Michelle Obama got it right this past week. She paused for a moment to advocate for health care reform for women. Women make up a disproportionate number of those who are without health care insurance. Many are the primary breadwinner, sole breadwinner, work part time and work in jobs with no health benefits. Employer paid health insurance is quite different than buying coverage on the open market. On the open market, it's outright war. Many legal obstacles exist for women in securing non-employer paid insurance. Plus, there's a bias against women in the health care insurance industry. The insurance gods deliberately make it difficult for many women to obtain insurance. It is legal in nine states and the District of Columbia for insurance companies to reject applicants for health coverage in areas related to women. Victims of domestic abuse can be denied coverage. Pregnant applicants can be denied coverage due to what they call a pre-existing condition. Yet, even a past … [Read more...] about GIVE A SISTA A HEALTH CARE BREAK!
Archives for September 2009
YOU LIE, YOU’RE FIRED!
Imagine if during the annual meeting of a major corporation, a senior executive shouted "you lie" to the CEO while he was speaking. Imagine if your co-worker or supervisor shouted the same words to your boss during a meeting. What about if a nun shouted "you lie" to the Priest during communion service. Imagine if a deacon said "you lie" to the Pastor while he was preaching. Would anyone ever say those words to a Rabbi speaking during high holy services? We all find these examples to be outrageous, offensive, disruptive, disrespectful and deliberate. Let's put them in the context of Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouting "you lie" during President Obama's speech before the joint session of Congress. Why isn't everyone outraged at these antics? His repugnant act goes beyond bad manners. And no, I don't buy for one minute that he accidentally blurted out those words. Everyone regardless of race, age, sex or party affiliation should be outraged at the outlandish act of Rep. Wilson (R-S.C.). … [Read more...] about YOU LIE, YOU’RE FIRED!
Mr. President Please Put Patient Safety First
Shakespeare once said let’s kill all the lawyers. Many people still think that trial lawyers are the root of all our problems. Trial lawyers are blamed for causing doctors to go out of business due to sky high medical insurance premiums and costs. Of course, it’s the trial lawyers who sue when patients have been catastrophically injured or died by the hands of doctors. And the argument is these trials, lawyers and judgments drive doctors out of business. Letting “bad” doctors or negligent doctors and hospitals off the hook is not the answer either. There must be a balance between patient safety and the costs of doctors able to practice medicine. But in reality lawyers and doctors have more in common than one might think. If either group could look beyond their own faces, they would see the enemy. We are not causing the problem. The real culprits are not doctors nor lawyers in causing the medical crisis problems. The real culprits are the insurance companies. Running a … [Read more...] about Mr. President Please Put Patient Safety First