I want socialized healthcare and I want it NOW!
Work covers prescription safety glasses for me every two years. In two years time even well cared for safety glasses get really messed up working in a factory. Two years has passed, it is time for new glasses.
For the glasses themselves, the company has a contract with an independent clinic with top notch service. If I purchase my safety glasses there, they will bill my employer directly. My other option is to buy them elsewhere with my own money and submit my bill for reimbursement by my employer.
I called up the clinic to see if they will accept the new insurance since the company changed our coverage when they were bought out. Nope, I'm not covered there. So I have to get my eye appointment at an approved clinic and then take my prescription to this other clinic to get my safety glasses.
To find out what clinics I can go to I had activate my online account. Yeah, I'm a real health conscious guy. I've been insured since January and am just getting around to using my benefits for the first time. Going through that process was somewhat frightening. To set up my password the automated system asked me a series of questions that supposedly only I would know the answer to. How does an automated system for my insurance company on a plan I have never used know what vehicle I owned seven years ago and who one of my roommates was thirteen years ago? I know the answer and I don't like it.
After several minutes of creepiness I get into their system, look up local providers, and discover I can choose between one place on the other side of town or fucking off. My glasses are pretty screwed up right now, so I choose not to fuck off but to give them a call.
When I called my old clinic, the phone was answered by a receptionist. This place gave me an automated answering system that informed me in a very rushed manner that if I wanted to make an eye appointment the number I really wanted to call was... hang up, call again, paper and pen ready... one more time. Got it.
I call the appointment number and get another automated system. In this system I wait on hold long enough to finish making my lunch and writing most of this blog post. I finally get to talk to a person, go to set up an appointment, and I go off.
"You are fucking kidding me. A month? The earliest appointment you have is a fucking month away? I once had to wait two fucking days and the clinic apologized and you are telling me I can't get in for a fucking month and pretending that it is no big deal?" It doesn't exactly fit with my personal schedule, either. But I take it. I have to. I have no choice but to give them my money and take it right up the ass because right now the alternative is to not be able to see at all. Which might not be so bad.
To all you assholes out there yelling and screaming about how bad it would be to have socialized healthcare, I know of something far worse. It's called Kaiser*.
* A friend who used to work in a morgue told me that Kaiser is very good at caring for the deceased. He saw many of their clients.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Things are looking -hic- looking up
Nation's Unemployment Outlook Improves Drastically After Fifth Beer
Even in Michigan, home to the nation's highest unemployment numbers, fairly buzzed sources described a bright future for thousands of laid-off automotive workers and their families. State labor director Stanley Pruss echoed the sentiment, saying that he fully expected out-of-work Michigan residents to be back on their feet in no time.
'Something will come along for everyone. Something even better, you'll see,' Pruss told reporters at a Lansing bar with a generous happy-hour special. 'Our state, all this unemployment, you know...pfft. It's bullshit. Bullshit. If we just work together, we can make it better. For everyone! But look, why are we even talking about this? Life is short, man. Just enjoy the ride!'
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Left Behind...
I can't deny that my politics have been swinging more dramatically to the left recently. I am now and feel confident that I always will be an anarchist in ideals. For now, I am leaning towards what many might define as Anarcho-Socialism.
In short, I would rather be accused of being a Socialist scumbag then a Capitalist scumbag. The difference? The thought of being stuck in a room full of leading Socialist thinkers sounds exciting. The idea of getting locked in a room full of the leading Capitalists makes me want to vomit.
that said, here is Socialist scumbag John Pilger making a fantastic speech to a bunch of other Socialist scumbags. It's thirty minutes well spent, in my humble Anarchist scumbag opinion.
In short, I would rather be accused of being a Socialist scumbag then a Capitalist scumbag. The difference? The thought of being stuck in a room full of leading Socialist thinkers sounds exciting. The idea of getting locked in a room full of the leading Capitalists makes me want to vomit.
that said, here is Socialist scumbag John Pilger making a fantastic speech to a bunch of other Socialist scumbags. It's thirty minutes well spent, in my humble Anarchist scumbag opinion.
