Health Care Round Up

I spent academic year 2004-2005 living in Paris, doing research and discovering the french outlook on life. I was a Fulbright scholar, and as such, had State Department health care, which I never had to figure out because I didn't have any medical issues which cost enough to get insurance involved. I could go to the pharmacy and buy my prescriptions at ridiculously low prices (here is a funny story about one of my pharmacy experiences) and when I needed a physical for a cycling team I joined, I just walked to the student health center and they gave me a physical, free of charge. They also gave me an ingenious booklet, called my medical passport, containing all sorts of information about my vaccinations, etc. That booklet put me in control of my medical records, something rarely seen in the US. I marveled at the easy of getting medical care there, but didn't think too much of it since I had always had excellent health care through my parents.

When I returned to the US there was a period of 3 months between my State department health insurance running out and my university health insurance beginning. I was no longer eligible for my parents' plan, so I found myself in the position of being insurance-less. I investigated online and found that the cheapest plan I could get was over a 100$ a month for recent Cal grads, and it basically only covered was major medical problems. I had to see a doctor during this time for ongoing treatment, and guess what, the visits weren't covered since it was a "pre-existing condition". I began to realize the terror of living without adequate health insurance, even if it was only for a paltry three month period in which nothing seriously went wrong.

My sister, like many twenty-something year olds, doesn't have health insurance and so gets all of her primary care through the saintly organization, Planned Parenthood. From antibiotics to contraception, they provide everything for her, although they could not help her in the event of a major emergency. Clearly this is not a sustainable solution, and to make matters worse, when she visit them in suburban Naperville, she has to face pro-life protesters who spew judgment and vitriol. She doesn't always keep her mouth shut; the last time she visited she asked them if they would like to pay for her pap smear or would they rather she just not have one. They didn't have much to say to that.

My personal reaction to the health care debate, formed by the experiences above, is visceral and automatic: our health care system is a national shame, in today's society access to affordable health care is a right, just as education is a right for every child. A visceral reaction, however, does not make for persuasive argument, and I don't think I have much to add to the debate. However, I collected a few internet pieces, one written, one video and one radio, that I've read/seen/heard recently and found to be interesting and informative, and posted them below. Check them out.

If you think that a public option is necessary for health care reform, and I believe that it is, please contact your senators and representatives and let them know. You can email them through senate.gov and house.gov.

1) A piece on Cosmic Variance about the blogger's experience dealing with the health care system due to the sudden deterioration of his elderly father's health.

2) A science based look at the health care problem from New Scientist.

3) A discussion on Fresh Air comparing different health care systems around the world

4) And just for fun: