Universal Health Care or Bust?...or Universal Health Care AND Bust!

As a newly-admitted-into-remission,previous Breast Cancer Patient, I can tell you that I am heavily eyeballing the proposed Health Care Reform Act(s). I am concerned, not just for how this will or could affect my own survival,but how it will affect my children,our National defect and the current framework of America's Health care System as we know it.

I see the benefits,absolutely,but the repercussions,as well,could be far more grandiose than many of us would've ever fathomed.

As I reflect back on my diagnosis,I have to share with you this ever-relevant story. When I was first told that I had Stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer(the most aggressive form),I was desperate,a single mother of 3 children and without any kind of insurance.

I had watched the Documentary 'Sicko' and knew exactly what to do! I'll just go to Canada I thought! That's a brilliant idea! They have Free Health care!
Life has a funny way of letting you know when you're dead wrong. It was at my biopsy that I mustered up the courage to ask my previously-Canadian Radiologist why she would choose to practice in America,when Canada's system is so much better..?

With an expression of wide-eyed sobriety mixed with a tinge of disdain she expressed "You don't have a clue what it's like there do you!"

"Um..no? What is it like?" I inquired.

"Well,for one, the system is completely Bankrupt and another? Many people don't make it to their surgeries,they die waiting. I flew my Father here to have surgery on his knee because there,he would've waited many months." "Do you want the Government to tell you if you are ill enough or young enough receive care? Do you want to wait at the back of the line and risk your disease progressing in the mean time? Because that's what happens!"

I was stunned and totally and completely put in my place but mostly?, I was soooo glad that I talked to her before making the hasty decision to fly the coupe to Canada. (as if I would've anyway...big talker,little walker.)

In short(okay,in long), we have already seen the blemishes with other Universal Health care Systems (Britain and Canada are an example.) Britain is now denying women with Secondary Breast Cancer from receiving Herceptin,a ground-breaking drug that has thus far,undoubtedly saved my life and thousands of women's lives,I am sure. Depriving these women the "right to life" or at least a "Chancee at life" is sadistic. We should be in control of the care we get! We all know how Socialized systems work,and all we have to do is take a look around...has it worked in other countries? First,we will be standing in line for Medical Care,next will it be Bread?

President Obama resonates loud and clear with citizens all over America when he alerts us of the alarming figures of under-insured and uninsured Americans. What he is NOT heard expressing is the fact that wealreadyhave systems in place for these people (including myself). I was blessed enough to be fully covered for my Cancer Treatment costs by the Utah Cancer Control Program. (I didn't have $500,000 in my back pocket to cover the costs....the national average to treat Cancer.) My point is that they covered the cost of my treatment due to my lack of insurance and income level and their limit is actually somewhat liberal.

What is Medicaid? It is for uninsured,pregnant womem,low-income families and disabled individuals. What about CHIPP? To insure our children,who's families cannot afford standard insurance premiums and PCN? (which is essentially an 'affordable Government-Funded Insurance Program', and not to mention the VA Hospital for our Veterans and Medicare for the Elderly. We already have these systems,and many more than I mentioned, they may only need a slightly broader eligibility scale,more funding(mostly more staff) and better organization.I say we work on improving the programs we have!

While I agree that we are being "taken" by Big Pharma and the Insurance Companies, I do not want to risk what we already have by trading it for something that could be far worse in the long run. I am completely in favor of some of the reform ideas brought to the table,such as prohibiting insurance companies from discriminating,or as President Obama has called it,"cherry picking" based on an individuals pre-existing conditions.

On the larger scale,however,I have to disagree. I could write volumes just on the impact of the influx of new patients into our already bogged down system,alone.Our doctor/nurse ratios are already struggling to keep up with the patients they already have in a highly understaffed industry. How will they do it when millions more come flooding through the doors? I'll tell you how..."Please take a number ma'am." I do not want to take a number, I want to take control of my health.