Cover the Uninsured Week March 10-16

Nurses General Nursing

Published

As some may have heard or read or seen on TV in the form of informational commercials, in the United States, there are 41+ million people who are not covered by health insurance. As the commercial goes, 8 out of 10 of those uninsured are people who are employed.

Cover the Uninsured Week is "an effort to sensitize the public and opinion leaders to the plight of the more than 41 million Americans who lack health insurance."

About Cover the Uninsured Week

Cover the Uninsured Week is an effort to bring this important and ignored issue to the forefront by an impressively large group of partners, patrons, benefactors, sponsors, and supporters which include the ANA to the YMCA and many reputable groups in-between. AND by individuals like you and me.

http://covertheuninsuredweek.org/involved/

Some facts:

*The uninsured represent 14.6 percent of the population.

*Uninsured Americans come from every race, age and ethnic group.

*Nearly a quarter of them are children."

More facts

As nurses, we have the opportunity to help. Help individuals by learning what resources are available to them.

Find out more about the legislation that is being proposed by Congress and the administration of our current President:

Legislation.

This IS NOT about a Single Payer healthcare system or Universal Healthcare, this IS about adressing the very serious healthcare crisis that is happening NOW in this country.

"The Covering The Uninsured Campaign does not endorse a particular solution to the problem of the uninsured, but it invites you to join the national discussion so that practical solutions can be found."

Get involved. Sign the proclamation! When you do it is forwarded to a company called GMMB, an advocacy agency who is uniting the voices into one large ROAR! Print it, take it to work, collect signatures and mail it to Sarah Moss c/o GMMB 1010 Wisconsin Ave NW Suite 800, Washington DC, 20007 . That's my plan.

It's the least we can do to try and make a contribution for the better.

Speaking of insurance...you all DO have your right?

-Russell

Originally posted by Rustyhammer

Speaking of insurance...you all DO have your malpractice insurance right?

-Russell

yuppers....had it since 1996....got it cuz it was required for a job i took, and i have kept it up ever since....

:( Being a Canadian this really upset me!!!!! How can a country that is so rich have so many people with out health coverage. Here in Canada everyone is covered regardless to your financial status.

Why is there no OHIP ( Ontario Health Insurance Plan) in the states??

Why are people made to suffer great financial burdens because you are sick? From what I've been reading a hospital stay for your ill family member could bankrupt your family.

This makes me really mad:(

When I graduated I was offered positions in the states. I refused as I was concerned for my children's well being!!! I have 5 teenage boys. One is Autistic. My 17 year old broke his leg at school on the ice covered school yard. The total cost to me was $45.00 Ambulance fee. $100.00 for the fiber glass glow in the dark cast that went from his groin to his toes. He spent 2 days in hospital. From what I understand this would have cost me thousands of dollars in the states.

Got to LoVE the states i guess.

Thank God I am Canadian:D

If there is anything I can do for you here in Canada please let me know!!!!

Everyone young or old rich or poor deserve proper health care without the financial burden.

P.S. At one time 70's there was a nonminal charge for OHIP for those who could afford it I think I paid $10.00 per month but even that didn't last

Your government taxes you through the teeth why not have a set amount of it go toward insuring the uninsured?????

It's sad isn't it??? America... the beautiful. I love my country, but sometimes I just don't understand where she's comin from! God bless America and me and you!

Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

TY for the heads up Sally...this is VERY important. Consider me in!

Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

Dear Sally,

I signed the proclamation. As a member of the cyber sorority and virtual posse, I take offense at being labeled as such. I for one enjoy the links to the silly quizzes. It's a break from nursing reality.

Have a nice day:)

Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by nurse-lou

Dear Sally.....

Psst Kelly.

Sally didn't say that.

Originally posted by Susy K

Psst Kelly.

Sally didn't say that.

:roll :roll :roll

Originally posted by sanakruz

Thanks,Sally - something worth reading and thinking about here for a change- I'm tired of running away from the virtual posse, and reading stupid threads like "what kind of toilet paper are you?" from the cyber sorority....

This is out of line. We have an Off-Topic forum. If you don't like it, stay away from the Off-Topic. Pretty simple.

The Bush administration has suggested a Medicaid reform plan, front loaded with money which is to be paid back after several years, with the supposed "savings" states are to find by redesigning their benefit programs. Oregon already received a Medicaid waiver from the federal government to devise its own healthcare plan. The plan is now in total crisis. 500,000 people with no coverage at all.

From The Oregonian

Man's state points to crisis

03/09/03

PATRICK O'NEILL

A disabled Portland man is unconscious and in critical condition at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital & Medical Center after losing state pharmaceutical benefits for low-income people.

Douglas K. Schmidt, 36, apparently suffered a massive seizure about eight days after his supply of anti-seizure medication ran out.

Family members said Saturday that Schmidt was still waiting for an application to arrive so he could get onto one of the interim prescription programs being offered as backup by pharmaceutical companies.

Oregon's budgetary problems have forced the state to drop coverage for some people on the Oregon Health Plan, the state's health insurance program for the poor. In Schmidt's case, it was a cut in the state's medically needy program.

Jean Thorne, director of the Oregon Department of Human Services, called Schmidt's hospitalization "a tragic circumstance."

"But as we cut back the safety net, we're going to see similar cases," she said Saturday.

Thorne said 8,500 people lost pharmaceutical coverage when the medically needy program was cut. "But beyond that we have another 100,000 who are going to lose their coverage on July 1," she said.

That's the date the Oregon Health Plan eliminates coverage for the state's working poor.

Sally,

Signed and sent. Also forwarded it to my family and friends so they can sign it too....;)

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Thank you Sally. You call attention to a timely and important subject. I am with you in your viewpoints 100%

And yes, Russell, I have always carried but I DO NOT ADVERTISE THIS TO PATIENTS AND COWORKERS! It is advised we don't. But I would consider myself a fool, practicing in what is likely the most litigious area of nursing (OB) and not have the protection of malpractice insurance. It is worth every penny I spend each year to stay covered!

+ Add a Comment