You Will Not Get Healthcare Reform
I found myself wondering why Democrats are not capitalizing on the death of Teddy Kennedy to push for nationalized healthcare as a memorial to one of its stronger proponents. Then I found it, buried deep in an article.
On a happier note, it was surprising to see a Kennedy die of organ failure from non-violent causes. It is easier to battle cancer than to put a man's brain back together after a bullet has torn it apart. At least it is if you can afford all the procedures. Teddy could and it prolonged his life. Could you afford the level of treatment Mr. Kennedy received? He thought you should be able to.
Obama leads tributes to KennedyOne tiny little soundbite on the issue in the foreign press. Guess what folks? You are not getting nationalized healthcare because the big businesses that really run the show don't want you to have it. If you look through the 200+ years of American history you will find that the only time this government caves in and throws a bone to the working women and men of this country is when the alternative is getting a shade too close to revolutionary. Unless we are going to riot in the streets, take up arms, or shut down cities with a general strike, you aren't getting shit!
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, praised his determination to make quality health-care available to all Americans...
On a happier note, it was surprising to see a Kennedy die of organ failure from non-violent causes. It is easier to battle cancer than to put a man's brain back together after a bullet has torn it apart. At least it is if you can afford all the procedures. Teddy could and it prolonged his life. Could you afford the level of treatment Mr. Kennedy received? He thought you should be able to.
Court Rules Marijuana Use is a Choice
Holy Crap! A rational ruling involving marijuana use. Too bad it wasn't in the United States.
Argentina rules on marijuana useOnce again America is leading the way. This time it happened to be South America.
The supreme court in Argentina has ruled that it is unconstitutional to punish people for using marijuana for personal consumption...
The Argentine court ruled that: 'Each adult is free to make lifestyle decisions without the intervention of the state.'
Supreme Court President Ricardo Lorenzetti said private behaviour was legal, 'as long as it doesn't constitute clear danger'.
'The state cannot establish morality,' he said.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Why We Need Socialized Healthcare
That's right, I said socialized healthcare. I'm not talking single payer, public option, or any of that half assed bullshit. We need genuine socialized healthcare. The kind where when you need medical attention you walk in, get treatment, and walk back out again without a hitch. Here is one timely example of why.
Recently a friend's brother had an accident involving falling off of an apartment complex balcony and hitting his head on a gas grill. He was rushed to the hospital where doctors had to remove a large portion of his skull to relieve pressure on the brain from swelling. They saved his life.
Now the swelling has gone down leaving a huge crater on the side of his head. It's time to start considering having the removed portion of the skull put back in place.
But the hospital will not perform the procedure until he pays them the $15k he wracked up by having to be in the intensive care unit for an extended period of time. One could say they are holding his skull hostage.
He's not too worried about it right now. He used to be in the armed services and is confident that the VA, the only form of socialized healthcare currently available in the United States, will take care of him. IF they can convince OHSU, the facility he was rushed to and that performed the emergency removal of the skull piece, to release his body part without him coughing up the $15k first.
This could be you. This guy thought he was covered by the VA. You might think that you're covered as well. Do you really want to find out how little you are covered for when the hospital is holding one of your body parts hostage? YOUR body parts.
And do we really want to deny veterans their benefits because they got rushed to the nearest hospital instead of the VA?
No insurance. No co-pays. No single-payer/public option bullshit. The last thing a person needs after narrowly surviving a near fatal accident is the worry of how they are going to pay for it. Let's all pay for it together so that nobody has to go through that. Like our best buddy Britain does for all of their people. Socialize healthcare.
Recently a friend's brother had an accident involving falling off of an apartment complex balcony and hitting his head on a gas grill. He was rushed to the hospital where doctors had to remove a large portion of his skull to relieve pressure on the brain from swelling. They saved his life.
Now the swelling has gone down leaving a huge crater on the side of his head. It's time to start considering having the removed portion of the skull put back in place.
