A portion of an editorial that appeared in today's NYT:
When Dollars Trump Compassion By BOB HERBERT
You won’t see these stories on television, but Marian Wright Edelman and Dr. Irwin Redlener could talk to you all day and all night about children whose lives have been lost or ruined because they didn’t have health insurance.
This is not a situation one associates with a so-called advanced country. That you can have sick children wasting away in the United States, the wealthiest nation on the planet, because medical treatment that could relieve their suffering is withheld by men and women with dollar signs instead of compassion in their eyes is beyond unconscionable.
Ms. Edelman is the president of the Children’s Defense Fund, and Dr. Redlener is president of the Children’s Health Fund.
Both are appalled at the embarrassing fact that nine million American children have no health coverage at all. Among them are children with diabetes, chronic asthma, heart conditions, life-threatening allergies and so on. In many instances they are left untreated until it is too late.
Leaving children uninsured is a form of Russian roulette, Dr. Redlener said.
“All children should be covered,” said Ms. Edelman.
Posts: 2349 | Location: A Blue State | Registered: May 02, 2004
My dh lost his job because my second son was born with RAD (reactive airway disease), much like asthma but they didn't want to put that term in it until he was over 12. But the reason my husband lost his job, is because we USED the insurance he had been paying for at work.
It's not perfect, but the US should really consider open and free health care for all. It's a disgrace that our country keeps falling behind much less developed countries is so many areas that involve $$.
It's never too late to get it right.
Posts: 3468 | Location: Central USA | Registered: March 11, 2004
The red tape is incredible. DH was unemployed shortly afterDS birth...when we found out he was deaf and had all sorts of other medical issues. Because he was under hearing impairment vs. autism they did cover everything. (Under autism it would have been zero) BUT the red tape was sooooo huge. DH and I are 'smart' but if you don't keep on it- it becomes next to impossible.
Yes! I cried when I read the story of the 12 y.o. boy who died from a tooth infection. A tooth infection should not be killing children in the U.S. (Sadly, it shouldn't anywhere, but you REALLY don't expect it here.)
Dawn
"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You have to set yourself on fire." anonymous
Posts: 4287 | Location: Indianapolis, IN | Registered: March 15, 2004
