real median household income in the united states rose by 1.1 percent between 2004 and 2005, reaching $46,326, according to a report released today by the u.s. census bureau. meanwhile, the nation's official poverty rate remained statistically unchanged at 12.6 percent. the percentage of people without health insurance coverage rose from 15.6 percent to 15.9 percent (46.6 million people).
I began an an accelerated nursing course thinking I could live without health insurance for one year. Eight months into it, my periods were getting way too heavy. I went to a clinic where I was diagnosed with a uterine fibroid that was the equivalent size of a three-month pregnancy. Six weeks later it was diagnosed as cancer. I had a total hyster and four months later had a lobe in my lung removed for a met there. I have rung up about $60,000 in bills. I never had health problems before this. That's why I thought I could make it a year without insurance.
I also didn't qualify for Medicaid because I don't have children. I've been paying taxes since I was 18 y.o. The one time I needed a little help I don't qualify. Because I don't have children.
Cathy
Hi Cathy,
I hope that you are doing better. It's a hard thing that you're going through.
I feel your pain. Granted mine wasn't cancer but gall stones. I lived with my gall stones and the pain that goes with them for 10.5 years because I was hoping for the medical coverage. Well I didn't get medical coverage but I did get a healthy case of pancreatitis and a stone lodged in the common bile duct. I did get the gall bladder removed to the healthy sum of $16,000. It's going to take me awhile to pay that one off. I also have pre-existing conditions which require daily medications that I also paid out of pocket. Two are generic now thank goodness. I'm just waiting for the patent on the other one to end than it will be more reasonable too.
JFK is directly to blame for the number of homeless and poor in this country as well as his predecessor for the utter failure that the war on poverty has caused. JFK and Lyndon Johnson have done more to harm and decimate minorities and women in this country than any administration in history.
And just how do you figure that, he has been dead for 4 and 1/2 decades now.
A society is only as strong as it's weakest link....don't know who said it first. We, as a nation, rank somewhere around dead last among the industrialized nations in healthcare for our citizens. What does this say about us as a country? We can build bombs but we can't build free clinics?? We can help other countries (not that helping others is wrong) but we can't help the people in need in our own backyards??
Some of the judgemental attitudes I've seen on this particular thread really bother me. I don't think anyone CHOOSES to be homeless or go without basic medical care. No one DESERVES it. No one member of society has greater value than another....JMOHO. I'm going to post this...and then sign off this thread before I end up smacking someone.
we have had quite a few european students here for a yr at a time - one thing they all say is how great the health care system is - noone goes without care - noone - however - if this is the way we want it we muct also realize those countries that have it pay more than HALF thier wages into taxes - horse a piece - which would you do.
Fuzzy
370 Posts
Hi Cathy,
I hope that you are doing better. It's a hard thing that you're going through.
I feel your pain. Granted mine wasn't cancer but gall stones. I lived with my gall stones and the pain that goes with them for 10.5 years because I was hoping for the medical coverage. Well I didn't get medical coverage but I did get a healthy case of pancreatitis and a stone lodged in the common bile duct. I did get the gall bladder removed to the healthy sum of $16,000. It's going to take me awhile to pay that one off. I also have pre-existing conditions which require daily medications that I also paid out of pocket. Two are generic now thank goodness. I'm just waiting for the patent on the other one to end than it will be more reasonable too.
Fuzzy