First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a health care event in the White House East Room on Friday. FLOTUS was joined by Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director of the White House Health Reform Office, and three women who shared their struggles to find health care coverage due to the unique challenges that older women face. According to the White House Press Office, the event highlighted the important need for health insurance reform to help women access the care they need as they age and to provide aging adults with affordable, reliable, quality health care.
6 Comments, Comment or Ping
Cee Gee
Maybe, I am slow but I don’t see what the big ruckas about insurance reform. It all seems so simple. I think its like one more option. (Shrugs) Heaven knows I need it. Managing my thyroid condition without health insurance is one hell of a burden I am bearing right now. Please, Mr. President….Help! Throw a lifeline.
Nov 14th, 2009
Lonni
This health care bill is bad for several reasons. One, we simply cannot afford it. Two, even though Mrs. Obama states that the elderly will be taken care of the truth is that $400 billion will be taken out of Medicare to help fund the health care bill. This will mostly be taken from the Medicare Advantage which is a gap insurance to cover expenses that aren’t covered by Medicare. Thirdly, taxes will be increased upon passage of the bill but the benefits won’t take effect until the year 2013. There is more but, last but not least, if folks don’t buy this insurance as stipulated by the government they will either be fined or sent to jail! That is ridiculous!
The whole idea of government-run health care is control and management. Those folks on welfare can attest to that if they would. I make use of “government-run” health care by the Veterans Administration. It is extremely over-burdened and under-staffed as well as having to fight for every dollar to keep afloat. Each year the Budget is always months behind.
It would be better if there was tort reform and the ability to buy competitive insurance across state lines than for their to be government run insurance mandates. While I understand that folks have a hard time getting insurance and paying for it, I also know that there are programs already in place for folks to use health clinics on a sliding scale as well as other programs. I took my sister to one because she had a brain trauma injury with no income. It was $12.00 a visit. Poor people will still be poor and on welfare with this system but the middle-class will be hurt and broken by it. Without a middle-class, jobs will continue to be lost and, in the end, there will just be the elite and the very poor. It’s a lousy system.
Nov 14th, 2009
Fi
Speaking as a Brit, I know our National Healthcare System is far from perfect with many annoying problems. However I do like knowing that if I can’t afford private healthcare insurance (or have a problem with an uninsurable pre-existing condition), that I will get treated. It may not happen as quickly as I’d like it to but it will happen,
A couple of years ago I found out I had a severely blocked artery ( over 95%). Which was all very strange for an under 35, non smoking, light drinking fit woman with no family history of heath disease. I didn’t even have a doctor at the time as I’m never ill, so I hadn’t got around to registering with a new one after moving. The NHS were brilliant! Everything was taken care of within 3 months; that’s from the first visit to the hospital with chest pain, to me dithering about registering with a doctor, to pre-diagnosis tests and the operation.
My simplistic view is that there are some things so fundermental to a nations well being and productivity, that the government has a responsibilty to play a role. I don’t see why so many are against some form of government run health care. I completely understand that cost is an issue. But don’t you need to balance that with the cost of people not being insured, being too ill to work and contribute to society?
Nov 15th, 2009
Lonni
Fl, first I want to say that I am glad you are alright. I went into the hospital with a blockage such as yours and was “at instant death” as they put a stent in the blockage to save my life. You have truly been blessed in having to wait 3 months for such care.
Money is a huge factor in this healthcare bill because, at the same time, people are losing jobs all over the place so if they don’t have jobs they can’t buy health insurance even from the government. Our government already provides for emergency care for anyone who walks into a hospital ER…..even illegal aliens. After that we have sliding scale programs for the poor to see doctors at the local health departments. This bill isn’t for the poor people as they already get Medicaid, it’s for the Middle Class to be forced into buying something they don’t want. So, it’s also a power issue. Especially considering that if the insurance isn’t bought, folks will be fined or go to jail. That is totally unacceptable in our Nation of free people.
Nov 15th, 2009
ari
FI as a canadian i have to agree i will never understand y so many americans are against something that should be a fundermently right.
Nov 15th, 2009
SouthernGirl2
First Lady Michelle, is so good for this role because she was already involved in healthcare.
I talked with someone yesterday about their family member who has medical bills that are totalling $ 1million dollars and Doctors still don’t know what’s wrong with her. The woman just recently had a baby and has been to the Mayo Clinic and Doctors are baffled as to what is wrong.
Nov 15th, 2009