Kats, I am so sorry. It seems like such a needless death.
Sad story, but why chose death over a potential bad credit rating? She would NOT have been refused treatment at any ER I know of in the US........that part seems totally unnecessary........
I doubt Obamacare would have guaranteed she was still alive, she seemed quite depressed about her llife in general........
She didn't chose death. According to the article she didn't know what was wrong and avoided going to the doctor because she couldn't afford it. She diagnosed herself. Not an atypical story. Her depression does not seem especially relevant to her death, and if she had health insurance maybe her depression would have been treated.
I know all sorts of people who don't get medical care because they ca't pay for it. It might just mean not going to the dentist, but even that can have long term consequences. It might mean not taking medications, which can lead to bigger problems later. Like others here, I also know someone who avoided a doctor because she had no insurance and ended up dying of breast cancer because it wasn't treated early enough. Sure found a lump, but convinced herself it was probably nothing, as most lumps turn out to be. Things had gone too way to far by the time she went to the doctor. Now her husband rationalizes it as "it was her time."
Of course, others with insurance might avoid doctors too, but at least they are not avoiding them because they can't pay.
It is a sad story, and of course we need changes to our health care system. However, I find it offensive that they use this sad case to paint anyone who doesn't feel that 'ObamaCare' is the best/only solution as some kind of heartless monster.
-ERD50
The article did not say that.
I got insurance for my son after he graduated, was off our policy and the first job he found didn't provide health insurance. The policy was $50 a month. No one lost their house. He went to the doctor when he needed to (a high deductible policy, pay the small stuff out of pocket, just like insurance should be structured for most of us).
-ERD50
A woman her age could not get even close to $50 a month, and may very well not be insurable.
There are many who cannot afford the deductibles in high deductible policies. In fact, there is research which shows people going without necessary medical care because they can't afford the deductible.
I also question (but have not researched) some of the statements in there. Would she have really lost her house (often, that is protected)?
-ERD50
Depends. She might not be able to make mortgage payments if paying medical bills or if garnished for failure to pay medical bills. She might file bankruptcy but live in a state where there isn't much of a homestead exemption.
But a postmortem blame game would not be necessary if we valued health care for all in this country.
I'm also offended by their twist of the Declaration Of Independence. "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is not guaranteed to anyone regardless of which career or life choices they make. It means they are free to make the choices. If that was true regardless, I would have been a failed rock star, and should still expect to live the good life. Many of us chose careers that would provide for our needs, even if it wasn't our first choice of what we wanted to do. I don't think society could function if we were all starving artists.
-ERD50
... and it is also not everybodys job to live a life like a monk so everybody has health insurance...
I hope someone closes this thread before I blow a gasket and do a Ron Boyd. There is no way to divide the deserving from the undeserving. I value having an educated and healthy population, so I think everyone is deserving. We can make it a right if we chose to make it a right. Getting health care does not equate to "living the good life" for me.
Tool to try to defend health care reform? So what. The story has some relevance.
And we don't have to live like monks to have national health care. Though it might do Charlie Sheen some good to live like a monk for a while.