Obamacare, The Republican Diet and Comedy that Writes Itself

btw I’m nearly losing everything due to the cost of health care and we have great insurance. If it were NOT for the new ‘Obamacare’ we’d for sure be going bankrupt and losing our house and everything else. I’m THANKFUL for what this idiot calls victims and whiners because those of us who actually WORKED to make sure everyone could receive decent health care (and due to compromises for morons like him) we at least can not discriminate against people like me who are disabled and have very serious pre-existing conditions. And yes, I do take FULL responsibility for my health and PLANNED with things like savings and back up plans and accounts but guess what? That lovely free market (which I actually believe in, btw) is entirely corrupt and the drug companies influence the doctors and the doctors hand out drugs like candy (some of which I am totally thankful for, some of which will kill me) – and then charge us more than our mortgages for one dose. When in reality it costs them about the cost of a gallon of milk. So don’t lecture me taking care of myself with diet and exercise when what our nation needs is a leader willing to stand up for those who actually can’t stand. For those who want to work (no, we aren’t lazy) but physically can’t even get out of bed some days because we are that sick. It’s not all in our heads and we can’t be magically cured of our cancer or our lupus or our ms or our fill in the blank disease by ‘personal responsibility’ – a CIVILIZED nation takes care of those who can not care of themselves. And they are not all ‘welfare queens’ (another stereotype myth that isn’t even true… did you know most welfare goes to white lower middle class people?) and a CIVILIZED nation provides basic needs to it’s people…be that clean water or basic health care. Why? Because it will COST YOU LESS in taxes later if you take care of people and ….wait for it .. it’s the HUMANE thing to do. I am far from lazy and I am far from having ‘not planned’ but let me tell you- my treatments cost 7k a dose. And I get 3 doses every two weeks. You do the math. 

I’m ranting Jessica. Sorry. But this is hot button issue for me. Obamacare isn’t the be all end all. But it’s a START. And we had to START somewhere. it’s not perfect and it’s not foolproof but it’s a step in the right direction. And don’t give me that nonsense about how private charities like churches and what not should step in…that’s crap. You mean to tell me the nice church down the road will choose to help the lesbian moms and their babies? Can you PROMISE me that? And that they will not discriminate? No… you can’t. But by law I know the government can. 

I planned. And one horrible health issue has nearly destroyed our finances and lives. And my husband and I have GOOD jobs and make GOOD money and HAVE GOOD insurance. Tell me then, what happens to all those NOT like us? And there are millions. 

So Captain Ray of Light can go buddy up with the First Lady and do his jumping jacks for the kids while the rest of us actually work to come up improvements to Obamacare and taking it even further. 

Health insurance certainly lowers the cost of healthcare for those who were previously uninsured, but that doesn’t mean it’s affordable. I had to put off physical therapy for a serious arm injury for a month because I simply couldn’t foot the bill in addition to Christmas, a several hundred dollar car repair and an emergency room bill among other things. Even now, I am going only once per week vs. the prescribed 2-3 times per week, because I wouldn’t be able to manage the $25 per visit copay if I were to go that often. That’s in addition to the $25 per visit “specialist” copay I fork over for the privilege of speaking with an orthopedic surgeon for five minutes. I hope I can still recover fully even though I’m not following the prescribed regimen. Yes, I would be in much more dire straits if I wasn’t insured at all, but that’s little consolation when you really don’t have the money either way. I am not sure when I will be able to afford hearing aids, which will cost at least $2,000 per ear, are not covered by insurance (most plans consider them a luxury item, apparently), and will probably become MORE expensive when Obamacare-mandated tax on manufacturers of hearing aids and other medical devices kicks in. For now I get by saying “what?” a lot. I have worried about extended family who have had medical issues when they also happened to be out of a job and without insurance (and even WITH insurance they wouldn’t be able to afford the bills). Yes, it is very frustrating and I think Obamacare does little if anything to solve our problems.