Why We Need Healthcare Reform

After I retired, at age 62 and moved to Florida, I was unable to continue my HMO coverage I had in Wisconsin. Knowing the need for health insurance, I proceeded to take out a policy with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida. However, they would only underwrite insurance for me by excluding my lifelong stomach problems while charging me a somewhat exorbitant premium.

After a year of paying the premium and wanting to make sure I would not be left hanging should a catastrophic illness (ie: esophogeal cancer, for example) occur, I decided to explore benefits through the Veterans' Administration. Am I glad I did! I was able to get full medical benefits thru the V.A., being assigned to a physician who, first of all, recommended I discontinue using a medication I had been on for years, as it (Metoclopramide) can make one susceptible of Parkinson's, something which afflicted my father in his latter years. In addition, I am covered fully, not only for the office calls, but also for my medications, x-rays, weight management classes, and home health equipment--all with only a modest co-payment, depending on the situation.

I turned 65 and became covered by Medicare this past March. On May24th of this year, a Sunday, it was quite hot and I had washed the cars, becoming hot and sweaty in the process. Coming inside to cool off, I felt a sort of cramping sensation in the front of both armpits. It was a bit uncomfortable, but abated within about 10-15 minutes. The next morning I got up, as usual, before 7 o'clock and had my regular cup of coffee. The cramping feeling came back, a bit more intense than before, accompanied by a sort of lightheaded feeling. Telling my wife I thought I should probably go to the hospital, she took me where it was determined I was having a heart attack, albeit a minor one.

Had I not been covered by Medicare, I probably would not have gone to the hospital. Lord knows what (or where) I'd be today had I not been covered by some sort of insurance. More than likely, I would have "toughed it out". I am covered by a "Medicare Advantage" plan which includes a drug benefit. Some of the medications have NO co-payments for the medications, while two have a $60 co-payment, each. These two are covered by my V.A. benefits with only a $15 co-payment (for a 90-day supply as opposed to a 30-day supply under Medicare).

The right-wing politicians and pundits as well as conservatives in general say that healthcare reform is not needed. One rightwinger, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, even writes that health insurance is a "privilege". In effect, if you can afford insurance, fine; if you can't afford it, that's your tough luck.

Well, I'm here to say that insurance reform (even some form of government-sponsored insurance) is a MUST. People should not be denied coverage for a medical condition, either because it is a pre-existing one or because the person cannot afford to pay the premiums. America is a compassionate society. Witness the outpouring of asssitance to Indonesia after the 2004 tsunami or to the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Why not reform healthcare in America? To me, it is our birthright NOT a privilege.