"A recent study analyzing the effects of the 2006 Mass. health care insurance reform law revealed that while insurance coverage has increased overall and cost has become less of a barrier for obtaining coverage, the reform’s effects have not been felt equally among certain groups of people.http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/9/24/health-coverage-haas-insurance/
"Romneycare" and "Obamacare" have quite a few similarities.
" Both Obamacare and Romneycare involve the private health insurance industry. Neither creates a single-payer system or a government-run public option.
Increased regulation of insurance rates is used in an attempt to decrease the number of uninsured.
Subsidies and tax credits are provided to low- and middle-income individuals, as well as small businesses, to help cover the cost of insurance.
Both strategies rest on an individual mandate that requires people to either buy health coverage or pay a fine.
Each has been criticized for doing too little to control costs.
Residents can purchase a health insurance plan through an exchange, which allows them to band together for lower rates.
On the other hand, there are several differences between the two versions of affordable health insurance legislation, which Romney has recently pointed out:
Unlike Obamacare, Romneycare only applies to a single state. That gives it slightly more appeal for conservatives worried about states' rights and the federal government overreaching with its power. Massachusetts Republican Senator Scott Brown has reconciled his previous support for his state's reforms with his opposition to the national law on similar grounds.
Romney initially supported a provision, later deleted by the Massachusetts legislature, that would have allowed people to opt out of the health insurance mandate if they signed a bond that demonstrated their ability to cover their health care expenses. The federal legislation includes no such exit valve.
Massachusetts did not partially fund their plan with a tax increase, as the federal legislation does. However, they did redirect some Medicaid dollars to the program.
National health insurance reform incorporates some cuts to private Medicare Advantage programs, although individual states have no opportunity to do so to begin with.
The federal government is given the power to review rate increases, which Romney considers as a step towards price controls.
Romney intended healthcare reform to expand access to catastrophic coverage for major conditions, as opposed to more generous coverage. The federal plan sets minimum standards for what must be covered." http://allinsuranceinfo.org/find16?aid=12817
I now pay, the following insurance premiums monthly:
Health Insurance $1,500.00
Disability Insurance $ 200.00
Malpractice Insurance $ 300.00
Auto Insurance $ 200.00
That's $26,000.00 per year. This doesn't include unemployment insurance, office insurance, homeowners insurance. That's a lot of money for something that ideally, one hopes not to use.
I'm working for the insurance companies!
Except for the fact that if I'm not working, I lose my health insurance, and I don't know enough about "Obamacare" to know how I'd be covered under that, it would be cost effective for me to go on disability.
Now how is that right? We live in a society where there is a greater incentive not to work.
The General Accounting Office says that national health care will reduce the deficit. It has in Massachusetts.
Without supplying any evidence the opposition denies this bipartisan organizations findings. Pharmacologicals is the number one lobbying industry. Insurance is the number two lobbying industry.
It doesn't take too much to tell whose interests are being served by those who oppose National Health Care.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
April 29, 2011. The Happy Curmudgeon
At one time the Earth was dominated by a strange and wonderful creature, The Curmudgeon. I think that the Curmudgeons were the happiest creatures in the world. They saw things that the rest of us didn't and exhibited no trepidation about pointing them out. I, myself was once a curmudgeon in training, but I couldn't yell at little children, "Hey get off of my lawn!" (Having no lawn, just a balcony, it made no sense to me. Ergo, I flunked a required course, Grumpy 101.)
We all knew somebody who fit the description. You know, the uncle who you dreaded seeing, but you loved repeating the stories about him. I often felt that Marvel Comics should get rid of some of its lesser super heroes and replace it with The Curmudgeon.
"The Adventures of The Curmudgeon. Slower than your mother’s goodbye on the telephone! More flatulent than you old bulldog! Able to scare children with a single growl! ("Look! Up in the laxative aisle!" "It's a grump!" "It's a grouch" "It's The Curmudgeon!")... Yes, it's The Curmudgeon ... strange visitor from another era, who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men! The Curmudgeon ... who can change the course of mighty dinners, clear rooms with his strange odor, and who, disguised as (fill in the blank) , unwanted relative for a great American family, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way! And now, another exciting episode, in The Adventures of The Curmudgeon!"
