Anyone out here have the health care blues these days? Can you name someone who is just thrilled with their health insurance policy and the simplicity of meeting all their health care needs? The Obama administration is attempting to tackle a gigantic mess with the national health care crisis, and so many lives are hanging in the balance. The words nerve-wracking, frustrating and hopeless come to mind.
It is difficult to obtain full statistics about how many people have either lost their health insurance, been downgraded to a lesser plan with higher deductibles, or are crossing their fingers and not buying any at all. As of the 2006 census, over 47 million Americans were uninsured, and some speculate that post-recession the numbers are over 50 million. There are over 105 million Americans without dental insurance, and over 17 million people aged 19-30 years old who are the 'invincibles:' deliberately taking the risk not to buy health insurance and hoping they won't get sick.
Many of the writers here try to inspire you, give you tools to cope, and lessons to thrive through tough economic times. Certainly there is nothing more disruptive to positive thinking, setting clear goals and pursuing a dream than fearing that one bad accident means you can lose your house in medical bills, or that if a child develops leukemia, you may have to file for bankruptcy. The serpent of fear creeps through almost every income bracket. One medical malady could spell financial ruin - how do we deal?
The US is already the most stressed out nation on Earth, and the #1 cause of death is heart disease. Stress does not help heart conditions, and a majority of the issues that bring us to the doctor are stress related. What do most of us do about stress? Eat more (obesity), drink more (alcoholism and liver problems), exercise less (osteoporosis), eat the wrong sorts of foods (high cholesterol), or smoke (lung cancer). We all know these aren't the best choices. I know when I'm stressed out of my mind, a baby lettuce salad or a snickers bar is no contest, and an hour of TV is much more appealing than working out.
How did we get here, and what happened to the local town doc who came with the black bag and stayed for Sunday dinner? The incredible rise in health care costs has made us utterly dependent on the insurance industry. We don't even know what standard procedures cost anymore. How much does it cost to have your tonsils taken out? How much to correct sleep apnea?
Time Magazine's health writer, Karen Tumulty, wrote an article in March about her personal experience of the health care crisis when her brother, Pat, paid for personal insurance while unemployed, avoided going to doctors despite not feeling well, and sadly found that his kidneys were failing at age 54. A few weeks of tests cost him over $14,000, and this did not begin to cover the treatments required. To read the full article, click here:
Tumulty writes:
"Pat represents the shadow problem facing 25 million people who spend more than 10% of their income on out-of-pocket medical costs. They are the underinsured, who may be all the more vulnerable because, until a health catastrophe hits, they're often blind to the danger they're in. In a 2005 Harvard University study of more than 1,700 bankruptcies across the country, researchers found that medical problems were behind half of them -- and three-quarters of those bankrupt people actually had health insurance. As Elizabeth Warren, a Harvard Law professor who helped conduct the study, wrote in the Washington Post, 'Nobody's safe ... A comfortable middle-class lifestyle? Good education? Decent job? No safeguards there. Most of the medically bankrupt were middle-class homeowners who had been to college and had responsible jobs -- until illness struck.'"
Fear often has a paralyzing affect. Why aren't we, as Americans, angrier at this strangle-hold for basic human needs? Why do we let the insurance companies get away with tens of millions of dollars in bonuses being paid to their CEO's, knowing most of that money came from denying care to the sick and helpless? ABC's 20/20 ran a story on Friday about how AIG continues to pamper their exec's with spa vacations, while denying 43% of the most serious health claims of injured contract workers in Iraq.
In next week's article I will highlight a few ways our nation is taking health care back into our hands, putting doctors and patients back in front of one another, and taking action while we wait for an overhaul.
In the meantime, how do we beat the health care blues? Here are a few tried and true 'words of wisdom':
1. "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away." How many of you actually EAT one piece of fresh fruit every single day? How about the recommended daily intake of 5-6 fruits and vegetables per day? Come on, it's hip to 'go raw.'
2. "An ounce of prevention..." The world of alternative medicine has skyrocketed, and for many, it helps. Naturopathy, acupuncture, herbs and chiropractic care have helped millions recover from stress related illnesses and ailments.
3. "I get by with a little help from my friends." The Beatles were so right. Study after study shows the health benefits of developing strong social connections. If you need a drink, go out with friends. The laughs will do more for you than the vodka. If you want to get in shape, forget the gym and walk, bike or run with a buddy. If you want to eat, invite friends over and share a meal together. Stress reducing hormones are released when we are in close proximity to others.
4. "What the world needs now... Is love, sweet love." How often, on a given day, do you experience: awe, joy, curiosity, bliss, wonder, love or amazement? It is no accident that books on 'Happiness' are all the rage; increasing positive emotions boosts health across the board. Take the 'positiviy ratio' test by Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, to see how you evaluate an average day's emotions.
Let's hear it: how do YOU beat the health care blues? Feel free to leave a comment below and start another spirited Huf Po dialogue. For weekly updates, click on the Become a Fan box above.
Follow Kari Henley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/karihenley
Get active, demand Health Care Now, work towards passing HR676 !!!
