Why I am in favor of health care reform...

[flaming_mo]

This story is one of several personal anecdotes that I can relate in order to explain my longtime support for health care reform. As several of you are aware, I worked in the front lines of the health care industry for close to a decade, and saw a number of things that disturbed me about our system. This is one of the most upsetting incidents I

Comments

[ubiquitous_a]

I completely agree, and this is why we MUST have a public health care option in the health care reform legislation working its way through Congress.

My mom was in a devastating auto accident a couple of years ago when someone crossed the center line on an icy day and hit her head on. She had just started a new job about a month before, and also was still in that "probationary" period where her health insurance wouldn't kick in until 90 days had passed. I sincerely hope that part of the legislation removes this loophole, not to mention all of the other things that allow health insurance companies to kick people to the curb.

My sister currently works two part time retail jobs, and has no health care insurance provided by either employer. I myself went for nearly two years without insurance after I was laid off, since the temp agency I worked for didn't offer it as an option, and even if they had I couldn't have afforded it.

If I had my druthers, health care would not be a for-profit venture at all. There's such a direct conflict of interest (at least from the insurance end) since it is in their best interest to pay out as little money as possible, and pad their quarterly record profits even more.

Most of those who we see out there, the "tea-baggers" who are shouting down any kind of meaningful discussion at town hall meetings, are just swallowing GOP talking points hook, line, and sinker. If you actually get them THINKING for themselves, oddly enough I have seen those who come to realize that a public health care option for everyone is not a bad thing at all.

[flaming_mo]

I had a situation similar to your mother's and it ruined my credit and nearly destroyed me financially. BTW, it's not just part-timers who can get screwed concerning benefits, I've worked several full-time jobs that either did not provide any benefits, or the management played rules-lawyering games with assigning hours (such as 35 instead of 40) to avoid having to give them. And goodness knows there are a lot of folks out, particualrly in service industries who get such short-shrift from their employers.

Prior to my moving to Tampa Bay and working in the for-profit hospital environment, I worked in a non-profit facility. The difference in patient care and the attitude of the employees was like night and day, with the non-profit obviously being the superior surroundings.