♥ Get Your Mitts Off My Mom’s Health Care!
Health insurance has changed since my first son was born. Each year we do pay more and more for services. When Perceiver of Truth was born, the state of Kentucky paid for all immunizations. When Faithful was born, I paid a $5 co-pay for each visit and immunization. When Joyful came around, the co-pay went up. However, when The Fire and Power of the H.S. was born, my insurance coverage went up 500%. I was given a yearly allowance of about $200. The first year’s worth of well-child visits and immunizations was to be over $1,000. The insurance market and customers should evaluate better ways to insure, but I do not want my government meddling in my health care.
Let me tell you about my mother. About 4 years ago, at Christmas time, she started smelling things, experiencing a bad taste in her mouth. Then she’d blink out for a few minutes. When she ate, food started dribbling down the side of her mouth. There were 3 second pauses between words when she spoke.
Mighty Doctor, Dr. Stephen Applegate, ordered a series of tests. They found a brain tumor the size of a golf ball. In the process of the testing, they found a rare, slow-growing cancer in the bowel. (I say Mighty Doctor because he was. He took care of all the women in my family until he died from Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was all about the fight to live).
Surgery for Mom’s brain tumor came first. She wouldn’t have survived if they did the cancer surgery first. They suspect the brain tumor had been slowly growing for about a decade. However, the tumor had not only enlarged enough to cause mini-seizures and affected functioning, but growth had quickened. Surgery needed to be done quickly.
If Mom had been in Canada or Britain, obligated to their health care system, she would have died if she had to wait a month, much leass a year.
The woman who used to have Ginger Bread House Decorating Parties at Christmas,
who makes the most beautiful wreaths
who makes the most beautiful summer quilts,
would not have been here to make my Christmas mantel look so beautiful this year
( I pick out the stuff I like, but she makes it lushly pop),
Attend my son’s wedding,
See my son twirl me in the mother-son dance!
Or just be my mom!
There might be glitches in the business of health care right now, but I’d prefer the government stay out of my and my families’ right to the freedom of health care. It is the best health care in the world! I’d rather decide if I wanted to fight to live, instead of some government official telling me to throw in the towel.
Why would a government official care whether my mom died before she was “granted” permission to even fight to live?
I’ve always said I wanted to grow old, showing my sons how to grow old loving “The Lord.” Maybe that means being an inspiration of faith during a health struggle, allowing God to heal me through the hands of a doctor. Maybe that means my great-grandchildren coming to visit a granny who had an indomitable spirit who wouldn’t give up, who fought the good fight, and they want some of that spirit in them.
The choice, though, is mine. The choice is my mother’s. It is not some government bureaucrat’s choice.
Hear Hear and AMEN
So true. There is great concern about what is being “forced” through. I wish they would slow down and really listen to why the other side is saying no. Consider the various perspectives and deep concerns.
OH! YUCK! I am hating this whole thing. I totally agree with you. Thank you for sharing that! You wrote it in such a beautiful way!
I agree!! I’ve been noticing how my meds go up almost monthly now. I surely do not want the government to decide anything more for me & my family, though.
I like my Dr., I like my pediatrician, I like my dentist, I like living and letting God decide my time to go or anyone elses for that matter.
I love your pictures. I love your dress and your mom’s. You both look beautiful.
See you later. I sure enjoy your blog. The animal and kid things are just great.
Wow. I am embarassed to say that I have not truly thought about this issue. It did make me nervous when I first heard of it a long time agao. Nervous and scared. It seemed a little socialistic. I am going to pray about it. I know God cares.
PS Your Mom is beautiful.
Amen!
So well said. Beautiful pictures too.
Popped in from SITS to say hi!
WOW, the more I hear about your health system the more confused I get! Ours isn’t all running smooth and fair for all but it seems like a dream compared to what you guys go through. My kids immunisations are free. Most medications can be purchased for less than $5 if you are on a healthcare card (a means tested scheme to ensure those without the money don’t have to go without their medicine) and outside of that scheme they are still subsidised slightly. Our public (govt) hospitals are not running at their best right now but they are pretty well equiped and staffed.
You and your mum look great in that wedding pic! She is one talented lady!
Praying that you get to be that great-granny one day!
Mummy McTavish, where is home? Just wondering, for when you say the more you learn about “your health care” it lets me know that you are not in the US.
