<p>Did you see Nicholas Kristof’s column in today’s NYT?
<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/opinion/13kristof.html?_r=1[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/opinion/13kristof.html?_r=1</a>
I re-read it several times.</p>
<p>This young woman’s story was also featured in a PBS Frontline documentary entitled “Sick Around America”. If you have Netflix, you can order the DVD or watch it online on your computer. You might be able to watch online through the PBS website. (not sure)</p>
<p>Very heart-breaking story.</p>
<p>Wow, this is incredible. I do wonder what those who opposed reform to the healthcare system would think of this story…how they would make it okay. Then again, this isn’t in the political form so nevermind…</p>
<p>Tragic turn of events, and I feel for all concerned. As these stories happen every day, though not always resulting in death, we need to hear more of them.</p>
<p>I work in health care and encounter these stories myself. Many of us long for the day when lack of insurance has not complicated a health history or extended the suffering.</p>
<p>The most haunting, of late, was the guy who came in with an infection in his foot after an injury at work. He had gone septic and was delirious, with high fevers when he finally was taken to the hospital. Years before he’d broken a bone in the other foot, but after investigating the cost of treatment, decided he couldn’t afford medical care as he’d never get out from under the debt. So he let it heal, and the foot was misshappen. He had a lower wage job that he’d held for a long while that didn’t offer heath insurance. Due to cost, health care of any sort was not something he felt he could afford. Misguided, but he was attempting to take care of himself the best he knew how, and be economically self reliant. </p>
<p>But as he was admitted, it was discovered that the infection had gone to the bone in his previously good foot, and he learned he was diabetic. The foot ended up being amputated. He could no longer work at his previous job, and now was facing life as an amputee with no skills for other work. I’m not sure how the rest of the story played out.</p>
<p>In the above case with the woman who had lupus, her other ace in hole might have been to develop kidney failure, as we do have a national plan for dialysis patients, and lupus can lead to renal failure. </p>
<p>These stories are incredible tragedies. As a friend of mine said recently, we have death squads already-they’re called insurance companies. Our regulations allow insurance companies to deny coverage for pre existing conditions. How have we allowed this system to prevale?</p>
<p>As the parent of a college grad-what I want most for his future is decent health insurance. A great job, too. But the imperative is something that will give him insurance. </p>
<p>These complications of lack of insurance only add to the cost of health care for those of us, or our employers who are paying the premiums. </p>
<p>Sorry, I know this isn’t the political forum. But there are stories of this sort that need to be heard as the debate continues.</p>
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<p>Saying you want it fixed is meaningless if you are not willing to pay more taxes to do it. That means everybody, $250,000 of income or not, savings or not.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>But of course; I really don’t care if it gets funded with taxes on the >250k, all people, addition to payroll, whatever.</p>
<p>The point is the existing system is broken and needs fixing, and it wil take money to fix it.</p>
<p>My framework for this is moral: all people DO have an intrinsic right to health care,so we all ought to pay some for that. </p>
<p>Kei</p>
<p>P.S. Under the existing system we all pay now anyway; OK with me if it gets changed ot be more rational and straightforward</p>
<p>^ Of course it has to be paid from taxes! That is the last thing I care about. Bring it on.</p>
<p>You’re in the deep minority. Support for this “morally-right” legislation suddenly drops if the morally sound have to pay for it also.</p>
<p>^Which is a sad commentary on our nation, though I haven’t met anyone who thinks it’s a moral imperative but won’t pay for it.</p>
<p>Roughly half of the country is in favor of the Obama public option plan. Not close to half of the country is in favor of a middle class tax hike.</p>
<p>Nikki would have no chance with her incurrable condition under O’s plan as under any government plan, just as sick infants/toddlers and people in their 60s. They are considered “burden”. I am talking from experience (both with very sick 15 months old child and 63 years old mother), not any kind of theoretical assumptions.</p>
<p>crescent- you could be for a public option and not support tax hikes on the middle class because you would be willing to make other cuts in government to pay for it. If you say those cuts need to be severe because of the dollar amounts you would be correct. I would also agree with you in that most people do not realize the scope of revenue needed and many feel they already pay enough and deserve all the services and more.</p>
<p>Does Medicare fall into that category Miami?</p>
<p>Talking about Medicare, isn’t it bankrupt? One government program out of many. I am not aware of any single one being successful, anybody can point out? Boy, we even managed to screw k-12 while there are actually successful examples of government run school systems in a world.</p>
<p>Kristof is speaking on my D’s campus next week - on a different topic but I am sure he will be getting many questions on this topic instead based on the article and the timeliness of the issue…</p>
<p>Crescent, you seem to be deflecting the issue I raised. </p>
<p>Do you support reform or not? I’m curious if anyone out there can read a story like this and still feel the heath care system does not need reform (the nature of the solution is another debate).</p>
<p>You cannot break out the tissue box and simplify the story like that. Someone has to pay for universal coverage. I’ve consistently said I do not support such coverage if only one group, the rich, is made to pay for it as their taxes will already be raised for 2011 while those lower and middle class taxpayers will have legislation to keep their 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. Everyone should have to pay given the positive overall societal benefits. </p>
<p>You may say you are willing to pay more in taxes, but the exact amount has not been presented to you nor your peers, and I have no doubt your viewpoint is not shared among a good percentage of your peers.</p>
<p>I do not believe the government will be able to slash costs enough or will direct savings toward universal coverage as opposed to other pet projects. Therefore you either raise taxes on everyone, fairly evenly, don’t do anything at all, or work on costs only.</p>
<p>Still not answering the question I’ve posed. Forget about the story if you must. But the question I ask is do you think there is a PROBLEM with healthcare that has to be solved or not? Or do you think the state of healthcare is fine as it is currently?</p>
<p>I am not going to answer a narrow question like that because you will take it and leap to conclusions I do not endorse. </p>
<p>I will say the health care system’s costs are too high and legislation needs to be enacted to improve cost transparency and limit pricing power of the insurers and hospitals.</p>
<p>Narrow question? Are you kidding me? Wow, just wow. </p>
<p>No need for paranoia…you are anonymous. I’m not sitting here at my computer trying to think up ways to trap Crescent. Just as one of the more conservative posters on here, I was curious about whether we could find some common ground on something. </p>
<p>May you never be without health insurance Crescent. And I can proudly say that as someone who easily earns over $250k I have zero problem funding something that saves a lot of people far less fortunate than I have been, even if those others can not afford to do so. I already pay more than 1/3 of my taxes to support mostly things I personally don’t or will never directly benefit from. My kids go to private school, we have no use for food stamps or other social programs, I’ve never had to call the fire department, I don’t think anyone in my family has ever used the justice or prison system. But its well worth it to me to have a civil and just society in which to live.</p>