Comments on: One More Reason Why We Need Health Care Reform

By: Lisa Derrick

Lisa Derrick — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:30:09 +0000

Bowling for Boobies is a wonderful event and a great example of the grassroots and community mobilization. This year it will be in Philadelphia as well as Los Angeles. Thank you for creating it and sustaining it.

By: tlyman

tlyman — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 05:00:59 +0000

Thank you for calling attention to Edith’s life and tragic death. I started Bowling for Boobies in 2004 to benefit Edith after her first round with cancer. She took over in the following years- so that she could help other women who found themselves unable to afford basic living expenses while battling cancer.

By: Pannochka

Pannochka — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:12:25 +0000

This infuriates me.

When someone is sick and trying to get well…when they are afraid…they still have to worry that all of their savings will be gone will have to be in debt for any foreseeable future.

Can’t the people who think the current system is fine and just needs a few tweaks see that this situation keeps the US from competing with the rest of the world?

People are afraid to start their own businesses because of no insurance. And people stagnate in jobs for the same reason.

I know libertarians who just can’t this into their thick skulls. They are so against paying for other people (as they see it) that they don’t realize they already are, that this hurts the country as a whole….AND THAT IT COULD HAPPEN TO THEM.

Sickening.

By: Mauimom

Mauimom — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:48:27 +0000

Have you sent this to the White House? Perhaps many of us should do so.

Apparently each day 10 letters get “culled” from the incoming mail and given to Obama. This would be a good one to make it through.

Also, tonight on Maddow a congressman from NY spoke eloquently about how we should just get rid of insurance companies, since they provide no value. [He’s the one who introduced an amendment to end Medicare — to force the Republicans to admit that there IS a good government-provided health care program. Perhaps someone can find his name?]

In any case, he seems like someone who could run with this.

Finally, I’d send it to both Maddow & Olberman.

By: xargaw

xargaw — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:33:13 +0000

I am reminded of John Grishm’s, “The Rainmaker” where it was the policy of the insurancer to deny EVERY claim, and then deny it again and again until their under-educated policy holders simply gave up. It seemed so evil and outrageous. Apparently, it is simply business as usual. When my own child was seriously ill I had to fight our insurer for two years and finally file a grievance with the State to get them to pay our claims and honor our policy as written. Ultimately, they did pay, but only when the State got involved and their ability to do business in the State was jeopardized.

By: Debbieaussie

Debbieaussie — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:12:50 +0000

Another reason why all aussies should realise how lucky we are. Your poor friend, her poor family.

By: tejanarusa

tejanarusa — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:04:41 +0000

Checking back in – the contrast between the last lines of your post and the one just above — how is that there is even an argument about this??????

By: Lisa Derrick

Lisa Derrick — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:55:13 +0000

My thoughts are with both of you and your families.

By: Rayne

Rayne — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:31:38 +0000

Damn. That’s the second time today something sucked the breath out of me.

Found out today my aunt’s breast cancer has returned. Treated spring last year with lumpectomy and chemo, monitored regularly since then. Something happened within the last six weeks since her last checkup, because she’s got spots all over her liver now.

Hope the insurance holds out until we can solve this mess.

By: ANOther

ANOther — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:16:49 +0000

Lisa, I am sorry for your loss.

Three years ago, in July 2006, my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a mastectomy in early September, simultaneously having a reconstruction which involved taking a strip of fat from her tummy and putting it back into her breast. For some reason she bled (a condition known as DIC) and she had to go back to the OR twice. But she got through that and her latest check-up was still clear.

We have to pay for her drugs, but that is because our income is in excess of the treshhold. Apart from that there was no direct cost to us.

Of course, we live in Canada.