Home is Australia. We have an opt-in private health system and a (mostly) free state-government health system. They both provide good quality care although the waiting lists are far shorter in the private system. It seems to me to be a pretty good way to work things but we do need more public hospital beds and therefore more staff. Oh, less bureaucracy would be good while I’m dreaming…
Great thoughts!! Curious though—did you have the same provider with each of the 5 boys? A difference in coverage amounts and co-pays would make sense had you switched between births, but with the same insurance is crazy! My well-baby and all around wellness visits are free. Totally agreed that something can/should be done, but the something that is currently on the table is not the answer.
I found your blog on SITS and just had to follow! I love it! Have a great weekend!
Blessings!
Government run healthcare isn’t the answer. Doctors are already overburdened……
I love this post. Thanks for sharing. And, thanks for stopping by today. I’m happy you enjoyed my marital secrets.
I concur wholeheartedly.
Very well said, you are so right!
I agree. The Government should steer clear of our families choices for Health care. I love that you fight to live. That to me is awesome.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. You write beautifully!
Hmmmm….I’m not sure that this is true (the part about the government deciding when it’s time to call it quits)….
“Indeed, Sec. 1233 of the bill, labeled “Advance Care Planning Consultation” details how the bill would, for the first time, require Medicare to cover the cost of end-of-life counseling sessions.
According to the bill, “such consultation shall include the following: An explanation by the practitioner of advance care planning, including key questions and considerations, important steps, and suggested people to talk to; an explanation by the practitioner of advance directives, including living wills and durable powers of attorney, and their uses; an explanation by the practitioner of the role and responsibilities of a health care proxy.”
Medicare will cover one session every five years, the legislation states. If a patient becomes very ill in the interim, Medicare will cover additional sessions.
(……)
“The only thing mandatory is that Medicare will have to pay for the counseling…”
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/jul/23/betsy-mccaughey/mccaughey-claims-end-life-counseling-will-be-requi/
Great post, Maryleigh. This part really struck me:
Why would a government official care whether my mom died before she was “granted” permission to even fight to live?
I always have very similar thoughts, where even doctors/nurses go. For some, they are passionate about what they do, and truly do all they can with the bext they’ve got. For others, it’s just a job they have lost their ambition about. Scary when your loved ones health care, or LIFE, is in their hands.
To look at how much has changed, in time intervals, as you have done, makes it pretty scary to look ahead at all.
Oh I loved the tea cup wreath. What a great idea. Thanks for sending me your link with it. It’s nice to meet you.
Blessings,
Kim
Love this post. I work for a hospice company and LOVE my job. We are BEYOND concerned about this administration. We have been faithful to send letters to our congressmen. During the course of deciding what kind of action we could take, we discovered that this administration reacts fondly to “personal” letters, much like this post. Of course, they are very likely to not read the thing since it is not in support of them, but the pics, REALLY make this issue real. It would also be nice if this story was published in a magazine. Our hospice doctor is also a Conservative and very concerned as well. He practiced medicine in Canada for a while before moving back to the States. He hated socialized medicine. I have been so very busy lately, but have some information that I would like to post on my blog just to educate others on this horrific agenda. Never thought I would be paying for abortions. My heart breaks over the evil taking place.
P.S.
Just read MJ’s comment. Don’t know this person, but I do know my job. These end of life counseling sessions are to decide a) the person’s worth to our society b) the longevity of their life c) if the procedure is worth the money it will cost d) how much money is in the system for needed treatment. By the way: Medicare is already paying docs for “end of life sessions” now. They just aren’t called such. They aren’t mandatory. They are between the pt and the doctor. The pt directs the care and can have a “session” if he/she chooses. Medicare is already paying for hospice services IF THEY ARE NEEDED. The big factor: IT IS THE PT’S CHOICE, NOT THE GOVERNMENT’S! Can you imagine just having been diagnosed with a terminal illness and receiving a letter from our government telling you that a panel (not consisting of doctors) have discussed your condition and they have decided that you should begin your “end of life sessions.” What’s so sad about my generation is that we have seen what good health care is, we have paid into the system and when we become elderly, these options will not be available to us. I mean, if anyone has any questions about this administration’s ability to handle a program, take a look at Cash for Clunkers! It is such a wreck and their only defense is “we didn’t know it was going to be so popular.” ????? I mean, I have total confidence in them, don’t you!
You said it all. What a great story.
Thanks for visiting my blog!
I completely agree! Does our country need health care reform? Yes. Does our country need government controlled health care? NO! There is a BIG difference, and that is what the people of our nation doesn’t even realize right now because of how idolized our new president is, unfortunately. If he speaks, it must be the greatest thing ever. But I am sorry, I have a Savior and His name is NOT Obama. But I will save that rant for another day, lol.
I am glad that your mom was able to seek and receive the health care that she needed immediately 🙂
(p.s. thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog)
Have a blessed weekend!
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