But the hospital will not perform the procedure until he pays them the $15k he wracked up by having to be in the intensive care unit for an extended period of time. One could say they are holding his skull hostage.
He's not too worried about it right now. He used to be in the armed services and is confident that the VA, the only form of socialized healthcare currently available in the United States, will take care of him. IF they can convince OHSU, the facility he was rushed to and that performed the emergency removal of the skull piece, to release his body part without him coughing up the $15k first.
This could be you. This guy thought he was covered by the VA. You might think that you're covered as well. Do you really want to find out how little you are covered for when the hospital is holding one of your body parts hostage? YOUR body parts.
And do we really want to deny veterans their benefits because they got rushed to the nearest hospital instead of the VA?
No insurance. No co-pays. No single-payer/public option bullshit. The last thing a person needs after narrowly surviving a near fatal accident is the worry of how they are going to pay for it. Let's all pay for it together so that nobody has to go through that. Like our best buddy Britain does for all of their people. Socialize healthcare.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Slave Treats
Introducing SLAVE TREATS!Everybody loves Slave Treats. Here's how they work.
If you are a good slave, the master will give you slave treats. You can exchange your slave treats for things that make the life of a slave more comfortable like food, shelter, or liquor. But don't go too crazy. Slave treats aren't easy to come by.
If slave treats are easy to come by, then you must be a slave master. This means you can use your slave treats to entice slaves to do things for you. They can build you mansions, cook you feasts, make you fast cars and even drive them for you.
It doesn't matter if you are begging for a few more like the slave you are or are the benevolent master doling them out. Everybody can enjoy Slave Treats!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Onion Checks in on Healthcare, sort of
I'm Sorry, But There Was Almost Nothing Else We Could Have Done | The Onion - America's Finest News Source
I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this. But there was only so much that his insurance plan covered...
All we can do now is pray that the insurance company agrees to pay for what we did manage to do for him.
Monday, August 03, 2009
First Class Public Health Care
John Stewart gets conservative Bill Kristol to admit that there is such a thing as first class public health care in America, we're just too cheap to give it to everyone.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Healthcare Cowards
Hey, all you pansies who are scared to death* by the prospect of socializing medicine, what are you so afraid of?
To answer this question, I picked a site at random** that was against socialized medicine. Here is some of what they had to say.
Red tape? You mean like when my appendix was partially ruptured and they had me waiting around for hours answering questions about my insurance and then double checking so they knew they'd get paid? The whole time I was double overed in excruciating pain wondering why I was talking to a receptionist and not a doctor when my own clinic had sent me there immediately after my doctor's appointment.*** Is that really better than them having to go through the same bullshit from a single provider?
As far as individual concern, why am I always treated like a junky trying to get some prescription meds? The bastards won't prescribe me anything while giving others with the exact same symptoms an entire shopping list. Meanwhile I don't even use up the meds I'm prescribed while these other fuckers with carte blanche talk about popping a few Vicadin with a six pack. I did meet one doctor who showed some real concern for me. The guy who performed my vasectomy. He was awesome. He was also very busy and had a long waiting list to see. So I had to see a different doctor for my pre-op appointment and that guy neglected to tell me all sorts of stuff during our rushed ten minute session.
Even if I don't want to be told what doctor to go to, I don't have much choice. Like most citizens on their crappy company plans, the provider gives me a list of people to choose from. If I want to go to someone else, one of their doctors has to refer me. Oh, unless I'm uber rich and can go to any doctor I can afford. But anyone anywhere in the world can do that. They can fly to the world famous hospitals of Sweden or Germany.
One way or another we all pay for health care for everyone. For the uninsured, they will eventually end up in emergency rooms and the tax payers have to pick up the bill. If you are wondering why your pay is so small, part of the reason is that your insurance is factored as part of your cost as an employee****. You are paying for it. The premiums on insurance seem high to those who don't use it because they are helping to cover for those who do. You know, like some sort of socialized sharing of health care costs among all. You are helping to pay for the treatment of that little girl with cancer. If you are so against socialized medicine, drop your insurance, pay cash at the doctor's office, and watch the little cancer girl die.
