Why So Little Compassion?
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I believe virtually no member of the U.S. voting public (including myself) nor our run-of-the-mill Congress has anything resembling even a most modest understanding of the just-passed medical legislation.
Those who probably do have some knowledge are mostly local and national physicians, hospitals, drug and hospital groups, which, of course, should have direct interest. They favor the legislation.
Nevertheless, it seems that groups of “know littles” have chosen sides and availed themselves of the senselessness of joining opposing groups intent on hurling profanity, epithets and shaking fists at one another in abandonment of rationality and good taste.
What strikes me is the apparently undenied fact that 32 million men, women and children in this country are without medical insurance coverage. Most of these adult folks are working yet cannot afford outrageous premiums. Many other citizens are beset with policy exclusions or pre-existing illness conditions.
One would think a wee amount of compassion would overwhelm the selfishness of those against the legislation because they have fine coverage (as do I) or those who do not have insurance who are overcome with the usual propaganda blather of pseudo patriotism, socialism, government takeover, etc., that was used to fight Social Security, Medicare and other social programs that they now revel in.
Charles McCormick
Southern Pines
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Comments
adahnoa26 1 year, 10 months ago
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bigD 1 year, 10 months ago
Can't afford or wont afford health insurance. There is a big difference. Those that have a 500 dollar monthly car payment, cable TV with all the extras (HBO, Showtime etc), smart phones with 3g internet and a laundry list of other luxuries can afford health insurance they just chose not to.
Car 500 auto insurance 120 Cell phone 75 Cable TV 150 smokes 85 lottery tics 80
Cant afford or choose not to. You tell me.
tt217 1 year, 10 months ago
bigD, that may be the case with many. However, there are those who don't have $500 carpayments, $150 cable, don't smoke and don't buy lottery tickets, no home phone, no Xbox, no video games. What they do have is rent, Progress Energy billl, Water bill, day care for 1 child, 1 vehicle they share, one drives the other to work when feasible or 1 drives to work while the other finds a ride. Insurance on an older car. Three children to buy shoes, clothes, food for. They buy their own groceries, no food stamps. They don't eat steak, but a lot of chicken and hamburger meat. They spend time with their children, participate in their church consistently. One child asthmatic. They can't afford insurance, premiums for a family of 5 too high. They pay taxes. And, no, they don't live in subsidized housing. They don't complain and they don't beg. They pay taxes. They don't have health insurance, because they don't have the money. They've tried to research several companies, including BC/BS, just can't afford it. When they are sick, they tough it out. If the children are sick, they make payments to the doctor. Fortunately, the pediatrician will often have the medicine they need and help them out.
Don't be so quick to assume everybody who has less than you is a deadbeat. These are fine young people who do the best they can.
tarheelz 1 year, 10 months ago
"Love thy neighbor as thyself." **Unless they are liberal, educated, free thinking, gay, unhealthy, poor, unemployed, handicapped, homeless, hungry, weird, different, do not attend your church, not white, not greedy, not American, needs help with anything, or technically isn't your neighbor.
HockeyFan 1 year, 10 months ago
@Charles McCormick -
You are correct that many of the legislators know much less about the bill than some of those that it will impact, but unfortunately, this is nothing new in our government.
"Those who probably do have some knowledge are mostly local and national physicians, hospitals, drug and hospital groups, which, of course, should have direct interest. They favor the legislation."
Big pharma, hospitals and many physicians are not in favor of the legislation. There are some physician groups (i.e.- American Academy of Family Physicians) that have stood in favor of the bill, but there are also many more that have spoken out against it.
babiehop 1 year, 10 months ago
I am not void of compassion and truly feel for people who have landed in a bad situation due to circumstances beyond their control, but can't help wonder why those who can ill afford one child would choose to continue to have more children.
bigD 1 year, 10 months ago
TT217- I am with you some people need and deserve a little help because they have a strong work ethic. Im all for hand up. My statement refers to those looking for a handout that are unwilling to help themselves.
