Not long ago, a young Ohio woman named Trina Bachtel, who was having health problems while pregnant, tried to get help at a local clinic.
Unfortunately, she had previously sought care at the same clinic while uninsured and had a large unpaid balance. The clinic wouldn’t see her again unless she paid $100 per visit — which she didn’t have.
Eventually, she sought care at a hospital 30 miles away. By then, however, it was too late. Both she and the baby died.
You may think that this was an extreme case, but stories like this are common in America...
If being a progressive means anything, it means believing that we need universal health care, so that terrible stories like those of Monique White, Trina Bachtel and the thousands of other Americans who die each year from lack of insurance become a thing of the past.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Health Care Horror
From Paul Krugman's column in today's New York Times:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Okay, that last paragraph reads like you want the ~stories~ of these ladies and others like them to be forgotten. (Rather than to never happen in the first place which was your obvious intent.)
Our lack of universal healthcare is a human rights issue. I'm hopeful that the coming presidential election will bring on an administration that actually considers governing part of its job description. I want to organize to push for universal healthcare, but don't know where to start. Do you have groups/organizations to recommend for those of us who are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work?
Hi swe. The last graf is a quote from Krugman's column; I didn't write it. However, I didn't read it the same way you did. These point seems clear enough.
As for advocating for health care: I recommend starting with Families Rising: http://www.momsrising.org/familiesrising
I also recommend getting involved in a local group, and, of course, supporting politicians committed to smart health care policies.
Post a Comment