We have two beautiful children who were unlucky to be born with an extremely rare gene mutation resulting in Congenital Rigid Spine Muscular Dystrophy. Their minds are intellegent, loving and creative, but their bodies just don't want to cooperate.
What I have come to realize over the last six months (since being here with the children in the US), is that there is a huge hole in the health"care" of sick Americans - and that is sick middle-class America. I must be candid here, because what I am saying is so important, particularly to the life of my family - Insurance Companies DO NOT help sick people. Insurance companies are ideal for those with very little need ie. healthy people, because they accept the monthly payments, provide next to nothing in return and make amazingly huge profit margins.
For those with medical needs that cost on a daily basis, living below the poverty line to get medicaid is the only current option. And I must say that this upsets me greatly. I have met about a dozen people since being here who have no other choice, but to live in poverty so that their sick children can get the surgeries and supplies required to keep them alive and thriving. Others divorce in order to get medicaid. The system is so broken, that it is forcing honest people to HAVE to do whatever it is they have to do.
Our two children have several needs and Insurance has fine print to get them out of helping in almost every circumstance. With very high monthly payments, very high co-pays and extremely high deductibles, it is actually, in all reality, impossible to be middle-class in America and have one or more sick family member. For example: Our children are both fed via a gastric tube. To order the formula and tubing supplies from Intermountain Home Care costs $120/day. This is equal or greater than my husbands middle-class daily salary. And this example is JUST to feed them - it does not include their breathing equipment, walking equipment, orthotics, spinal surgeries, other surgeries, therapies, intensive-care visits and regular specialist visits.
I would like those of you that are afraid of change, to open your mind to the idea that profit-driven Insurance Companies (as there is no other kind) actually have no place being in charge of the countries health - they do a poor job indeed and are most certainly NOT the solution. I understand that Insurance Companies are very powerful in the political arena, but it is time for a change - a much overdue change. I know that many people are afraid of the change that needs to happen, but that is not a good enough reason NOT to be courageous and make the change.
The stress that the current system puts on the family, society and the economy is intense - so intense that my words can't adequately describe my current emotional state as I continue battling for the needs of my children. Did you know that American-made medical supplies are at LEAST three times more expensive here than in Australia, just because they can be - all connected with the idea that insurance is covering the bill, therefore lets make the price whatever we want. Not only does insurance NOT cover the bill for our children, but it is a completely broken system that needs to be fixed by Universal Health Care like every other first world country.
It does not matter that a new tax will have to be introduced - people will no longer have the financial burden of large monthly insurance payments, plus copays, plus out-of-pockets, plus deductibles. All the reasons to fear Universal Healthcare are inconsequential. I am sure you have read the research and know how much money will be saved on the reduction of paperwork alone, by switching to Universal Healthcare. I am also sure that many of you know how much money is wasted in the current system. Please be open to this possibility and do your due-diligence by researching the facts.
I have come to know through difficult and highly stressful experience, that there is no such thing as "effective coverage" and "affordable coverage" when you are truly ill and have healthcare needs that surpass the odd doctors visit, breast screening, ear infection or broken arm. More Insurance is NOT the answer, and I mean this sincerely. Insurance Companies are designed to NOT help sick people - they are public and need to make money for their CEO's and investors. Insurance Companies truly are designed to help healthy people - because they don't need help.
Insurance for all is not the solution and it simply will not work.
I believe there are many reasons why the US is not as great as it once was - and the Insurance-run health system is most certainly one of the reasons, I sincerely feel this. It is a cold-sore on the face of America.
"Beautiful Children, Living in a Broken System"
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