second, the only party remotely thinking outside the box on this issue is the Dems. The government has to be part of the answer on this issue. You can bet the drug and insurance companies are not going to be offering any solutions.

Okay, I'm done.
Anonymous said…
I lied, I'm not done.

I hope people will research this healthcare issue. There seems to be a perception that universal means socialized. That's NOT true. There are many models for universal healthcare and they do not all mean socialized. Research, research, research! Don't just consume the political parties' rhetoric.
the back door said…
jeff...

i tend to agree more so with you. i think during this election i really only have hope in the dems trying to find a solution. i also think there are many ways to create a better health system.

you know, i will say this about other countries being healthier - it may have something to do with their insurance set up, but i also think it has to do with their way of life. but that is for another day, another post. i've been overseas...they walk, they eat fresh food, etc...

anyways, yes, there needs to be a lot of research, understanding and some creative thinking to solve this dilema the average american family faces.
Natalie said…
I think we need to give Jeff his own blog. Or own political campaign. Because I'm afraid he's going to have a coronary before it's all said and done. I will say the Obama people should be proud of him, he's tried VERY hard to show me the light...I am just too busy clinging to my guns and religion to notice.
Anonymous said…
All in love sis! :)

With all of my pontificating, I often have to remind myself of the old saying, "an empty barrel makes the most noise."
the back door said…
jeff and natalie...i think it is funny that you are brother and sister!

jeff, you do need your own blog! my hubby would absolutely love it and i would love he would have someone to agree with!

my final thoughts....you can't legislate morality.

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