Recent events have really brought out the worst in people. While there is certainly some celebrating going on for those people who know now that they can get healthcare no matter what, there are a whole lot of you who are shooting venom and daggers about it and get downright hateful if you get in a conversation about it. You’re totally cool with your taxes going into the hazy collection ether, but when they tell you what they want to use it for, and it benefits every single person walking today all you do is rant and rave about a new tax, a terrible fee added to the end of your return, minimizing refunds and ruining Christmas. 

You feel like you shouldn’t have to pay for sick people if you aren’t sick, and you certainly don’t want your taxes to go to something that’s going to help people you don’t know, right? But you don’t care at all that your taxes go to countries that harbor and even elect terrorists, and to fund all manner of weaponry-but a program which has been designed to benefit each and every person in this country? Yeah, that’s what we should get our panties in a twist over. Social security is something that not everyone gets the opportunity to enjoy access to given you die, you don’t get it. This will benefit someone you know either directly or indirectly–unless of course you only travel in high end circles where such things are never a concern. I know none of these people, but maybe I’m just out of touch with my audience.

I had a conversation with a friend about her healthcare situation on Massachusetts. She enjoyed the benefits of 5 years of Romney Care, the same law that has just been revised and re-dubbed Obamacare. She explained to me how it worked which I have come to understand makes a hell of a lot more sense than even how this law was likely written. She told me there is no such thing as a pre-existing condition in Massachusetts, and that coverage costs are based on only one of two things-your zip code and your age, and obviously certain zip codes would likely mean more income possibility, and age increases would likely mean increase of cost. Until you were 65, which means then that you get medicare.

She told me of three tiers of coverage-bronze, silver and gold. The cheapest policy you can buy in Massachusetts is the bronze which rounds down to about $2000 per year. There is competition across state lines so prices can get fairly low. Or you can take a penalty of $500 on taxes in MA, as opposed to this law’s $750. Whatever way it turns out, it is clearly the *cheaper option than paying for coverage if you absolutely refuse. The coverage levels correspond to cost of co-pays, prescriptions and deductibles. The key is it is not legal for them to charge an individual a different rate who lives in the same zip code and is the same age no matter what their health condition or level of care. She told me than everyone over 65 enjoys medicare, or the Masshealth plan, which is the public option if you make under their poverty level. The only issue with taking the public option is not everyone accepts Masshealth, so if you want to have a more flexible choice of care in your provider, you might choose to get another plan and save up for one. The insurance companies have open enrollment in July and August but then you have to wait a certain number of months until you are eligible again to buy health insurance under the public option. This was meant to deter those who did have a medical need from applying for health insurance on the way to the hospital or after they found out they did have cancer. Every plan must meet some minimum requirements in terms of care, and she told me nobody really complains about it anymore. My friend did tell me that there was some grumbling for a year or two after it was implemented, but that everyone knew someone, their grandmother or parent, sibling, child or friend, that has benefited from it at this point. She said nobody complains about their healthcare options, I assume because everyone has the same opportunity to have it.

Why would healthcare companies want to make it cheaper for you? Why should they be let to do what they want? Apparently setting up a competitive market doesn’t make the CEO’s as wealthy as it does currently–click here for an article on Blue Cross’s current budget allocation for NY. And tell me why everyone is so up in arms over this 80/20 money spent on care and improvements versus 20 for administrative. In Massachusetts these budgets are entirely transparent, and to us it would be much the same given if they refuse to spend 80% on care and improvements, they must refund you.Try reading that article again and see how the math turns out. Then think about where the money is coming from, and consider who wanted the power, and the power to control us–COMPANIES. Companies did this. But there is a little legislation put in there to control them just a little bit–but 8 lobbyists hired for every member of congress? How many do you think got to our congressmen? Yeah, think about it. They even got to our President, I know, hence his refusal to consider that program below.

