Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
Joined: 5/13/2008
Posts: 25
Location: Michigan
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I was extremely fortunate to work during a time and within an industry when health insurance was provided to employees as part of their benefits package. My health insurance was at the time comparable to that of UAW workers employed by the "Big Three". I had the Cadillac of coverage which included optical, dental, hospitalization and prescription drugs and all with more than reasonable deductibles. While I was working, I didn't think much about it and took it for granted.
It wasn't until after becoming ill and disabled that I realized just how expensive good insurance costs to maintain and how next to impossible it is to afford for those with lower incomes. It was also then that I discovered how truly expensive health care is as a whole. If one's able to afford a minimum coverage policy, office visits, medical tests, lab work and prescriptions all figure into the equation when trying to budget and health care is the first to fall to the wayside when priorities are defined. People will pay their mortgage and buy food before they will go to the doctor. Although I appreciate the discount generic drug programs and I commend the retailers for taking the initiative in offering these services, the programs don't do much good if one can't afford to go to the doctor to get a prescription.
It's often implied people who want health care want something for free. I personally don't believe this is the case. People just want services at reasonable prices and until the insurance industry is brought to task, affordable health care will remain unattainable to many. The gap between low income and middle income families is quickly narrowing when it comes to the cost of health care. The cost will bankrupt middle income families just as fast as those in low income brackets.
It's my sincere hope that someday health care can be affordable and available to all.
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