Now I Wait

[Irishonly]

I will wait and see if my doctor tells me Kaiser is reevaluating on whether or not to offer coverage for Medicare patients. If they do I will have to wait for the booklet to see what happens to my copays. Testing is becoming outrageously expensive as it is and when you are a cancer survivor, have a very bad heart as well as being a diabetic with neuropathy you have to have a lot of tests. I am afraid I wont have to wait long to see what happens when the elderly and disabled cannot afford treatments.

I don't have to wait to see what happens to the poor. My neighbor has Medicaid and it's a trying experience when I take him to pick up his medication for his epilepsy. Every month another drug is not covered.

My hope is gone.

[Big Blue Marble]

1. I am sorry for the additional stress this must be adding to your health issues.

Our healthcare system is failing us. The more expensive it becomes, the less effective it is.
And the more are left out. The system is broken. Where do we turn?

I send you my care and concern.

[Irishonly]

2. Thank you

I am tearing up as I read your reply. Your words touched me. Isn't it a horrible state when we become so used to the snarking we read daily? It's like we have forgotten we are all in this together.

[Big Blue Marble]

5. It is so easy to forget that we are in this together, when we are so afraid.

That is why "they' work so hard to keep us fearful and on guard. When we are a fractured society tearing
at each other, we are so much easier to manipulate. The propaganda has effectively used our tribal instincts
to turn us left and right against each other.

There is nothing that brings back our humanity more than illness. Each of us regardless of our political affiliations
are at risk of being humbled by the failures of our own bodies to support us. It is at these time, we most need
social support in the form of dependable affordable care. And for now, so many are being shut out of our system.

We truly need to find better ways to care for each other.

[Irishonly]

7. Thank you

So many people don't understand that no one has it easy on Social Security. There are many reasons why some one didn't get to keep their "nest egg" for old age.

The lack of caring I see now troubles me. I have it better than a lot. My husband and I are avid gardeners so fresh vegetables are not a problem for us. I give to the elderly and the poor. My frustration comes with people not understanding that just because a monthly benefit isn't cut it doesn't mean that there won't be hardships.

I have a roof over my head. Too many don't. We do need to find better ways to care for each other. We haven't been doing a very good job.

[Big Blue Marble]

11. I profoundly agree with everything you say.

We have got to find ways to nurture and nourish each other. Thank you for your insightful words of wisdom.

[Solly Mack]

3. I'm so sorry, Irishonly.

I'm fortunate in that I have solid health care. I get so angry that being poor is so often a death sentence. It doesn't have to be - and it shouldn't be in a country where people know better (and America does know better even with the idiots)...they know everyone needs decent health care. It's not a luxury or a privilege. It is just as much a need as food/water and shelter.

[Irishonly]

8. We would save money in the long run

Too many don't have basic necessities, let alone health care now. I live in an urban area and I see so many homeless.

[Solly Mack]

12. I see health care as a basic necessity.

A healthy aging population makes for a better country and in the long run, it does save money. A healthy population, period, makes for a better country. We live longer, we have more health problems, but if we start from a position of treating health care for everyone has a basic necessity, a lot of problems will be caught in time....and that also saves money. People can be more productive when they are healthier. People shouldn't have to suffer or die because there is no money. Money shouldn't be the barrier to a decent standard of lving...and anyone having to just put up with pain or a medical condition (because of money) isn't my definition of a decent standard of living.

[gratuitous]

4. I am not sick the way you are, and for that I'm thankful

But I am sick of the way our incredibly wealthy nation can't see fit to take care of its own citizens. Sick to my heart, sick to the point of despair, sick to death. And what I'm perhaps most sick of is the success of certain forces in our country in atomizing our society so that one person's desperate plight is compartmentalized and sequestered from everyone else, such that we don't even recognize the benefit to ourselves of concern for our neighbor's good.

John Donne had it right when he said that no one is an island, separate and independent, on his own. The loss of anyone is a loss to all of society, for we are all involved in our common humanity. Maybe we'll remember that again before the end.

[Irishonly]

9. Thank you

I hope you are right. We can do better.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. I am so sorry....

There are no adequate words, but I am truly sorry you're suffering -- especially when some of it could be avoided (financial stress).

I'm sorry we live in a society that doesn't care for one another adequately or support one another compassionately.

I send you many hugs.

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[Irishonly]

10. Thank you

I am so touched by everyone's kindness. Your words give me hope.