Has our country become so cowardly, selfish, and self-absorbed that we are scared stiff of universal health care? Are we too scared to even try to release ourselves from the stranglehold the insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and for-profit medical facilities have on us to try something new that would benefit everyone? Has our country changed so dramatically that we are fearful of trying to make sure everyone in the U.S. has access to quality health care that we are willing to struggle in a system that is confusing, complicated, expensive (for some devastatingly so), and, yes, corrupt? Have we become so selfish that some feel because they have good health insurance, their attitude is, “I’ve got mine. The heck with the rest of the world. If others aren’t covered, that’s their problem.” Should we not care about our neighbors?
What prompted me to write about this is the current discussion about the Culinary Workers Union not supporting universal healthcare. I am a lifelong supporter of unions. My dad was in the Steelworkers Union. My husband was in the Electrical Workers Union. I have never had the opportunity to be in a union because, as a secretary, there were very few businesses that allowed office staff to be in unions. I know the value of unions and I believe in them. I believe that unions are essential to fight for the quality of life for workers. I hate how unions have been denigrated through the years to the point that many young people do not value them and consider unions corrupt. My feeling is, if corruption is found within a union, get rid of the corruption. Clean it up. As the cliche’ goes, “Do not throw the baby out with the bathwater.” I understand that unions fight for good healthcare for workers, but should healthcare be something we should have to fight for? Health care should be a human right. Even though unions fight and achieve comparatively good health insurance, because of the escalating costs of medical care, drugs, and the greedy, profit-driven insurance and pharmaceutical industries, I know by experience that the health care plans unions are able to negotiate grow more complex and less comprehensive through the years while the out-of-pocket expenses for the workers increase.
I took a look at the Culinary Workers Health Care Plan and I feel they, along with all other unions, should get on board with universal health care. I’m attaching information from the Culinary Workers Health Plan to show that, although their plan may be better than many other health care plans, judging by the FAQ’s, the problems that exist with other plans are present in the CWU plan, too. The CWU plan also appears to be as complex as other plans. In order for members to figure out what deductible and/or co-pay they must come up with for certain doctors, procedures, facilities, etc., they must wade through a fourteen page booklet. I simply hate the complexities of healthcare. When you need a doctor, do you want to go through a fourteen page booklet to figure out who you can see, where it would be cheapest, if you can afford the procedure?
These are the problems I see with the CWU plan.
- They had to fight for their health care coverage;
- They only get excellent benefits when they go to the Culinary Union Healthcare Facility. What happens if you don’t live near one? What if your doctor doesn’t practice there? What if the facility you prefer is not part of this facility? So where is the choice some are arguing they have with this plan?
- The plan is still as confusing as other insurance plans;
- Plan still has co-pays and deductibles and are so confusing a 14-page booklet must be read to understand thoroughly what your OOP’s might be;
- Problems still exist with having claims paid, etc, as you have with other insurance companies. You might have to fight with the insurance company to get your claim paid. See the FAQ’s;
- Negotiations for their healthcare were at the expense of lower pay;
- The culinary industry is not known to be the highest paid industry. If a worker wants to change jobs for any reason, they may stay in a job and not improve their lot in life just because they have decent healthcare.
I think we should all quit being so fearful of improving our lives. Are you not fearful of getting sick with some catastrophic illness that it would wipe you out financially? I know that is a thought that is always in the back of my mind. Think of not having that fear. Think of how less stressed you would feel knowing you might not have to choose between paying for a medical procedure and ending up on the street or not getting the procedure, staying in your home, and dying. Think of the person on the street already for whatever reason who might become ill. Doesn’t he or she deserve care? If you don’t have compassion for a poor soul like that, tap into your selfishness and think of the possibility of him or her getting a contagious illness and spreading it to you–then you could be in the situation I first described.
EVERYONE DESERVES HEALTHCARE. We must join the rest of the civilized world and make sure everyone has healthcare. I try not to dwell on it, but no one wants to get sick, let alone have a blow to your financial well being because of illness.