I’ve already written a little about my own situation with regard to healthcare. I’m not particularly concerned, but let’s review the scenario:
I recently resigned from an employer to start a new business. Having a thorough personal understanding of the importance of health insurance (ranking it just underneath food and just ahead of rent/mortgage in terms of financial priorities), I planned to enroll in an individual plan. I also have a pre-existing condition, which makes any change to my insurance circumstances somewhat of a hurdle. So right now, I face:
- getting approved for the individual plan for which I applied, albeit delayed while underwriters (at the same provider!) re-review my medical and health history because of my pre-existing condition, which has never resulted in the need for access to healthcare
- or, getting denied for the individual plan for which I applied, forcing me to rely on COBRA, which not only is extremely expensive but also expires after 18 months
At the moment, my situation is not an emergency. It could become extremely expensive in the short term if I’m denied for the individual plan for which I applied, but I’m not too worried about being declared to be uninsurable, although that is a slight risk, as it is for all Americans. But is this health security?
And this brings me to my point. The primary reason we need health insurance reform in America right now is to ensure that Americans have adequate health security in a world with better diagnostics and rising healthcare costs. As life expectancy has increased, so has medical technology and information improved. We know more about chronic conditions now, and we have data that gives us a better grip on epidemiology. And there are epidemics. Everything from diabetes to cancer. And right now we operate in a world where, for most Americans, health insurance benefits are a function of employment and employers, and private insurers prefer working with groups rather than individuals, from among whom they’re quite satisfied cherry picking.
Here’s the thing about healthcare. Unless we achieve some type of actual health insurance reform, every single one of the 47 million uninsured Americans who is uninsured because they are uninsurable as designated by a private insurance company will continue to lack access to health insurance until they have spent down their assets–cash, house, investments–to poverty level, which allows them to qualify for Medicaid. They must then remain at a function of the federal poverty line– lest they become ineligible for Medicaid–until they qualify for Medicare at age 65. The alternative is to keep one’s assets and hope that one can just keep living long enough to survive visits to the emergency room when things get really terrible because that’s the only place that has a mandate, and the mandate is just to stabilize emergency conditions. And don’t forget: They’ll still bill you later.
So let’s be clear: Every American who gets an unexpected diagnosis just before changing jobs, or while covered under COBRA, lives with the extreme risk that they will lose access to insurance. Every American who actually has private insurance, maybe even likes their plan, might not realize that that plan likely carries a lifetime maximum in terms of what the policy covers. Maybe $1m. Maybe $5m. Or an annual maximum. Or a high enough deductible that, if an injury or illness preventing work occurs, might become punitive when extended across 30 years.
Our system of healthcare in America right now is the best in the world… for healthy Americans! For unhealthy Americans, it becomes a nearly guaranteed system of oppression. This is why some form of universal healthcare is a necessity. Because anything short of that is a systematic short circuit of the American dream for anyone who winds up injured or ill. This is why we’re all in this together. This is why we either need to pool our risk in a national consensus of some kind to ensure that no unhealthy American is left behind. Or we need a better idea that I haven’t yet heard.
So I want to hear from a Republican who opposes anything a Democrat proposes regarding health insurance reform: What do you say to the 47 million Americans without access to health insurance? What do you say to the hundreds of millions of Americans who are not independently wealthy and rely on meaningful health security to remain healthy and working? I get that you want to give ‘em all a tax credit. I get that. I’ve read John Mackey’s 8 Whole Foods Half Healthcare reforms that would lower costs, and not a single one of ‘em solves the problem of access to insurance when you’re uninsurable. So what else ya got, Republicans, because a tax credit ain’t gonna cut it in terms of keeping 47 million Americans out of poverty and ensuring that all Americans have health security. But I get this sneaking suspicion that you don’t actually care.
In the meantime, the Affordable Health Choices Act (in the Senate) and America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (in the House) provide an opportunity to expand health security to millions more Americans. Consider contacting Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, and Jim Cooper and encouraging them to support these bills.
Hello!
I’m lioving in Europe (France and don’t tell me that’s communism as I have alreay heard on the TV beacause I come from an ex communist country in Eastern Europe so I know the difference!)… So I’m trying really heard to understand why there are so many people who are against this reform and, seen from the outside… I really don’t get you! It’s just so obvious that the your system as it is today is not fair for the unassurable! I mean the health problem isn’t only about the market and about the private insurance companies making profits: it’s about people! Don’t you think that it is just…human that everybody has acces to health security?
Anyway, in France it is the case and I hope it will never change! (and insurance companies make profitable businnes hoever…)
I will follow the debate until a (happy I hope) end!
What part of the Protestant Ethic do you not understand? Your health issues are a product of your own sinfulness. Do not expect the spotless to pay for your own errancy. We are too busy supporting Focus on the Family.
[...] can govern because they believe in the good government,†can get their message about providing health security for all Americans and not just a select few heard over the constant barrage of lies from the [...]
Eric, appreciate the offer. I’m an Irishman, too, just not a very good one.
Well, the offer is always on the table in case you change your mind. As my grandpop used to say, keep your friends close, and your whisky closer. You can tell he was Irish…
Eric, I’m not really a drinker. And not having vetted any of these folks personally, I can’t claim familiarity with either their backgrounds or how they came to be selected by Obama other than evident qualifications for the job.
YAY!!!! You finally answered my question. And for that, I will buy you two drinks. You pick the pub, and I’ll buy the drinks. How’s that sound? Good answer, by the way. But how come some of the czars come from socialist backgrounds?
The good reason is operational administrative efficiency: bringing necessary talent on board in a scenario with many crises happening simultaneously. I know this will provoke Bob Krumm, but it’s presumably much the same reason Bush did it.
As I have said before, FREDDIE, I hardly ever watch the news. I don’t have the time. And although I have heard of Glenn Beck, I don’t watch his show. If you had actually READ what I have been saying, you should have known this. And once again you didn’t answer my question, therefore you do not earn your two drinks. Sorry.
[...] govern because they believe in the good government,” can get their message about providing health security for all Americans and not just a select few heard over the constant barrage of lies from the [...]
Eric, I know it’s difficult to keep Glenn Beck’s hand from moving your lips, but there’s actually a long list of appointed executive branch officials not requiring Senate confirmation.
You can keep your money.
Okay, since no one has answered my question, I will ask again. I will buy anyone two drinks if they could come up with a good reason why our Lord and Saviour, Mr. Obama, has so many czars. It’s the first time in American history that a president has elected czars. So if anyone has any idea, let me know.
thank you for describing this situation so well. I am one of those who is caught in the health security nightmare. i have inoperable cancer, thus i am fully disabled. At the moment I am using COBRA, which by itself is quite expensive and I am struggling to sell my house in order to afford my medical expenses.
COBRA, however, is much better than what is ahead of me, which is what happens when COBRA is complete. TN does not have MediGap coverage, which many states do have, allowing people who are disabled but not yet 65 to find affordable Medicare coverage. I am 46 and without MediGap coverage the options are limited and expensive. We have looked into my becoming an adult dependent and using my father’s insurance, but because of pre-existing conditions and the lifetime max, that option wasn’t possible. We also considered adding me to my fiance’s health insurance but the same issues hold true. Each of my chemo treatments is approximately $16,000–i have a treatment every two weeks. I don’t know what people do who don’t have good insurance. I don’t know what I will do in a few months when my COBRA insurance ends.
[...] » Health Security: Why Health Insurance Reform MattersPosted 68 minutes [...]