Do I want to wait years to have necessary medical procedures performed? Well, yes. I hate going to the doctor and I especially hate surgery. Unless I can watch them operating on me. That is pretty cool. But if we socialize medicine we aren't going to have to wait any longer. Seriously. You are just being paranoid. Stop being such a big scared baby and go for some socialized health care.
Afterwards we can go get ice cream... ya pussy.
* Accidental death due to fear of socialized medicine is not covered by your current plan.
** Searched for reasons to be against socialized healthcare and chose the first one.
*** They got me in to see a nurse practitioner and she called the doctor almost immediately, just as slickly as they do in socialized countries.
**** And part of the reason is that your employer is a cheap, greedy bastard more concerned with his own financial standing than with your ability to pay rent or buy insulin.
To answer this question, I picked a site at random** that was against socialized medicine. Here is some of what they had to say.
When we examine countries that have embraced socialized medicine, we find long waiting lists, expansive red tape and little concern for the individual. Do you really want to be told which doctor to go to? Do you want to wait years to have necessary medical procedures performed? If so, then socialized medicine is for you.Long waiting lists? Here in the good old United States I tend only to go to a doctor if I don't feel well. The first thing they ask me is if I have an appointment. Of course I have to call ahead to get an appointment. If I want to see an actual doctor and not just a nurse practitioner (sorry sis) they are typically booked at least a month out. Yep, long waiting list.
Red tape? You mean like when my appendix was partially ruptured and they had me waiting around for hours answering questions about my insurance and then double checking so they knew they'd get paid? The whole time I was double overed in excruciating pain wondering why I was talking to a receptionist and not a doctor when my own clinic had sent me there immediately after my doctor's appointment.*** Is that really better than them having to go through the same bullshit from a single provider?
As far as individual concern, why am I always treated like a junky trying to get some prescription meds? The bastards won't prescribe me anything while giving others with the exact same symptoms an entire shopping list. Meanwhile I don't even use up the meds I'm prescribed while these other fuckers with carte blanche talk about popping a few Vicadin with a six pack. I did meet one doctor who showed some real concern for me. The guy who performed my vasectomy. He was awesome. He was also very busy and had a long waiting list to see. So I had to see a different doctor for my pre-op appointment and that guy neglected to tell me all sorts of stuff during our rushed ten minute session.
Even if I don't want to be told what doctor to go to, I don't have much choice. Like most citizens on their crappy company plans, the provider gives me a list of people to choose from. If I want to go to someone else, one of their doctors has to refer me. Oh, unless I'm uber rich and can go to any doctor I can afford. But anyone anywhere in the world can do that. They can fly to the world famous hospitals of Sweden or Germany.
One way or another we all pay for health care for everyone. For the uninsured, they will eventually end up in emergency rooms and the tax payers have to pick up the bill. If you are wondering why your pay is so small, part of the reason is that your insurance is factored as part of your cost as an employee****. You are paying for it. The premiums on insurance seem high to those who don't use it because they are helping to cover for those who do. You know, like some sort of socialized sharing of health care costs among all. You are helping to pay for the treatment of that little girl with cancer. If you are so against socialized medicine, drop your insurance, pay cash at the doctor's office, and watch the little cancer girl die.
Do I want to wait years to have necessary medical procedures performed? Well, yes. I hate going to the doctor and I especially hate surgery. Unless I can watch them operating on me. That is pretty cool. But if we socialize medicine we aren't going to have to wait any longer. Seriously. You are just being paranoid. Stop being such a big scared baby and go for some socialized health care.
Afterwards we can go get ice cream... ya pussy.
* Accidental death due to fear of socialized medicine is not covered by your current plan.
** Searched for reasons to be against socialized healthcare and chose the first one.
*** They got me in to see a nurse practitioner and she called the doctor almost immediately, just as slickly as they do in socialized countries.
**** And part of the reason is that your employer is a cheap, greedy bastard more concerned with his own financial standing than with your ability to pay rent or buy insulin.
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