The Curmudgeon is pretty much an American character. In the fifties, he sat on the park bench yelling about communism. In the sixties he complained that you can't tell the boys from the girls. In the Seventies he started to hate the Government. The Eighties, he was truly miserable. That is because he was happy, he had Ronald Reagan. The Nineties brought pure joy to our hero, he had Clinton and Monica to grumble about.
I'm afraid that this past decade was too much for the Curmudgeon. He was conquered by a stranger more dangerous creature, "The Tea Partiasaurus."
The "Tea Partiasaurus," without the obvious charm and sense of humor of the Curmudgeon, also has major complaints; 1) Gay Marriage, 2) taxing the wealthy, death taxes (to those worth in excess of $5,000,000.00), etc... They'll fund unjust wars, give tax credits to wealthy oil companies, worry about a birth certificate, object to the elimination of junk food on a school lunch menu, let insurance companies, not doctors, control your health care. They are the new American.
Someday they too will be extinguished. What will replace them.
We all knew somebody who fit the description. You know, the uncle who you dreaded seeing, but you loved repeating the stories about him. I often felt that Marvel Comics should get rid of some of its lesser super heroes and replace it with The Curmudgeon.
"The Adventures of The Curmudgeon. Slower than your mother’s goodbye on the telephone! More flatulent than you old bulldog! Able to scare children with a single growl! ("Look! Up in the laxative aisle!" "It's a grump!" "It's a grouch" "It's The Curmudgeon!")... Yes, it's The Curmudgeon ... strange visitor from another era, who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men! The Curmudgeon ... who can change the course of mighty dinners, clear rooms with his strange odor, and who, disguised as (fill in the blank) , unwanted relative for a great American family, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way! And now, another exciting episode, in The Adventures of The Curmudgeon!"
The Curmudgeon is pretty much an American character. In the fifties, he sat on the park bench yelling about communism. In the sixties he complained that you can't tell the boys from the girls. In the Seventies he started to hate the Government. The Eighties, he was truly miserable. That is because he was happy, he had Ronald Reagan. The Nineties brought pure joy to our hero, he had Clinton and Monica to grumble about.
I'm afraid that this past decade was too much for the Curmudgeon. He was conquered by a stranger more dangerous creature, "The Tea Partiasaurus."
The "Tea Partiasaurus," without the obvious charm and sense of humor of the Curmudgeon, also has major complaints; 1) Gay Marriage, 2) taxing the wealthy, death taxes (to those worth in excess of $5,000,000.00), etc... They'll fund unjust wars, give tax credits to wealthy oil companies, worry about a birth certificate, object to the elimination of junk food on a school lunch menu, let insurance companies, not doctors, control your health care. They are the new American.
Someday they too will be extinguished. What will replace them.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
April 28, 2011. Smile
It took 2/3 of my expected life to learn to smile! Not to take life so seriously.
I often wonder how some people make it through the day. The guy who speeds up at the yellow light, only to save less than a second, because the next light is red. The people who spent three years screaming about a birth certificate, who won't accept the proof anyway. The kid who practically knocks over the elderly lady to get a seat on the bus. Life's too short to be that angry!
Anger about mundane matters is a waste of time.
I wonder what I would have done with my life had I realized this earlier. Would I have gone to Law School? Probably not. How many Lawyers do you see smiling?
If I had someone to advise what to do, if my pointless, point of view, meant something, I'd say, "Make sure to find a career that you are passionate about."
Following my own advise, I would have tried to write.
Life is strange, by the time that you realize what is important, you're not in a position to act upon that realization.
I often wonder how some people make it through the day. The guy who speeds up at the yellow light, only to save less than a second, because the next light is red. The people who spent three years screaming about a birth certificate, who won't accept the proof anyway. The kid who practically knocks over the elderly lady to get a seat on the bus. Life's too short to be that angry!
