Obama's Plan Wins at Covering the Uninsured

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I am disabled and am receiving ssa benefits along with my children. I also receive a minimal annuity from my past employer. I live in Virginia that has the famis program for which I have been denied once again because they say I make too much money. I missed it by a few hundred dollars monthly. I am the sole provider for my two children because their dad is a dead beat dad. I am on medicare with a supplement. Why do my children not qualify for some sort of government funded insurance program also. My children have been without medical insurance for two years. Please advise of any other options.

Mimi Shepherd of VA 3:21PM April 09, 2010

In July my mom noticed a lump on her left leg. It was painful to the touch and hot. She thought it was nothing to be worried about but after several days it didn't go away and only got worse. It was difficult for her to walk and there was noticeable weakness in her leg. After a week, she was feverish and decided it was time to go to the doctor. At that point she had some trouble breathing. Her delay in going to the doctor (or even the hospital) was because she didn't have health insurance. At the doctor's request, an ultrasound of the leg was done, and the diagnosis was Deep-Vein Thrombosis. She was in grave danger of a clot ending up in her lungs or heart which could be fatal. She was sent straight to the hospital. After being treated with blood thinners, she was released after a week eventhough her peculiar fevers (which only came on at night) persisted. There was also one or two episodes of nausea. No one at the hospital ever mentioned this or tried to explained why. That same week she went to see her general physician, who after a couple of phone calls found out results of a CAT scan that was done while my mom was at the hospital. The scan results showed numerous shadows on my mom's liver, which were thought to be cancer. This confirmed that, in a rush to get my mom out of the hospital -- because she was inunsured -- the doctors failed to tell me that there was a likelhood of this diagnosis. This was a dispicable act of inhumanity. I took my mother back to the hospital upon this revelation and a week and a colonscopy later, she was diagnosed with stage IV Colon Cancer, which had metastasized to her liver and lungs. The cancer had released a chemical into her blood that was causing coagulation and therefore the blood clot in her vein. And to think they let my mother walk out of the hospital knowing this was a possibility only two weeks prior.
The only thing thats keeping her alive right now is charity care from the same hospital that sent her home knowing she had cancer. Its where she receives chemo to keep the cancer at bay and also helps her receive Lovenox injections that prevent blood clots. She has not been given any other health care options at this point in time.
In order for my mom to get the care that can potentially extend her life past the 1-5 years that she's been given, she would need to have health coverage of some kind. This will enable her to go to a place like Memorial Sloan Kettering, where they have options that are more far reaching and effective than just chemo and radiation. Surgery may be an option. However, places like Memorial Sloan Kettering do not have charity care and, as a result, the uninsured have little to no options or hope.

Yolanda Lamourt of NJ 12:30PM October 23, 2008

HANDS DOWN I WOULD PREFARE TO GO WITH OBAMA'S PLAN IN THAT IT BENEFIT MORE OF THE UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS. AS SMALL BUSINESSES CONITIUE TO GROW IN AMERICA, LOTS OF SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYEE ARE LefT WITH NO INSURANCE. THEREFORE SINCE I INTEND TO OWN MY OWN BUSINESS SOMEDAY, I WOULD LIKE A PALN THAT CAN HELP BE PROVIDE BETTER HEALTH SERVICE FOR MY EMPLOYEES.

SARAH JONES of TX 10:08PM October 14, 2008

SCHIP is the American success story! With today's announcement of Congress not voting on it, it’s absolutely critical that a new administration quickly re-authorize SCHIP before its expiration on March 31, 2009. Visit www.iwanttobehealthytoo.com to send a strong message to Congressional leadership and presidential candidates that America’s Future Starts With Healthy Children.

L. Sookyung of CA 2:09AM September 09, 2008

How long will it take for this (or any other insurance plan) to be implemented, once SOMEONE is elected?

Mina of GA 10:26AM August 30, 2008

v racer of GA. So what are the root causes and what is the solution?

James of 8:31PM August 28, 2008

What part of "under God" do you not understand Joe? Or do unto others" or....Each of us has responsility for our neighbor. Remember "Love God and our NEIGHBOR as OURSELVES."
bornin1938

Ray of TX 6:13PM August 28, 2008

You want to know who goes without medical care in the US? People just like you and me. Citizens who have worked hard all their lives and dedicated years of service to companies that broke their promises to us. Companies that sent our jobs overseas. Companies that let greed take over and who pocketed our pensions for themselves. And many more companies that nowadays refuse to pay their employees a fair salary, so that their workers can afford health insurance. More and more Americans are struggling to get by because of the incompetence of the Bush admin. We're sinking deeper and deeper and McCain will have us buried if he gets into office. Don't let it happen, people.

Emily of GA 4:23PM August 28, 2008

I AM ALMOST 82 YEARS OLD. I NEVER HAD HEALTH INSURANCE UNTILL I WAS 34 YEARS OLD.I NEVER NEEDED IT.
AFTER INSURANCE, SOMEBODY ELSE PAID FOR THE BIRTH OF THREE OF MY FOUR DAUGHTERS.THAT WAS NICE OF THEM AND I APPRECIATE THE HELP.
MY FIRST DAUGHTER COST ME $87.00 HOW MUCH DOES IT COST OUR CURRENT SYSTEM FOR A DAUGHTER?
PRIOR TO HAVING THE (PRE-PAID) INSURANCE I PAID MY DOCTOR $4.00 FOR AN OFFICE VISIT.
TODAY, WHEN I SEE A DOCTOR AT KAISER, I ALSO HAVE TO PAY A SO-CALLED CO-PAYMENT OF $10.OO. SOME POOR GUYS PAY MORE.
MY REAL POINT IS THAT WE DIDN'T NEED HEALTH INSURANCE WHEN I WAS A KID IN A POOR FAMILY. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MILLIONS ARE UNINSURED BECAUSE WE DON'T QUITE HAVE SOCILIST INSURANCE. THEY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE FOR THE SAME REASON THAT MY POOR FAMILY DIDN'T NEED IT IN 1930. THEY DON'T SEE THE NEED.AND, OBAMA WOULD FORCE LITTLE CHILDREN TO BE INSURED.
IT ISN'T THE LITTLE CHILDREN WHO USE HOSPITALS, IT IS THE OLD GUYS AND GALS LIKE MYSELF. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, VISIT ANY MEDICAL FACILITY AND NOTICE THE ABUNDANCE OF OLD FARTS.
IF YOU THINK THAT SOCIALIZED MEDICINE IS SO WONDERFUL, VISIT GREAT BRITAIN OR EUROPE AND ASK JUST HOW GOOD IT REALLY IS.
HOWEVER, THOSE PROMISES CAN BUY VOTES.

FRANK of CA 2:19PM August 28, 2008

Obama says what all candidates say. The clinton's were in office for 8 years and Mrs. was supposed to be in charge of health care and what did they do in eight years, nothing. At least people who are on Medicare have some sort of coverage for medicines given by this "horrible" president, not the best but something.

Frances Margaret of DC 12:51PM August 28, 2008