What Medicare Means to My Family

[Mike 03]

This is a bit personal, but we are getting down to brass tacks, essentials, and attempting to discern fact from fiction when it comes to government involvement in health care.

My father joined Medicare approximately three or four years ago. In September 2007, he was diagnosed with a terminal cancer called Multiple Myeloma. He has a very aggressive form. But having Medicare, he was able to get treatment at the same Mayo Hospital where John McCain received his treatments for skin cancer.

I know that not everyone is fortunate enough to live in the same state where there is is a Mayo or some other well known cancer clinic, but if my father had not had Medicare, I don't think there is any way in the world he could have afforded the treatment he had to receive. One of his medications cost $70,000 a year.

So, just to wrap up. He had been given six months to live, because of the very aggressive form of MM he has, but thanks to being enrolled in clinical studies at the Mayo, getting excellent care from amazing doctors, and having that paid for by Medicare, he has outlived his diagnosis by years. He is going on three years now.

Medicare has made all the difference in the world to him and those of us who love him.

A government-run plan gave my father two years of life more than he was told he had.

Sorry for the sappy story, but it's the truth.

It is very important to acknowledge, honestly, how much Medicare does do, and it IS A GOVERNMENT PLAN.

Thank Holy Christ for Medicare.

And I can't wait until Health Care Reform is passed. I have not been insured in ten years. I am sure I am living on borrowed time.

[Blue-Jay]

1. kick.

[DesertFlower]

2. sad for your father, but happy that

he got good care.

[Spacemom]

3. Medicare for all is the only way to go

I'm glad your father is doing well. Imagine what a relief it would be to this country if no one had to worry about paying $70000 a year for a single medication.

[mzmolly]

4. Thanks

for sharing this Mike. :)

[Omaha Steve]

5. Sending on to some friends

K&R!

[tilsammans]

6. Thank you, indeed.

Very happy for your dad. A similar story about my mom: Medicare gave my her more than six years of life after she suffered a catastrophic stroke.

:grouphug:

For you and all of us under-65s, it's well past time for true healthCARE reform in the USA.

[OHdem10]

7. Beautiful. We need more stories like these to off set the Righties

and their manta--the Government can't do anything right.

Thanks for sharing!

[cutlassmama]

8. K&R

[lunatica]

9. Medicare covered my mother's Home Hospice care 100%

From last November to just a few weeks ago when she died. I don't have words good enough to describe the dedication and gentleness of Hospice workers. The word excellent doesn't do their work justice.

Everyone should have Medicare.