Health Care Responses
April 21, 2009 -
Here are some of the responses I received regarding health care reform.
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"It's a complex matter with no easy answers. In the course of my work over the last few years I've had the opportunity to speak with individuals from various constituencies in this discussion.
"I think it's critical to keep Dirigo Choice and open it up again to new enrollees when possible. Re: MaineCare, there seems to be a need to better educate its members to improve partnership with the physicians that provide care (reduce no-show appointments, improve compliance), and overall reduce an entitlement mindset when that exists. And participating physicians need to be rewarded more effectively if we expect them to continue with their practices.
"I don't think that diluting required coverage is the way to go in an attempt to make health insurers more willing to do business here. I don't think competition will help, or even happen, in a way that is best for the people of Maine. I would rather see the state take a larger role." -Linda
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"Last year I made $15,000.00, an increase over the previous year's income. As a result, I now no longer qualify for Maine Care...Insurance companies need to give it a rest...While I was on Maine Care I got the best health care of my entire life. Single payer coverage works in most of the industrialized countries of the world..." -Elizabeth
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"I am very fortunate to have excellent health coverage, but have several friends that have little to none. Both of my sons, one who will be 25 in Sept. and must go off my plan and the other who is 26 and on his own, have no health or dental coverage. Both work part time in restaurant business and have little money to pay for health care. Like many young people, they are taking a chance that they will continue to be healthy and especially critical for me, they do not seek preventative care.
"I have another friend who just had to drop Maine Care when the rates increased and he could no longer pay them. He is self employed and has a heart condition. While he was covered, he had heart surgery. He now has only catastrophic care with a 15,000 deductible, and worries that another health crisis will put him under. I have at least one other friend similar circumstances, though she at least is healthy.
"I know there are many many others in the same situation. Personally, I believe we need to follow the lead of the rest of the industrialized world and have universal national care. I am sure it will have flaws, but it must be better than what we now have." -Suzanne
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"Obviously, irrefutably, single-payer non-profit basic quality health care for all, as every other First World country has long since appreciated, giving them a significant economic edge on us in every enterprise...Nationally, 59 per cent of the people want it and the figures have gone higher..." -Bill
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"I plan to apply for business school and work part time independently on a variety of projects. I am excited, but it will be my first time in years without a steady paycheck and health insurance. I had thought that I’d be able to do COBRA, but it turns out my premium will be nearly $500 a month. That just isn’t doable. And it feels wrong somehow: I’m a healthy, fit, non-smoking 31-year old. How could I possibly cost the system that much?
"I plan to apply for business school and work part time independently on a variety of projects. I am excited, but it will be my first time in years without a steady paycheck and health insurance. It's frustrating for those of us trying to grow strategically & creatively AND do good work, to have to let go of all our safety nets if we want make leaps forward. Frankly, I have always found our linking of health care to jobs rather bewildering. I think it forces people to take or keep jobs they've intellectually, physically, or spiritually grown beyond. That's not good for our civic society. We're past the era when Mr. Big Company would take 20- and 30-year-olds under its wing for the rest of their careers. We need dynamic new health care to cover a dynamic new society." -Kerri
