Sexy Health Care Reform

In my inbox tonight I came across the current Blogher newsletter. The headline was this article:

How do we make "Health Care" as sexy as "Beer Summit"? Obama Administration asks BlogHers to help. Will you?

If you don't want to click over, the gist of it is this:

"They [the Obama Administration] aren’t paying lip service. TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK about their health care reform plan and if you DO NOT LIKE IT give them your ideas. I’m sending your feedback directly to White House staff.

Let 'er rip!!"

Umm, Ok. I'll give you my 2cents.

I couldn't stay a lurker when I saw this one. I know it's been a while since I've posted anything. (Long story, fodder for another post at another time.) This is the topic that has drawn me back out. Below, is the comment I left. Listen, I think this is really important. The reality is that our health care system is limping along at best. It's going to change. Whether you like what you're hearing about that change or not, you should add your 2cent to this conversation too. It's the same w/voting, if you don't vote you don't get to complain. If you don't put out your opinions on this when asked, then you shouldn't complain about the result.

On this topic I had to throw in my 2 cents (I usually just lurk). I have had a long journey w/Fribromyalgia. My first severe symptoms (hospitalization required) were 22 years ago. I was finally diagnosed 8 years ago. That is a lot of experience (at a young age) w/many parts of the health care system. Now you know my credentials, so here's a couple things I'd like to throw out. Note: I don't know how to make these happen (that's the job of the people making the reforms, right?) I just know that these are things that I think need to be addressed, based on my experience.

1. Cobra: (Where do I start). I have a chronic illness, thus we sign up for the best possible health care we can get through our employers. Yet if we lose our jobs, (and it's happened,) the Cobra option requires us to stay w/the same level of coverage, while we're unemployed. I've just lost my job, I'm looking to drop my costs not add to them. It makes no sense. Upon losing your job, there should be some kind of interim wellness coverage available to the average person. I shouldn't have to choose between bankruptcy and health insurance each month. There should be some sort of coverage for people in between jobs. I shouldn't have to be completely broke to be able to get a step culture.

2. Most of us (middle class) are one severe illness away from bankruptcy. That may sound ridiculous, but it's true. Even with "good" health coverage, a severe illness can put us all in major debt if not bankruptcy. There should be some way that people can be assured that they won't lose their home because someone in their family gets sick.

3. I hear that if we "like" what we're getting at our employers then this won't affect us. We can stick w/that. What if we don't like what our employers are offering us? What if what our employers are offering us less than before? Will the government fill in the gaps for us? It should. I agree that those who's have no coverage need it. But most of us are underinsured. Please remember us too!

Ok, so go give them your 2cents too! It's important!

I'm sure there's more I could come up with, but off the top of my head here you go! My point is that while I agree that the huge amount of people who lack coverage need to get it, please don't forget about those in the middle. We have coverage, but we are hardly "covered".