Every single family in America is one step away from a financial abyss

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

Yes! Every single one! No exaggeration. If I were a Democrat running today, I would say that sentence over and over and over again.

All you need is a single diagnosis of a catastrophic or even just serious or acute illness. It could be something common, like cancer, or it could be something more rare. It could happen to you, or a spouse , or a child or a parent. It could be life-threatening and fatal or perhaps chronic and debilitating.

Even if you had money and insurance when it started, you probably won't when it ends. Insurance has "limits".

A million in coverage sounds like a lot, doesn't it?

If you think so, go talk to just a single person who has had any form of cancer( one of our leading causes of death) and take a look at the bills for surgeries, chemos, drugs, hospitalization, etc.

Anyone who thinks our current system of private providers works or affords you any protection from the unforeseen is deluded.


Health care as an issue CANNOT be pushed to the rear yet again in these elections. The so-called free market has had its chance for many years to prove that it could be unregulated and provide market driven answers to these issues. It has failed. Miserably. There is no more debate as to neccessity, just as to structure of a NEW system of health care coverage for all Americans.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

1. K&R n/t

[porphyrian]

2. I'll kick that, but I'm not convinced it won't be pushed to the rear...

...shortly after the elections, if not before.

[TheFarseer]

3. here's what I can't believe

That repugs can make such a big deal out of the inheritance tax taking away your life's work, when that's kind of a stretch for several reasons, but we can't make a big deal out of a health problem taking away your life's work while YOU'RE STILL ALIVE to be pissed off about it or a nursing home taking away your life savings over a couple of years. People's priorities make no sense to me, especially RWers but sometimes liberals too.

[eleny]

4. And with the one foot on a banana peel

[alittlelark]

5. We are upper middle class - your scenario could destroy us

A catastrophic illness would place our (well- insured) asses out for the *(^(*&%'ing. It is a 'providers market' , they can say what is and is not covered.... and we would have to hire $$$$$ lawyers to fight them.

Sometimes I wish I could just take the blue pill.

[sandnsea]

6. Almost every

My sister works for Alltel and has an amazing medical policy, medical leave benefits, and several weeks vacation each year. She has had cancer twice and has had no financial difficulties at all.

Why can't everybody have that?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. Everyone should have that. But ,even so, she's running a tab

and someday her tab runs out. Seriously, what has her insurance covered, and what are her limits? She needs to know. It's not unlimited.

I've read that even someone like Christopher Reeve, had to rely on the kindness of friends in the film industry to pay for his long-term healthcare. Most of us don't have resources like that.

The usual scenario is:

lose your health
lose your job
lose your healthcare
lose your home
lose anything else

[sandnsea]

8. She pays close attention

Not much gets by her. She's the most organized person you could ever meet. I had to argue with her to get her to hire a cleaning person when she was getting chemo. :crazy: The last time, all she needed was radiation. Hopefully if it comes back, it will be the same and not be as expensive as the first time. I imagine she will go on Medicare when she's 62, that's only 7 more years for her. Hopefully her insurance won't peak before then.

Most people I know aren't so lucky. My point was that some people really don't have the same kinds of worries as others when they get sick. I wish they'd believe everybody deserves the same peace of mind.

[TalkingDog]

9. 1%

The flaw in your argument is the top 1%. And their minions the top 10%. Between them, they own most of this country; lock, stock and barrel, over 80% of it.

Not only would they survive such a scenario, they are also the people who have the money and means to get "their" candidate elected.

Populism is a great tool to rally people. Dealing with causes and situations the "common man" understand and can relate to, even more so. But giving the opposition ammunition to easily negate your argument without exposing their own flaws and weaknesses, can undercut all of those positive steps in seconds.

This is no more and no less than class warfare. We can't win it by playing nice, as Dems are want to do, and ignoring the inconvenient fact that we have an enemy. One that, by all observable markers, cares less if we suffer, starve, live or die.

How do you fight an enemy that has all the means, money and power? How do you make an impression on a people, to whom you are little more than a donkey that needs to be beaten when it brays too loudly or refuses to work?

That is a question we have, so far, been unwilling to address honestly and directly. We keep assuming, in the spirit of fairness and democracy, that if we play nice, so will they.

But as you may remember from those childhood games, the person who owns the ball sets the rules. Well, not only do they own the ball. They own the equipment, the bases, the dirt they sit on, your clothes and several square blocks of contiguous properties.

If you truly want to play ball and help people out, something drastic is going to have to happen.


My Favorite Master Artist: Karen Parker GhostWoman Studios

[tom_paine]

10. K & R

[Mike03]

11. You are so right.

Someone close to me was recently diagnosed with a cancer that costs at least $150,000 per year to treat with new, experimental methods involving a clinical trial. Fortunately, he is getting much of his treatment paid for, but he's probably an exception rather than the rule.

Important post. Kick and Rec!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. A friend of my wife's had a bicycle accident. He and his family are facing ruin.

Even though he is insured, the insurance will pay only so much. He has extensive injuries including brain damage which will take years to repair if at all.

He is in his '60s, his wife in her '50s. They will, most likely, lose their house and savings.

Meanwhile our "wise" leaders continue to wage and fund a lost war to the tune of 100's of billions of dollars.

[VOX]

13. Even those *with* insurance and pensions, etc., could have them snatched away in an instant.

Happens all the time in today's bottom-lining, cheap-labor world.

[BeHereNow]

14. And that is the plan- allowed by BOTH democrats and republicans

We REALLY need to take the country back from the
corporations and global elite.
Kucinich 2008 is our ONLY hope.
Those who have spent decades amassing this power over
the citizens in this country are not going quietly.
We need a NON corporate tied candidate to lead the
country.
DK is the ONLY candidate who fits the shoes.
BHN

[sarcasmo]

15. My theory of paying everything off and owing no one would still fail in this scenario.

Health Care should be the #1 issue in this election, and everyone should have Health Care. When you think about it we actually live in a pretty shitty Country.