The Desperate Need for Health Insurance, Health Security

Last winter my middle daughter had a serious health crisis, one that was successfully resolved. But it could have been a disaster. She had a terrible throat infection, and delayed going to the doctor because she had very little money. She actually had health insurance, a policy with a huge deductible that prevented her from going to the doctor. I thought about this again yesterday because my daughter has had a very bad cold the past few weeks that developed into a sinus and bronchial infection. She finally went to the doctor when she experienced a sharp pain in her chest (the pain was awful, but, as it turned out, not serious, caused by intense coughing that led to a rib cage injury). This time she had good insurance, and her doctor visit cost something like 30 dollars (as opposed to last winter's problem, which probably ended up costing 600 dollars).

Unfortunately, my daughter's health insurance coverage ends in less than two weeks--because her job is ending. Luckily, one of the provisions of the health care reform passed last year allows her to be covered by my health insurance--at least until next summer when she turns 26. Then, who knows what will happen!

I know many people who do not have health insurance. They're in a precarious position, that's for sure. They have to pray that they don't ever have a serious injury or serious illness. Something as common as a broken leg would be a financial disaster for them. I sure hope that the incoming congress doesn't overturn the new health care law; this law at least begins the process of expanding health care to the uninsured. And the uninsured are our children, our friends, our family members--maybe ourselves.