Universal Health Care: a worthly litmus test?

[Stinky The Clown]

No doubt you've seen the various threads about my recent side trip into that part of the world peopled by the 'health care community'.

My situation is not the issue. I have every confidence I'll eventually be back to full on 'grumpy clown status'.

But damn! What if I were not so fortunate as to have health insurance. I know that many of you, right here on DU, are not.

I've spent a good part of the afternoon musing about your situation. I mean, I've always been aware of the very situation with regards to health care. Don't think that, because I'm posting this now, after having a serious issue face me up close and personal, that I have finally found religion. This is one religion I have always had.

I just want to say a few things about my own views of health care, and the right of **each and every one of us** to have equal care. And further, that the equal care shoujld be the best available to science, ecnomics be damned.

When I was laying on the gurney in the ER, they were deciding what to do with me. The cardiologist and the ER doc were conferring and thjey were discussing how to move me to the hospital that had the 'license' to do the procedure my condition warranted. Then the cardiologist informed me that his group didn't take my particular isurance, but that the head guy where I would be going did take it.

A few thoughts ....... why is not every hospital 'licensed' to do what, today, today is actually a fairly routine cardiac catherization? Why did we have to incur the completely unecessary cost of a medevac transport? What the fuck is **that** about?

And then there's the aftercare issues. I said to the first cardiologist, "What if I diddn't have insurance?" He said no one would be turned down for the initial procedure. The problem comes in the aftercare.

In my case, the aftercare, beyond the consults and follow-up visits, involves some drugs that I need to make viable the long term efficacy of the stents. Who pays for this?

I have always felt that 'access to health care' is a bullshit measure. It only means that insurance stays as part of the equation.

Not good enough.

There is nothing acceptable apart from universal, cradle to grave, everyone is equal, single payer, government supported, unfettered, health care for EVERYONE.

Period.

Put the insurance companies out of business and make UNIVERSAL healthcare a part of what we buy with our taxes.

I am, today, closer to seeing this as a litmus test when I choose a candidate for an elected office.

I just had to get that off my chest.