Getting Moved

I haven't been on my blog in some time. Really, I haven't been moved by much that hasn't given me a case of the "poor-me"s. However, this time it is bigger than me. Health Care Reform.
Paul Harris wrote in The Observer today (Sunday the 26th) about how Wendell Potter became the Health Insurance industry's whistleblower. (www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/26/us-healthcare-obama-barack-change). This powerful article truly demonstrates the need for Americans to understand what it is to be our brothers' keepers. In Genesis 4 Cain killed his brother and when the Lord asked what he had done he said, "Am I my brother's keeper?"

HELLO PEOPLE!!! How is what the health insurance industry does any different? Cain attacked his brother; the Health Insurance industry attacks its supposed clients by using ridiculous excuses (like a doctor made an error in reporting for payment) to rescind health insurance for which these people had been paying (in the interim). The actions of these companies are demonstrating a disregard for human life, when in fact, human life is what they are designed to protect. One cannot protect life by breaking someones spirit: that is still called killing. Being told that you do not have health insurance after being up to date on all payments and needing it for an emergency procedure is a sure way to kill the spirit.

I grew up in a military family where we had excellent health coverage. My parents are blessed to be covered by military health insurance and medicare now. Both of my parents are in excellent health and for all of these things I am very thankful. As I look at my life now, however, I am seeing the challenges of the other side. We have been fortunate enough to have health insurance without having it lapse, but in the last year we have had 4 different insurances. We see that there are questions that this masters-level educated person still struggles to understand when filing out enrollment information and given conflicting information about payments and rules depending on who I speak with at the company (s) or the insurance sales person.

The way our personal insurance was calculated was biased. BMI is still being used in determining risk for personal insurance. My husband was a collegiate athlete, so he weighs heavier than the insurer thinks he should. He was considered "high risk / morbidly obese". Keep in mind the same equation that they use to come up with this number makes George Clooney and Matt Damon land in the same health bracket. (It is widely except that a better way to measure risk and level of health is waist circumference.) When we were getting insurance through my job we didn't have health reports like BMI that would change the amount we owe and therefore I (a runner and healthy eater) payed the same as a gentleman who is truly morbidly obese (I'm guessing he is 6 feet tall and 550 Lbs). I do not object to the way we payed for insurance at my job. But just as the risk is shared by the whole organization, why not spread the individual risk among all of the individually insured? Answer: Because individual policies is where the most money is made and spreading the risk would result is less money profit for the company.

Money isn't bad. It is a tool that allows us as Americans (and most nations of the world) to acquire goods and services. However, just as we do not want people to be mistreating guns, a tool that also can have life and death consequences, and are therefore overseen and given structured guidelines, we should have guidelines, laws and options given to us to protect us from those who would otherwise take our lives using the power of money. Health Insurance Companies place a price on life and if we can't afford the price they put on our lives, we die.

My soul silently aches for those who are sick and have been denied health insurance. Our voices should be loud and tell our government that we want change.... Hey, wait a minute didn't we demonstrate that in November? Hmm...it seems to me we have been loud about wanting change we can believe in!