How many here in DUland really give a shit ........

[tyedyeto]

as to what is happening to their own members?

I'll be called a welfare mama before the night is out because I can no longer afford health care that my company offers me. I have requested of my employer that they discontinue my health coverage. I am on the 'verge' of state run health ie: don't know if they will accept me for income reasons, but at this point, I CANNOT afford to keep paying what I do for health insurance. So, I will opt for the possibility that my state will provide some sort of coverage if I need it.

I never thought I'd see the day in which I'd be asking the state for a hand-out. :cry:

[Cleita]

1. So sorry.

We really need single payer universal health care. That is everyone pays into one plan and everyone is covered. You don't have to feel like you are begging because you can't afford one of the overpriced and under performing private insurance plans. No one should ever have to agonize over access to health care.

[madfloridian]

2. That is so terrible.

There are many people around now who are starting to be in the same boat....and for the first time ever for them.

They are scared and don't know where to turn.

Our country should never have come down to this.

:hug:

[bdamomma]

3. it just sucks what is happening to people.

so sorry.

[Hekate]

4. I don't know any DUers who don't get the health care crisis. I'm sorry if you do...

...and really sorry this is happening to you. Best of luck, prayers, and know that we are working to get a Democrat elected.

Hekate

[Faygo Kid]

5. It's not a damned "hand out." I'm part of that "state," and this is where I want my money to go.

Not to war.

Not to oil company subsidies.

Not to graft.

To people who need it. And you do. I have your back, and so do all of us on DU. Now cut it out, we care, and let no more be said.

[Cleita]

7. That's true it's not a hand out. It's where your tax money should be going,

not on war and not on corporate welfare.

[JeffR]

14. Best response ever.

:headbang:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

6. You go, and you don't stop

This is exactly right. You've worked, you've paid your taxes, and now that you need it, some of those tax dollars should be spent to care for you.

It is anything but a handout. This is something to which you have contributed, something to which you are entitled. Don't you think for one minute that you're getting something for nothing. You've already paid for it.

I applaud you and wish you well.

[Adsos Letter]

8. One of the legitimate uses for our tax es is to help people who need it.

I have absolutely no problem with that...would that we would do more of it.

[angrycarpenter]

9. I know what you mean

I very well may lose my job before the year is out. If that occurs I will go on unemployment for the first time in my life. I am 44.

I cannot believe that anyone thinks that $800-$1000 a month is a sustainable rate to charge. I think everyone has to give-up coverage eventually making all of your conditions pre-existing.

I have never had health insurance. sometimes I think that I stay healthy only because I cannot afford to get sick.

As to your question, I care deeply for the the people who are ground-up by the machine. That is why I am a proud, angry liberal. Please do not feel shame at asking for help, get angry instead at the way that a honest hard working American cannot afford to see a doctor when they are sick.

[elocs]

10. If you have ever paid taxes, there is no way that could be described as a handout.

I have a friend who I met 16 years ago when she was on welfare with 2 little kids. While on welfare she went to school and now she is making over $50,000 a year now. In the last dozen years she has paid enough in taxes to more than pay for her welfare.

I've been out of work for a month and a half now and I have no insurance. Fortunately I am single and healthy and have nothing to lose. Just remember, we are the state.

[man4allcats]

11. For what it's worth ...

I realize you are still employed so maybe your eligibility might be a bit different than my case was, but about three years ago I got laid off from a job that had provided good medical coverage. Suddenly I had no coverage at all. I have a couple of manageable health issues so I needed something. Having nowhere else to turn, I googled "free health clinics" for my area. I actually found a sliding scale neighborhood clinic that was really good. It didn't look fancy and many of the folks who were patients there didn't speak a lot of English, but the doctors staffing it were faculty members at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Last time I checked, Baylor was ranked among the top 10% of U.S. medical schools. I got good care there that I was able to afford while drawing nothing more than unemployment compensation. I've been back at work for some time now and again have health insurance so I don't go to that clinic anymore. Their resources are for those who really need them; not those who can afford other clinics but just want to try to save a few bucks. My point is, don't be afraid to check out the free/sliding scale clinics if it comes to that. They sometimes get a bad rap because they're cheap and don't have the expensive look of most medical clinics, but in my experience at least, the care was excellent.

[madeline_con]

12. It's NOT a handout.

It's there for just this sort of reason. If you've paid taxes (or been deemed exempt), why not accept some help? :hug:

[Saturday]

13. I care. nt

[SpookyCat]

15. I'm so sorry.

Please don't demean yourself, or internalize any of the negative messages that idiots parrot. There is nothing whatsoever wrong with getting help when you need it, whether it be from friends, family or the government funds you have paid into.

