Even I created a couple of blog posts following the event which can be found at my personal blog, "Brass and Ivory" - "Lisa Goes to Washington" and Not a Typical Patient. Basically, my questions stemmed from the financial information I collected and presented in my most recent HealthCentral post - “The Annual Cost of My Chronic Illnesses."
Kim of "Emergiblog", never shy to say she is definitely NOT for a single-player plan run by the government, ended her summary making an excellent point - “I’ll say one thing: no matter what we believe, why we believe it or what our role is in the health care system, it is a conversation rife with strong opinions and passionate debate. And, in the end, because we are all patients in one form or another at some point in our lives, the conversation is about us. So, when you hear the phrase ‘putting patients first,’ think of it as ‘putting me first.’ That may help you get a foothold in the morass of information that is the health care debate. It worked for me.”
Finally, from one Canadian I respect comes - “Yes America! I Like My Healthcare.”
So I ask you, what do you think? Do you enjoy your current health care as it is? Do you have employer-sponsored group coverage? On your spouse's coverage? On a government program such as Medicare or Medicaid?
What does it cost you personally to access the care you need? Can you access the care you need affordably? Do you avoid getting the care you need? Do you ever receive care which is not necessary, or is frivolous, just because insurance or 'someone else' pays for it? If so, what?
What would make the largest difference to you personally in reforming health care as it is in the United States? What would make a difference in your community? What would make a difference for your financial future?
Do you live outside of the United States? If so, what do you like or dislike about your health care? What is of the greatest concern to you personally when dealing with your health, assuming you have at least one chronic illness, and the financing of accessing care from providers, including pharmaceuticals and devices?
If you know or can find the answer, how much do you pay for insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses? How much does 'someone else' pay for your insurance premiums and medical expenses? Is it easy or difficult for you to find this information?
Lisa Emrich is author of the blog Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA and founder of the Carnival of MS Bloggers.
