Imagine a woman who feels a lump in her breast. She dismisses it as something to do with her period. But it doesn't go away. In fact, it seems to be getting larger. Is it breast cancer? Maybe...
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Uninsured and Low Income
KayeD
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 12:04 PMre: Uninsured and Low Income
PJHamel
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 12:43 PMWell-said, Kaye. Closing free health clinics now is like cutting heating subsidies now, in the heart of winter. It makes me sick. There are women who will now die from breast cancer, who didn't have to; there will be people who get sick and die of the cold, because they had to choose between food, medicine, and heat. And this, in supposedly one of the world powers, a country of plenty. Too bad that "plenty" doesn't extend to those truly in need.- PJH
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PJ:
I was shocked when I learned that our Cook County Board President was CLOSING the clinic in Cook County Hospital that offerred free mammograms to the uninsured and to women with lower incomes. To no avail, I wrote my local alderman as well as my district representative AND the Cook County Board President. I only received one reply from my alderman who said it was "brave" of me to stand up for others when I was going through so much. What ever happened to there but for the grace of God go I? Unfortunately, the clinic is closed and now I wonder about all of the underserved women in Chicago. Where do they go for diagnosis and treatment? Where do they go for preventative medicine?
I feel very fortunate to have good insurance coverage through my employer. Believe me, I still fork out a LOT of money to fulfill my out of pocket expenses and deductibles and I still feel fortunate that I can go and have radiation treatments every day and that my chemotherapy and surgery by a fine surgeon were covered mostly by insurance.
Are the lives of those who aren't covered by insurance any less significant? I think not.
KayeD
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