Obama address the American Medical Association
I'm kind of nervous today with Obama addressing the AMA. I know when he was campaigning he said he wanted universal health care for all citizens. Now that he is president what does he want? I worry about universal health care for us having medical issues. Medicare already barely covers cost and reduces it's payout to doctors and hospitals. We have to realize one reason people train to go into the medical field is the money and I am sure that they also want to help people but they are encouraged to become specialist because they do make more money. The money to back universal health care would come from the tax payers. In Canada they are taxed 20 to 30 percent to cover the cost of universal health care. I know my Canadian friends could explain it a bit better. We can't wait in line to get an MRI or for surgery. Waiting can compromise our quality of life and/or cause damage that can not be reversed.
I am hoping he has changed his stand and will propose more affordable medical insurance. I have a lot of friends without insurance that do need it but I worry that taking money out of doctors pockets will compromise our health and our option to see doctors that may not be the one in your area.
I have to travel 3 hours to see a neurosurgeon. Not because there is not one in my area. It is because doctors in my area don't have the knowledge or experience to help me. If they did I would have been aware I had hydrocephalus in 1983.
The way I understand things universal health care you don't have the option to choose your doctor. If you have read my story you know I have had to travel to different states to try to get help for my complications.
Another thing that will be an issue. Many people have access to health care and have the attitude that they don't want to pay $100 a month for coverage or "I'll be OK." With universal health care you will be paying that money plus what others can't afford because they don't work or just work enough to get by.
Many Canadian doctors are comming to the United States because they can make more and it is an advantage for them to be specailists. What wiil we do when we can't choose to see a doctor that is known to have expierence instead of the doctor just of of school.
I am worried. With so many people that have lost their jobs and can't afford coverage this might help them. But it may not if you have stage 4 cancer and have to wait in line for 3 to 4 months for a CT or MRI to confirm the cancer. You will die waiting in line. I recently heard this story on 20/20 that happened to a man in Canada. He sold his home to come to the states to get treatment for his cancer. The cancer was put into remission but where do we go to find that kind of help?
I myself have had to pay $300 a month for Cobra and when I was a part time student I had a independent policy which was around $200. This was before I even had complications from my hydrocephalus. I was a ticking time bomb if I had had a shunt failure without insurance I would have to roll the dice and hope a doctor at the hospital would help me. Even with insurance I have not had much luck with hospital neurosurgeons. Many don't and can't see hydrocephalus.
Obama wants a public plan but I fear many of us would not survive a public plan or would end up homeless trying to pay out of pocket to get help. I have confronted many doctors that told me over and over that nothing was wrong. Much like many other hydrocephalus patients.
If I had not been able to find other doctors and get other opinions I may not be here. Before my last surgery it was confirmed that the shunt system I had was working and I was not having problems with the hydrocephalus. But my pain and coronation was very very compromised. I had the wrong type shunt for my body to conform to. I could have lived with the other shunt because it did control the CSF build up but my quality of life was compromised. I was walking with a cane and was near to needing a walker. I constantly hurt and often had to enter the ER for help to manage my pain. I could go on and on about how universal health care could compromise so many peoples health not just mine.
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