poncho 1 year, 10 months ago
I pay $550.00 for BC/BS, a married couple, every year the cost increases! The older we get, the more it costs. Our home is paid off, as well as our car and we owe no credit cards. That's the only way we could afford health coverage, my wife takes 9 medications each day and I take 3, paying a co-pay on each medication we get filled each month. My wife does not work outside our home, she retired after 30 years, and isn't old enough to collect social security yet. She has health problems and not sick enough for disability but too ill to hold a job. We pay privately, as we own a small business and have no benefits. Our taxes on our modest home and car, cell phone (we cancelled our landline) electric bill and heating bills just about take kill my paycheck. We grow our own food, eat no meat and have rescued dogs to feed. If I had a car pymt and mortage, I couldn't afford health insurance.
poncho 1 year, 10 months ago
I just refused a procedure that the Dr said I needed, because I was required to pay $1400 prior to the procedure. My deductable is $5,000 and I had "Not met my deductable yet." Yes, I can understand how people can not afford to have health coverage. Anytime we need anything done, we have to pay cash, like a CAT Scan, I just had one, paid cash, since my deductable had not been met. By the time it IS met, the year is over and we start all over again. It stinks!!!
poncho 1 year, 10 months ago
That's $550. every MONTH!
theonewithsense 1 year, 10 months ago
I wonder what the value of 12 medications a day is? It sounds like you are getting a great deal at $550 a month and are still covered if something big comes along. My insurance cost per month is about $680 for a family of three. I've never really needed much health care other than a few routine visits, but I'm covered in case something big happens. The problem with insurance is that we as a country have decided to use insurance for day to day medical expenses and it has driven the cost up tremendously.
None 1 year, 10 months ago
And the CEO of Blue Cross of NC makes just over 1.5 million ~ plus stock! A year!!! Not much though if he doesn't receive free healthcare....
GoldenDreams 1 year, 10 months ago
bigD, consider this: I was out of work for a year in 2002. I tried in vain to get health insurance myself, meaning I was willing to pay for it myself. Not one company would accept me because I had pre-existing health conditions. One insurance company said they would give me hospitalization, but no medical or prescription, and at the time I was a severe migraine sufferer who really needed medication and doctor's visits. So what good was that? The point I'm making is that occasionally a person will pay for insurance but is denied over and over, and through no fault of their own.
poncho 1 year, 10 months ago
@ theonewithsense, yes, I am getting a great deal, having so many medications for that price, one medication alone is $300. without insurance coverage, another one is $280. so yes, the insurance does help tremendously. But, I can sure understand how some people can't afford to pay for coverage, having kids, a car pymyt, mortage, braces for the kids teeth, etc. and single parents. So many dead beat parents that refuse to help pay the child support.
bigD 1 year, 10 months ago
tt217, Ponco and Goldendreams all make good points regarding health costs. What does Obamacare to do lower the cost of health insurance? Nothing! Some people depending on income will get tax credits to offset the cost of insurance but this credit will not cover 100% of the cost. Oh by the way, afford it or not you will be required to buy health insurance.
The tax credits people get to buy insurance will be an indirect government funding of the health insurance companies. This way, as Toda points out, the BCBSNC CEO can keep getting his 1.5 million dollar salary.
theonewithsense 1 year, 10 months ago
maybe when the government takes over the insurance companies we can cut his salary by $1,000,000 a year and give that money back to the people that buy insurance. That would amount to slightly over 2 cents per month for the 3.7 million people covered by BCBS. Clearly it's the evil corporate executives to blame.
I can't think of one instance where government legislation has lowered costs on anything.
Amazed 1 year, 10 months ago
Insurance companies only run on a 2 to 3% profit margin...they are not the corporate greed hounds that they have been portrayed to be...I'm just saying. (even Michael Moore knows that)
RmeMP 1 year, 10 months ago
Thank you Amazed at saying something that I've been saying for a long time. Too many people think that the big bad insurance companies are not compassionate, and making too much money - WRONG! Take a little time and look and and the companies who have a MUCH bigger profit margin than insurance companies do; they aren't the "bad guys", but they do have to make some money right? If you think 2-3% profit is to much, then you better not even think about opening your own business - but then again, most people against the insurance monster will never take the opportunity to open their own business; why would they, when they look to the government to take care of them?!