What living with no health coverage means for me

[Hugabear]

It means hoping that the chest pains that I occasionally feel are just that, and nothing more serious. Sure, I could go to the ER and have them run a battery of tests on me, keep me in a hospital room for a minimum of one day - more than likely two or three days - for observation, followed by a series of follow-up exams. Chances are, they'd tell me that it was nothing more than normal chest wall pain, and tell me to lose some weight and avoid stress. Either way, I'd be looking at a prohibitively expensive hospital bill. A bill that neither I nor my family can afford. That is something that I simply do not want to burden my family with. To be perfectly honest, with life insurance, I would be better off dropping dead from a heart attack.

This is what living without health coverage means for many people. It means gambling with your life.

[Vinca]

1. For me it means living with pain 24 hours a day.

I need a hip replacement and am rapidly losing my mobility. I'm hoping we'll be able to afford the high risk pool and that I'll qualify, otherwise I'll have 4 years to endure before Medicare kicks in. I'm just grateful my deteriorated hip isn't life threatening. I hope we'll both be able to get some help soon. I wish I was more optimistic about the "reform."

[Faygo Kid]

6. I have had both hips replaced, and younger than you. Good luck.

I hope it works out for you. I spent the 80s-early 90s as a ferocious workout aerobics freak, and it cost me both hips.

[Vinca]

11. I suspect my problem stemmed from years of renovating houses.

For some reason, way back when we were first married, we had the notion that hard work would pay off. That didn't work out so well.

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. Rec nt

[RKP5637]

3. I was thinking this morning just a few minutes ago about how many more people

the US would condemn to death because we as the supposed leader of the world (which I seriously question) can not get our act together on healthcare like other industrialized nations. People go on about 911, etc., but yet we as a nation will to allow far more people to die each year because of our insane irrational healthcare system.

[eridani]

4. And buying the delusion that you have access to actual care wirth "coverage"

--leaves you in exactly the same boat.

[midnight]

5. When I read these posts, I know that this health care give away is not the right solution.

No one in this country should have to live like this. No one should sacrifice their health in America. Especially, if this country is able to fund trillions of dollars for a business, war, that only destroys.

[robinblue]

7. We already had the Medicare infrastructure in place that could easily

have been expanded over several months to provide health care for all.

Now we waste billions on more middle 'men' and do not cover all and it takes 3 years. that is wrong.

[Saphire]

8. Bingo. And when you find out what's really wrong with you the hospital

sends you home. No after care. The only good thing I see, is that you'll now know what's going to kill you.

I'm in the same position. These pains can't be good, but who knows? I'm 52...maybe they are normal. It sure would be nice to know, though.

Simple health care.

[soleft]

9. And unfortunately you could get tagged with pre-existing condition

My partner was have having abdominal pains a month ago. We were planning to have a civil union at which time I'd add her to my coverage. I had to tell her to jus hang in there and bear with it a few more weeks.

Now that she's on my coverage, I'm being taxed on the employer contributions which means I'm paying double what my married co-workers are paying for their spouses. No help there in HCR for that - but if this doesn't get passed there's no hope there ever will be.

[XOKCowboy]

10. Why get tested. I can't afford cancer.

Health "care" in America today. Unfortunately I don't think this bill will help us.