Anger about mundane matters is a waste of time.
I wonder what I would have done with my life had I realized this earlier. Would I have gone to Law School? Probably not. How many Lawyers do you see smiling?
If I had someone to advise what to do, if my pointless, point of view, meant something, I'd say, "Make sure to find a career that you are passionate about."
Following my own advise, I would have tried to write.
Life is strange, by the time that you realize what is important, you're not in a position to act upon that realization.
April 26, 2011. The Eveready Rabbit
My wife thinks that I am obsessed about walking, past the point where it is necessary. She probably is right.
I have been exhausted the past two weeks and it is directly attributable to my obsessive walking. I don't know if I can stop or even slow down.
I'm running from a stalker. When I first was diagnosed, the depression had me resigned to believe that I only had a few good years left. I was obviously wrong.
There is a short window of time when I can take advantage of the weather. In the winter, my clumsiness makes the ice treacherous. In the summer, one of the effects of the Parkinson's is the "flop-sweats." They seem to be starting early this year. In the spring and the fall New York is lovely. So instead of my one mile a day, I've often stretched it to Two to Three miles. I avoid the subway, unless I'm exhausted, or it's a long trip.
I don't know what the answer is. I've been exhausted the last few weeks. I can fall asleep anywhere, at my desk, on the train, in a meeting. This is not good for my career.
Yet what is the alternative. It's not in my nature, to acknowledge that I can't do something. The thought of giving up is repugnant to me. Yet it hurts. The clumsy, almost Frankenstein like style of walking, puts a great strain on the neck, back and knees.
I'll probably just keep on going.
I have been exhausted the past two weeks and it is directly attributable to my obsessive walking. I don't know if I can stop or even slow down.
I'm running from a stalker. When I first was diagnosed, the depression had me resigned to believe that I only had a few good years left. I was obviously wrong.
There is a short window of time when I can take advantage of the weather. In the winter, my clumsiness makes the ice treacherous. In the summer, one of the effects of the Parkinson's is the "flop-sweats." They seem to be starting early this year. In the spring and the fall New York is lovely. So instead of my one mile a day, I've often stretched it to Two to Three miles. I avoid the subway, unless I'm exhausted, or it's a long trip.
I don't know what the answer is. I've been exhausted the last few weeks. I can fall asleep anywhere, at my desk, on the train, in a meeting. This is not good for my career.
Yet what is the alternative. It's not in my nature, to acknowledge that I can't do something. The thought of giving up is repugnant to me. Yet it hurts. The clumsy, almost Frankenstein like style of walking, puts a great strain on the neck, back and knees.
I'll probably just keep on going.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
April 24, 2011
I keep fighting the feeling of exhaustion. I try to walk at least one mile a day. Today is a beautiful day. No jacket needed, the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Perfect walking weather. So I fought it. I walked about 2.5 miles.
Last week on my team was an ex-professional hockey player, his triathlon partner and a marathon runner. To them 2.5 miles is just the warm-up. Yet I'm now shot for the day.
I feel like I'm fighting an enemy who doesn't obey the rules.
When the weather gets nice, and I can walk, the "flop-sweats" begin. My meds make me feel better, but also throw me for a loop. I can fall asleep at any time. When I do sleep, the dreams are so vivid that when I awaken, it takes a few minutes to figure out that I was dreaming.
Parkinson's, you don't fight fair! All I can do is keep fighting back, and remember that after each bad period, there often is a good period.
Last week on my team was an ex-professional hockey player, his triathlon partner and a marathon runner. To them 2.5 miles is just the warm-up. Yet I'm now shot for the day.
I feel like I'm fighting an enemy who doesn't obey the rules.
When the weather gets nice, and I can walk, the "flop-sweats" begin. My meds make me feel better, but also throw me for a loop. I can fall asleep at any time. When I do sleep, the dreams are so vivid that when I awaken, it takes a few minutes to figure out that I was dreaming.
Parkinson's, you don't fight fair! All I can do is keep fighting back, and remember that after each bad period, there often is a good period.
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