Be gentle with yourself as much as you can. And please hold your head high. This isn't your fault.

If you're in a big city maybe there are free clinics that can also help. Here we have Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, and many other cities have similar.

Take care!

[FloridaJudy]

16. It's not a hand out.

In a civilized country, it would be a right. I'm a taxpayer, and that's where I want my money to go: for health care and education, not for unjustified wars and no-bid contracts to corporations that have the morals of rabid wolverines.

I lost a good job with great health care benefits three years ago through no fault of my own. Not only am I uninsured right now, but I've since become uninsurable, having developed adult-onset diabetes. Fortunately, I have an understanding doctor who charges me the minimum, prescribes the cheapest medications and gives me lots of free samples. Right now I'm hoping to either get a decent job soon or live long enough to get Medicare before I have an expensive crisis.

I will never forgive the Republicans and the insurance companies for allowing this country to put off instituting universal coverage. Never.

[Pacifist Patriot]

17. I gladly pay taxes for such programs. It's part of living in a just and compassionate society.

As opposed to how the Bush Crime Family is spending the vast majority of our taxes. I care a great deal which is one of the reasons I am here. I am so sorry to hear about your plight!

[Stinky The Clown]

18. It isn't a handout, dammit. It is a unfunded RIGHT.

[marmar]

19. "unfunded RIGHT"

Couldn't have said it better myself.

:applause:

[Fumesucker]

20. Our family was on foodstamps and WIC when our daughter was born

Going on thirty years ago.

I feel no guilt whatsoever, we have repaid what we received many, many times over in taxes since then and our daughter is a productive member of society and is now raising our three grandchildren who will also be productive members of society.

While I am by no means a Hillary fan, I agree with her that it takes a village to raise a child.

[iamthebandfanman]

21. my girlfriend and i

briefly received food stamps. i hafta admit, at first i was a little apprehensive about it... but thank god we were able(well, one of us) to get them. it was a real life saver for a few months. we no longer have a need for them (we have both found steady employment, for now atleast).

its not a hand out, its a hand up. just remember that.

also, nobody should ever feel bad about getting some help. just remember our government have bailed out plenty of corporations with billions of dollars... so... they can atleast help you when you need it.

[TexasObserver]

22. Benefits are designed to help those who need them. Accept them as such.

Please don't let false pride play a role. I understand your feeling about it, but our species exists because of its ability to work cooperatively. That means sometimes a person has to be helped when they're down. Just resolve to help others when you're back where you want to be.

John McCain will get a check for $5000 this month for his disability. And he'll get it next month. And he doesn't even need the money.

Get your benefits, and don't be bashful about it. Good luck.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

23. Don't be ashamed

Back when I was studying German as a college student back in the days of LPs and IBM Selectrics, I picked up a German magazine that described some changes (improvements, actually) in the German health care system.

I forget what the actual benefits were, but the article was urging readers to request these benefits if they needed them. I do recall, however, the phrase, "Das ist Ihr Bürgerrecht." "This is your right as a citizen."

I DO sympathize with anyone who is having health care problems. As a middle-aged single self-employed person, I'm trapped paying high premiums for no services.

[salin]

24. you are not alone... many corps are pushing their healthcare

costs onto the public - indeed it is almost as if some corporations are going to force nationalized healthcare in one form or another by simply either cutting out any health benefits, or making the individual employee costs so high out of pocket (except for the execs, of course), even if national policy doesn't change.

It is shameful that after nearly 20 years since it became a major policy issue because the number of folks like yourself who can no longer afford insurance began to swell, that this country becomes infantile about policy solutions - as in calling any comprehensive program "commie" or "socialistic". Meanwhile more folks are stuck with unbelievable spending choices (monthly healthcare or groceries, etc.)

I am so sorry for your situation. The shame should not be yours - it is ours, as a society.

[WhiteTara]

25. you paid for this health care with your tax dollars

You deserve it, you need it and please DON'T bear one minute of pain that you are using state provided health care. If this were our country, it would be so for everyone. I hope that you are eligible so that you won't have to be concerned about emergencies and health care
:hug:

[windoe]

26. We take turns caring for each other, now it is time for you to receive.

A good friend of mine who helped me out for years said to me, please pass this on to someone who needs it someday. A sane society helps each other unconditionally, please know many people look at it this way.
Many of us (me included) are not far off from being on the street ourselves. I wish you well and stay strong. You are not alone!!!

:hug: