Is Health Care a Right?

obeyacts2 · Jan 31, 2003

Originally posted by Susy K
Here's another question.

I work with low-income patients daily. As I enroll them into our research study, I draw the blood we need for the study, and at the same time I draw their prenatal labs. As a result, I fill out the lab's requisition slip and require the patient's insurance card. Today I had a 22 year old woman, pregnant with her second child, who reported to me that she finished high school and was working at Walmart. Yet, she handed me her Title 19 card. Why is she on T-19 when she's employed? Is Walmart's benefits that horrible?

You bet they are= IF she has any....She probably works full time at the minimum wage or close to it...no way somebody like that could pay 150-250 month for health coverage....btwn that and a sitter for the existing child she would go in the hole evwery month ........Hmmm 80/wk for sitter plus 60 more to insurane, thats 150 week in expenses...she most likely doesnt take home more than 350/wk ..... We wonder why poor women stay on welfare???

Q. · Jan 31, 2003

Maureeno,

Thanks for the info.

Now on to another question.

When I was a college student, I worked as a physician answering service during the evening shift, approximately 32 hours a week. I made $8.00/hour. I don't remember how much I had taken out for health insurance, but I took it. Why? Well...health care was a priority to me.

Granted, I didn't have two kids to support, but then I have to ask, why is this 22 year old who clearly can't afford living on Walmart's wage and take health insurance, having another child?? It's right at this moment that the problem starts.

KC CHICK · Jan 31, 2003

Observe...... Susy hitting the nail on the head.

I agree 100%.

Q. · Jan 31, 2003

Originally posted by KC CHICK
Observe...... Susy hitting the nail on the head.
I agree 100%.

Is there a smilie for that?

donmurray · Jan 31, 2003

So....as there is no 100% reliable method of family planning short of abstinence, poor people shouldn't have sex.

Q. · Jan 31, 2003

C'mon Don! For pete's sake the pill is 99.8% effective, and there have been studies that show that the reason it isn't 100% is because patients don't take it properly.

I have sex, and don't have a single child. Imagine that!

Sex and children are entirely different things. They can have all the sex they want, but if you can't provide for your own children, don't have any!

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 31, 2003

OK----- we have talked the situation of irresponsibility TO DEATH in this thread thus far. Your points are all well-taken. NOW, what about those who thru no fault of their own suddenly find themselves laid off (e.g. Boeing, 16,000 of them here in Seattle) and cannot secure another job w/bennies even close to what they had then? HMMM? They HAVE professional degrees! Their kids are ALREADY HERE and not getting cheaper to raise. Unemployment runs out.......still no job on the horizon other than a Wally- World or Mickey-D's type? What do *they* do? How do they get insurance? Who helps them? Are they to fault for what they suddenly find happening to them due to this CRAP economy? Who covers THEM? Anyone?

Remember, it could happen TO YOU...even in nursing, the jobs that offer 0.9 FTE bennies are getting harder and harder to find. Hospitals/institutions are now deciding it's much more expedient/economical to hire a couple 0.6 or less and offer less in the way of bennies. Virtually all the postings I see are far less than 0.9. So, What happens when/if this happens to you? Same thing apply????

"oh well, too bad, your problem, I don't want to pay your way, I have my own life to finance and happiness to pursue?" Just wondering.......

maureeno · Jan 31, 2003

After 30 years of working in mental health I still cannot say why people do unwise things. I do know none of us acts consistently in our best interests. I am empathetic with all of us flawed human beings. One reason we collect in groups is to share strengths and minimize weaknesses. I have always been a winner. Born, smart and pretty into a family that nurtured my talents and taught me how to delay gratification I have been able to use every opportunity given me. I understand many have not been so lucky as me and I believe it is both my priviledge and responsibility to serve my fellow beings. If this sounds hokey, so be it. I'd like to add though that science is showing my beliefs to actually be a health advantage in the process of aging!:)

Q. · Jan 31, 2003

Deb,

Regardless of our economy's situation, we've had this health care problem for years. When our economy was booming, we still had people like you are describing. So, what to do about people who get laid off from well-paid, professional jobs and can not ever find another job other than fast-fast food, I'd have to see how many of those types of people actually exist. And I've have to wonder, if our economy was so bad that major, major corporations were going under and people were losing jobs left and right, how could McDonald's survive?

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 31, 2003

Originally posted by maureeno
After 30 years of working in mental health I still cannot say why people do unwise things. I do know none of us acts consistently in our best interests. I am empathetic with all of us flawed human beings. One reason we collect in groups is to share strengths and minimize weaknesses. I have always been a winner. Born, smart and pretty into a family that nurtured my talents and taught me how to delay gratification I have been able to use every opportunity given me. I understand many have not been so lucky as me and I believe it is both my priviledge and responsibility to serve my fellow beings. If this sounds hokey, so be it. I'd like to add though that science is showing my beliefs to actually be a health advantage in the process of aging!:)

wow good for YOU. you are right, not all of us are lucky. some of us have to WORK at it, honey.

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 31, 2003

Originally posted by Susy K
Deb,
Regardless of our economy's situation, we've had this health care problem for years. When our economy was booming, we still had people like you are describing. So, what to do about people who get laid off from well-paid, professional jobs and can not ever find another job other than fast-fast food, I'd have to see how many of those types of people actually exist. And I've have to wonder, if our economy was so bad that major, major corporations were going under and people were losing jobs left and right, how could McDonald's survive? [/
Suze two of my closest friends are dealing w/this now. And yes, it's hard as hell to find an equitable job to what they lost. One has been working many different jobs for TWO years now, in her attempt to get what she needs so she can insure herself and her two teen boys. She is even looking at moving cross country now. It's just hard as hell out there and when you DO have kids, even much more so.
All the benefits associated w/unemployment are exhausted and so is she. She has moved to a smaller house in a crappy part of town to make ends meet. She cuts back on everything. She has done all she can responsibly to survive. She considers everyday going on welfare so at least she CAN get insurance for the kids, but her pride refuses to let her. SO damn straight, I would pay from my checks to cover people like that til they can get their bearings back. You oughta have to search like she has to. It's demoralizing. No money to go back to school to retrain. NO jobs worth a crap for her right now. She has resumes nationwide...countless interviews, being told she is overqualified or whatever....sure does not pay the doctor's bills, tho. Not to mention harrowing every day wondering if one of the boys will get sick and she can't pay to cover it.
I guess, I look at situations like hers and say to myself "there but for the Grace of God go I" cause she never thought w/her experience and training it would happen, yet it did. It can to any of us, I still maintain. It would be harder to take on the other side of the fence, don't you think?

Sally_ICURN · Jan 31, 2003

"The experience we deliver has eroded," he says. "If we can just get the customers we've lost back in the stores, our financial picture would be dramatically different."

"First ever quarterly loss stings McDonald's"