Political Morsels and Other Droppings

So I hear the public option will more than likely be removed from the bargaining table in hopes that some sort of health care plan for the masses will still pass. It’s saddening, really. I will admit, especially in my last posting, that I am less than happy about how things are going in the debate.  I believe I even reached a new record for the word “fuck” to the point that my site has finally come up for the search for “fucks.” Yes, I have the mouth of a sailor; don’t let that dissuade you from the point that I’m trying to make.  This health care deal, well, it’s personal.  No, I’m not in need of a transplant, and as far as I know, I don’t have cancer.  However, like many of you regulars, I’ve had my own issues. They aren’t as bad as some of you folks, but I do know what it’s like to have my life halted. 

When I joined my current employer, over four years ago, I had options for the level of health care that I wanted through my health insurance provider.  With a family history that seems to be more like the “Wheel of Fortune” with all the different diseases I could possibly be struck with, I decided to opt for the highest level of health insurance. In the beginning, I paid out a little over twenty bucks per paycheck just to have the top tier of and to have PPO instead of HMO.  When I checked my most recent paycheck, I had already paid out over $900 so far this year for the same level of care I signed up for, four years ago. That’s just for one person. So, what have I received in return? Well, I’ll tell you.

Two years ago, I felt like I got kicked in the abdomen. After waiting a few days for the pain to subside, I went to my Dr. about it and he ordered up an abdominal MRI. In the end, all that was found was a small cyst in one kidney that, from what I was told, was harmless since it wasn’t polycystic.  A year and a half ago, I came down with a horrible sinus infection that kept me down more than up.  I was given antibiotics and steroids, to which I reacted to quite negatively. That’s when the real fun started. I had dizzy spells, and started experiencing a weird tingly feeling in my appendages. Joining that, eventually, were panic attacks, extreme weakness, and pain in my hands, wrists, and even my feet. I had multiple tests, including blood-work and a CT Scan done on my brain and saw two neurologists, who found nothing except for a little carpal tunnel. Not surprising since I sit in front of a computer all day and type. I spent nearly a quarter of my working year at home last year and barely managed to pay my mortgage, draining my savings account in the process.  When I did work, I went and came home and did nothing except for my college classes online.  I was in a relationship for a bit last year. In fact when we met I was sick, hoping that I was on the mend, when really it was the beginning of the shit for me. Let’s just say that when your only change of scenery from home is work, your social life is nil, and the world feels like it’s starting to close in, the humor can last for only so long (as well as the waistline, as I had learned). We had met in March and by June I was already trying to push the ex away.  It took two more months before I scared her off.  Sad thing is, she never really knew me.  The close of that relationship got me to make an effort to try and ignore my health and try to get out from time to time and to be with my friends.  I still managed to miss a dear friend’s commitment ceremony. The wedding gift sits just six feet away from where I’m typing this out. I haven’t gotten up the nerve to send the gift.  Sure, I did plan on meeting up so I could get the wedding gift out of my house. However, every time that I wanted to, I would be sick.  I tried to get through work as much as possible that I was spent and felt like crap on the weekends. Eventually the friend gave up trying to meet up. I don’t blame her.  I think I’ll mail the painting as an anniversary gift. It’s the least I can do.

With the fall of ’08, came new symptoms that first had me at my Internist (my regular doc) followed by an Allergist, who found nothing. Then, for a brief period, I was doing well enough to ride my bike on local trails. This past winter and spring I was doing a bit better.  I eventually changed doctors and started seeing a new Internist, who, at first glance thought I was pretty healthy. However, with new abdominal pains, came more tests another specialist and a CT scan. What were the results of the specialist and CT scan? Well, the thinking was endometriosis. Guess what? Further testing showed that wasn’t the case. I did manage to make it into work, about 80% of the time. On a sad note, I settled on a brief dating scenario that I wouldn’t have entered into had I been the same me of over two years ago. Eventually, I broke that off and broke someone’s heart in the process. Hopefully that one will move on.

I now pay over $1200 a year for my portion of my health insurance.  What has it gotten me? I’m now allergic to a form of antibiotics that used to kill of any infection that I had. I’ve seen five different specialists for four different things.  I’ve had two MRIs and one CT scan.  I’ve barely held onto my job and am still walking on eggshells with it.  I’ve been in two relationships, with one that was horrible and the other one that should never have happened.  I still have no answers for why I’m not up and bouncy like I should be, when I’m still (barely) under 30.

I have really good health care. Well, on paper it looks good. However, if I ever lose my job, I lose the coverage. This, the health care that has paid for the doctors and the tests that haven’t really found much more than a small cyst and carpal tunnel.  The health care that has turned up more mysteries than answers.

I carry many aspirations for myself, personally and professionally. I will finish my degree that validates my full bitching rights when it comes to politics. I will continue to gain strength and maintain more of my planned outings with friends.  Eventually, I will meet the right person and marry pissing off all the right-wingers in the process. J  Most importantly, I will do the things that I feel will leave a positive impact on others.  I believe in doing my part to make the world just a smidge better when I leave it than from how it was prior to my spawning (as some would see it).  I also have thousands of people to piss off. However, to accomplish my hopes and dreams, I have to have my health.  This is something I haven’t fully regained in over two years.

I am fortunate to have health insurance.  I am lucky that I can kick in extra money to have the top tier coverage.  However, for someone who has the fortune of being covered and who has shelled out a bit of money, I have seen very little return for my investment. I can honestly say that a solid year and a half of the past two years have been lost and I have health insurance.

Again, keep in mind that I’m not writing this for a pity trip, because my problems are so minor in comparison to many other folks who I have encountered who live with debilitating diseases, yet the manage with what they have with such grace and character. My dance with doctors for the past couple years is a mere drop in the ocean in comparison. I just felt the need to share my own little story and how I have a couple strings woven into the fabric that ties many of us together, who are concerned about such an important issue. 

Our country doesn’t have Universal Health Care and who knows what or if we’ll have when the debate has ended and Congress is back in session. However, I can tell you this much: I pay damn good money for my coverage and I feel as if I’ve been cheated.  Millions of people in this country have far less than what I have.  If my private health insurance is so wonderful, why haven’t I seen the return?  For those without health insurance, some who have dealt with what I have gone through, and others who have diseases, who have names for what’s ailing them, that will end their lives much earlier than whatever I’ve been dealing with, do they still have dreams for what they want out of their lives?  Will they be able to achieve it before passing on?

According to the WHO, there are 36 nations with health care systems that are better than the United States.  France is #1. The United Kingdom comes in at #19. Canada is even at #30. Guess what? They all have some form of Universal Health Care.  I wonder if their folks are getting more answers to their ailments, and are receiving treatment for diseases, no matter where these folks sit on the socio-economic scale.  Then again, we’re #37 and there are 36 nations ahead of us.

Keep in mind, folks, if you don’t have your health, you don’t really have much else. I’ve experienced a taste of that. Millions of folks have nothing if we don’t do something to overhaul the entire health care system. So this is very personal.

Please, if there’s nothing else that you take away from this super-long posting, I hope you’ll keep this in mind:  my site finally pops up on a search for a swear word! Okay, that’s not it. It’s that the opportunity for great health care should not be a privilege. It should be a right that covers us all equally, from poverty to Oprah-rich and everyone in between. We should all have the ability to have our medical mysteries solved, preventative care, and equal chance for transplants (and not have to move to a less populated state in order to receive an organ in an expedited manner). To believe that one has an entitlement to a better quality of life due to private health care sort of seems un-American. Doesn’t it?

Filed under: political morsel | Tagged: Health Insurance, Universal Health Care