Look, this was something that has the ability to one day get to this kind of program, something that could possibly save $160 billion dollars in paperwork alone. We are always going to have the best doctors and physicians, given there is nowhere else they can go to make more money if they want to keep careers as public doctors. And try to move to a different country–I hear moronic grumblings of Canada, but they have had nationwide healthcare since 1966 was it? Perhaps then only the people who truly want to be caregivers will be caregivers, and maybe our quality goes up. Those of you ranting about our number one A level doctors can get a little leveling should you need this healthy reminder. Also, please note: all of these wealthy other countries provide healthcare to their citizens:

Medical Costs Infographic
Via: Medical Billing and Coding

I did enjoy the following excerpt from this article–

Here’s a statement from Massachusetts Medical Society President Richard Aghababian, M.D.:

“Physicians in Massachusetts have been strong supporters of our state health reform movement from the beginning. Universal coverage has been better for our patients, and it’s been better for the practice of medicine. When people have insurance, they are more likely to get the care they need, when they need it.

They are also more likely to discuss preventive care measures with their doctor … and that may lead to longer and healthier lives. And when the public’s health is good, society is more productive, the economy is vibrant, and the social fabric of the community is as strong as it can be.

That’s why is we are so pleased that the ACA was upheld. Universal coverage is a state-federal partnership – no state can do this on its own. We’ve accomplished a great deal since 2006 – and there’s still a lot of work to do. Affordability is still a big challenge. We promise to work with the Governor, legislators, and the leaders of the health care community to ensure that the noble vision of our health reform law is fulfilled for many years to come.”

Read this again and tell me where the idea falls short:

“They are also more likely to discuss preventive care measures with their doctor … and that may lead to longer and healthier lives. And when the public’s health is good, society is more productive, the economy is vibrant, and the social fabric of the community is as strong as it can be.“

I would question a medical provider even being in that line of business if this wasn’t the end goal, to be entirely honest. People saying the doctors are going to jump ship should be happy if those doctors do leave the business. But what country could they possibly go to-if you have a modicum of knowledge, you’d know. I ask you, seriously: For a good laugh click here.

The public and society–something we play games with online, but how far out on a limb to you want to actually go out on for your neighbor? If you could send your neighbor a digital ladder instead of getting up and having to deal with them physically, you totally would and you know it. If you could text them it, even better. Where I live now is a place full of stoners and new age people, and to discuss something as volatile as politics is looked down upon. It’s rude in that you’ve offended your grandmother way, and is a sensibility passed down for generations. But we are not talking about religion which is deeply personal and could be entirely private. We are talking about policy that affects your neighbor, can benefit your grandchild or cousin, niece, friend, neighbor and even yourself should you one day have something catastrophic happen to you. You want to be mad? Go crazy- be mad, but be mad not that your government wants to help ensure everyone has health insurance. Be mad they would rather spend it killing people and blowing things up oversees. Be mad the lobbyists for the insurance companies clearly swindled us all somehow. Be mad that companies run things with all manner of lobbying influencing votes and legislation. COMPANIES are running our government–of course they want the evil genius of Armittgeddon to lead the legions.

I have always had health insurance in every circumstance before this last stroke. Every single time I went in, I knew I had the means to cover the major expense with the insurance I had. In fact, with the exception of this last mini job I had, every job I have ever taken has had to offer health insurance for me to even consider it. Part of why I can’t be an independent writer and small business owner. How do you buy yourself a policy when you are the definition of pre-existing condition and you are the one they do the physical on? You can’t even begin to think about affording it and any place beyond the box you would live in since it’s as much as I rent. I waited three days to go to the hospital knowing I had a stroke, but also knowing the condition of my credit, while at the same time knowing I couldn’t handle the bills that would come. If not for a really presumptuous and cocky surgeon who misspoke, I would not have gotten out of there without a contract for my own suicide. The total services were around $50/52,000.00 dollars. But they decided that $26k was some kind of deal they could offer me to settle it out in cash if I hadn’t signed up for the public option. That just means you have to pay $26k if you own anything or having any savings or retirement, house, whatever you disposable income is, right? To get a bunch of tests. $52,000 to get a bunch of tests. You’d hate to see how big it would get with an actual surgery I am sure.

We are all eventually going to end up getting healthcare. Maybe I am just one of millions who has had to seek it out before the rest of you.