For those of you that have read my “about me” page you know that I am a social worker at heart. That’s why issues like health care or the lack thereof really get to me. I get regular e-mail updates from a website called “Stand up for Health Care“. They are an organization that fights for health care reform so that everyone can enjoy this right.
Here are a few facts from their website.
- Four out of five uninsured Americans are in working families. One out of five uninsured Americans is a child.
- More than three out of five adults who report having problems paying their medical bills had insurance at the time they incurred their debt
- Between 2000 and 2007 along, the average premium for job-based family coverage increased by more than 90 percent, rising from $6,351 to $12,106
- As unemployment continues to rise and fewer families can afford health coverage, more children are likely to need coverage. For every one percent increase in the unemployment rate, an additional 600,000 children become eligible for Medicaid and CHIP.
- When children get the health care they need, they are better equipped to do well in school because they can do things like attend school regularly, see the chalkboard, hear the teacher, and participate in classroom and recess activities-all essential parts of succeeding in school.
My belief is that healthcare is a right not a privilege just like being protected by the police or the firestation. Looking at some of these statistics I also think that it is an equality issue.
If you would like to get involved in some way you can also check out Families USA.
Imee says...
It really annoys me when people hate the thought of health care reform. It isn’t so bad–in fact I think it will do wonders not only for the health of the people but for the economy as well. It’s not socialism. Besides, I agree that health care shouldn’t be a privilege but rather a right to be enjoyed by everyone.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:33 am
Cascia @ Healthy Moms says...
Thank you so much for sharing this! My family falls under those statistics. My husband works part time and does not have health insurance. He is the only one working right now. We are currently on MediCal, California’s state funded health insurance. The MediCal system is overcrowded, is running out of funds and needs major reform. I can’t stand being on this program and I feel like I am just treated like a piece of meat. There needs to be better options out there for hard working families who can’t afford health insurance like mine. This is a big issue for me so I am grateful that you posted this.
April 21st, 2009 at 5:07 am
LeftLeaningLady says...
I joined the USAF at age 27, because my family had been without health care for 2.5 years and I was not qualified to get a job that would provide it. I feel for those who do not have it, especially those with children. It is a nightmare for all and we all suffer.
April 21st, 2009 at 7:29 am
heather says...
Yes! That is why I started my website and blog…to get more information out there – at least on the preventative side.
I suggest to people to get catastrophic health insurance or even sign up for health saving plan.
April 21st, 2009 at 3:56 pm
LeftLeaningLady says...
I have been tossing a post around in my head recently about the voluntarily uninsured and this post helped me to cement it, so I wanted to say thank you!
April 21st, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Heidi says...
I burst into tears last week when I received a letter from Blue Cross & Blue Shield stating that my health insurance had gone up – to $200 a month.
After I left my staff position at the newspaper to become an independent contractor/ freelance writer, I thought I’d do the smart thing and get my own health insurance. The coverage is awful. I’m a healthy, active 27-year-old female who basically needs health insurance for one thing: pregnancy. Not that I’m planning to get pregnant tonight, but if I did my $200/month Blue Cross & Blue Shield coverage wouldn’t cover a cent of it.
If I had opted for the “pregnancy package,” it would have cost me almost double.
Ironically, the plan I currently have doesn’t cover my BIRTH CONTROL pills either.
Arrrrrgggghhhh.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:16 am
Jill says...
Heidi,
I never understood why health insurance won’t cover bc. It only seems logical to me so that they don’t have to end up paying hospital fees which are much more expensive. Go figure. That sucks you don’t have the pregnancy package. Does your fiance have health ins. through his work at least?
April 25th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Julie@Momspective says...
We’re in desperate need of healthcare reform. My husband has a great job with terrible healthcare and it’s negating the extra income he got to take the job, therefore making the move and change void. With kids and general health issues, we’re going broke just off a doctor’s visit. Something needs to be done.
April 25th, 2009 at 7:54 pm