There is a rally for Health Care May 13th in Wash. DC. The info for this is at:
http://www.healthcare-now.org/2009/04/national-lobby-day-and-rally-for-single-payer-in-dc/
There is nationwide rally May 30th. See if there is something happening nearby your home. There are many events happening around the US. The info for this can be found at:
http://www.healthcare-now.org/campaigns/may-30th-day-of-action/
Another hidden angle is that the system has not only failed the patient, and patient's family, but failed the clinician, as well. After 41 years a a clinician, I am seeing increasing numbers of us look to other venues to provide what we can without the nonsence that we call the health care system. What we've got is a disease care system, not health care.
I just left an international training conference and met many people, doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, psychologists, etc who have been outraged by the intrusion of third party payers, (for profit) who have eroded, along with pharmaceuticals, really good care. It costs an average of $150-$250K just to get through the training. With catastrophic liability insurance costs, people like my colleague, Dr. Shapiro, (Ob-gyn) are leaving their practices. Many are not able to take a paycheck, just to keep providing care. No wonder we are looking in other directions to attend those who want wellness. (www.whynotlivenow.myarbonne.com)
Thanks, as always, Kari, for launching the conversation!
Cara
I'm weighing in here, having just returned from leading a seminar in Dallas. I see you've evoked lots of good discussion, as always. You do have a way.......
Being a "senior citizen", I'm interfacing with the health care system under Medicare now. We should only hope that this kind of universal, single-payer system becomes available for everyone. It's unconscionable that our country places such a low priority on the wellness of its people.
This is the time for us to speak up, as the transformation of our health care system is one of the biggest items on this administration's agenda. Allowing our people to go into medical bankruptcy puts us on a level with third world countries.
I'm glad you'll be writing about this important subject in future posts. We can always count on you to be on top of what matters. Thank you!
Much love,
Judith
I am so glad to have you back! Huff Po missed you!
Thanks for bringing up the important issue- medicare. Many seniors are well cared for under this system ,and it does suggest it could work for the broader population as well.
And, yes, allowing our citizens to 'go bare', go bankrupt or go without is intolerable.
Thanks for weighing in!
Love
Kari
I have been told by many people to quit my job, take my turn down letters from insurers to my county assistance office, and I will qualify for %100 free health care, including medications.
Meanwhile, I suffer from excruciating pain from diabetic peripheral neuropathy (can't afford my prescription anymore, and make too much money for any of the assistance programs), and I will probably die within the next year because I have no access to healthcare at all.
No beating the health care blues here.
Hopefully, by raising the issue, we can all work harder to make our voices heard, demand change and help folks like Intelliwoman have the care she deserves.
Thanks for writing in and good luck.
Kari
Many more people will die waiting for care.
We are the only industrialized nation in the world who does not have a Health Care system that takes care of their citizens. This is shameful!
Cheney
I wonder where the sense of anger and outrage is over a system that dehumanizes people for profit?
Tomorrow, it could be you, or someone you love.
Ultimately Doctors and psychiatrist should be banned from making decisions about health care, they are the ones saying no to treatments in the HMO's, they are the once who decide who get care or who doesn't.
They are the medical directors, that make the decisions, to deny care, even when the treating physician or psychiatrist requests it.
People are dying, doesn't that make you angry?
A country is great when it values it's citizens! In Bhutan they have Gross National Happiness (GNH) as their way of valuing life. Isn't it wonderful a country has such sane value.
The health care of a country is paramount. Deb is English and I remember the first time I visited England and I had to see a doctor there was no charge. It felt so good.
Preventative medicine should be highly respected and we should all be informed about it.
Joyfully,
Ed
Interesting to hear about the English system.
I have heard about Bhutan- Ed Diener is trying to help the US consider establishing the GNH (Gross National Happiness) as a new cabinet position in Washington.
Can you imagine how our policies would change with such a standard to live by?
Love your insights!
Kari
http://vanillaseven.com
Tough break- luckily you are alive and able to tell the story.
Be careful with those bills- establishing bad credit at a young age is a tough one to overcome. My advice is to pay the bill, then file complaints, a la Suzie Orzman style!
Take care
Kari
I am trying to survive...pray for no remission...yet..the daily calls from collection agencies (and I do sent at least $20 a month to every invoice..and there are....about 30..seriously..and I can't make heads nor tails out of what they did)...I digress..I pay a bit, as much as I can...and STILL get collection calls AND a couple have started tacking interest penalties on top...this is madness... I am a vegetarian, worked out (not so much right now....still very weak)....but Cancer does not have any favorites....it waits... and if I filed a complaint...I don't know where I'd start...everything has a toll free # with a non-medical person at the end.Care should be not for profit...period
Many in the public do not recognize the social and moral burden placed on doctors who struggle to care for the sick, don't get paid for it, and are left helping where they can.
It is easy to point the finger at doctors, which may not be fair. Some are entirely ethical- just as in any industry, but most people do not throw away decades of their life to become a doctor if they do not have a deep love of their craft.
The conversation has many facets, many sides and loads of frustration to go around.
Thanks
Kari
Shows the dangers of eating animal and dairy foods and the problems they create in the body. The major cause of most degenerative diseases.
57:53 - Feb 9, 2007 - 2 years ago
Some local hospitals do not accept certain health insurance, and some doctor practices don't- requiring patients to drive long distances to receive care. Some women have to drive several towns over to give birth in a facility that accepts their insurance.
I hear your frustration!