tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post5948610025576842202..comments2023-10-02T04:06:53.185-04:00Comments on Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA: Town Hall & Health Reform CircusLisa Emrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10862232056342347990noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-41743883779489532442009-09-03T17:19:38.173-04:002009-09-03T17:19:38.173-04:00Hi Lisa, I appreciate your viewpoint and fatigue.
...Hi Lisa, I appreciate your viewpoint and fatigue.<br />I hope I don't make you tired with my response. I am not afraid of healthcare reform. I believe the system needs incremental changes and that no politician or CPA or lawyer should dictate. <br />I do believe in tort reform but all the lawyer-congressmen don't want to take away their lawyer buddies' bread and butter.<br /><br />I do not want politicians in charge of healthcare. <br />I do want independent people to be able assemble to make a group to get insurance which is what makes employer sponsored insurance somewhat affordable.<br /><br />Still I pay the price of premiums, working for lower pay as a civil servant for the government, show up for work every day spending my good days at work until I can't work anymore.<br /><br />And I signed up to have the doctor experiment on me so it would all be paid for ($40k/year meds, Dr visits, tests) no matter whether I have insurance or not.<br /><br />I was categorically denied disability insurance putting my house at risk. <br />We have programs in Vermont like the Choices for Care waiver I work for and Catamount health. These are incrementally better than what you, Lisa and many others have access to.But still our "nursing home" eligibility allows people with assets of $300-400 thousand or more to pass those assets to family with a lawyer (who profits) while I see other starving shivering medically fragile people.<br />Sure, I am one of the covered people who are happy with what I have at the moment. <br />Sure, it could all change. <br />But my opposition of the healthcare reform proposed by impatient self serving politicians is not based in fear. <br />It is based upon my experience in healthcare, insurance and as a client. <br />It is based on my experience with lawyers and politicians. <br />No mystery to me any longer. <br />The legal system has an underlying pathology, having politicians make rules that serve their buddies, not their constituents.<br />Patrick Leahy never responded to my letter I sent to him and posted on my blog.Travelogue for the Universehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01127086480471321349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-41734603384315221522009-08-28T22:22:55.778-04:002009-08-28T22:22:55.778-04:00Hi Lisa. Thanks for the reply. I am for the little...Hi Lisa. Thanks for the reply. I am for the little guy, which is why I am against this reform. We'll talk more when it is not so late. Have a great weekend!Robert Emrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295363425710873629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-88553222629144904852009-08-27T23:23:19.189-04:002009-08-27T23:23:19.189-04:00Ah, Mr. Bobby Emrich, dearest cousin, hi!!
Please...Ah, Mr. Bobby Emrich, dearest cousin, hi!!<br /><br />Please keep in mind that I purposefully withheld my personal thoughts to myself on each point-by-point given by Jim Moran. To be true to what was said, I adhered to the order in which each statement was made. Not my show, but Moran's.<br /><br />The requirement for everyone to obtain insurance could be seen as increased government control. I see it as a minor change to the tax code. ;) Not an increase, just an adjustment. <br /><br />And personally, I do believe that everyone should obtain insurance. If nothing else, it would eliminate the lame argument given by some who state that persons with pre-existing conditions who can't get insurance coverage shouldn't have waited until they needed it to try to get it. "It's their own fault," so the rhetoric goes. Yeah, all those young and healthy really should be contributing to the same pot. Someday they will need services too.<br /><br />For Item 3 of the list of myths (which were presented and explained by Moran, not me), the topic is control between choices patients can make with their doctors. Not gov't over a person's taxes and thus contributions to societal systems.<br /><br />I had a neurology appointment yesterday morning. There was a 3rd party in the room (figuratively) when my doctor and I were trying to decide what tactic to take with some adjustments to treatment. That extra party was my insurance company. <br /><br />The (mythic) fear is that gov't will dictate what treatment choices are available or allowed for what patients. Nobody wants gov't bureaucrats dictating how doctors can practice medicine with arbitrary rules. But, honestly, we are already subject to that from insurance (if you are not protected by the requirements put in place for insurance companies who wish to sell plans under the FEBHP program). wink, wink<br /><br />Hey, now where's that beachfront property you are selling? I'm sure that you really meant to say "beach" not ocean. Lake Texhoma is large, but not THAT large and certainly not saltwater.<br /><br />The rationing statement is the one in which I DID interject my opinion on the matter (however briefly). Nobody wants to hear the word rationing, it brings to mind things like food rations, or rationing of lawn watering in the summer, or maybe even gov't surplus food.<br /><br />One of my favorite blogs is the <a href="http://covertrationingblog.com/" rel="nofollow">Covert Rationing Blog</a>. I've met Dr.Rich and truly this man has an excellent grasp on the inner workings of the healthcare system, including the covert rationing which occurs now. <br /><br />Regarding allocations of funds, you mean the "use it or lose it" aspect of department/project funding throughout the Defense Department? This coming from the theory that if you don't use up what you've been given, then you obviously didn't need the money.<br /><br />Yes, I despise those powerful political connections. Wish I had some of those. LOL. Now you should do all you can to get the money and resources to those Chevy's because, ya know, I pay your salary and contribute to your health insurance coverage (that is if you are still working at Tinker). <br /><br />So do an Emrich proud - fight for the little guy!! Seriously, if you were in my shoes, you'd likely have a political change of heart. Although I know that I've always been a bit different in the political department anyways from other members of my family (especially some of those family members, aunts and uncles, to whom you are not related).<br /><br />With 20-25% of my income going to health insurance premiums alone and with out-of-pocket expenses which are almost double my income, I'm interested in long-term survival. Yes, I know that the math above doesn't look like a solvable equation, but I've found one solution - an income below 200% FPL. Not fun.<br /><br />But hey, I'm sending hugs and kisses to you and Felicia and the kids. And I've love to hear more about the reform discussions going on in Oklahoma.<br /><br />Most respectfully and with big grins,<br />Your cousin LisaLisa Emrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10862232056342347990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-11652473066823683232009-08-27T22:21:01.738-04:002009-08-27T22:21:01.738-04:00Hi Lisa. Thanks for the write up. I saw news clips...Hi Lisa. Thanks for the write up. I saw news clips of the event and it looked spirited.<br /><br />In item 3 (of the 11 myths) you write, "It will NOT result in expanded government control." <br /><br />However, earlier you wrote, "The Bill requires everyone to purchase insurance. No free-riders. If individuals choose not to buy coverage, they will be assessed a penalty fee of 2.5% of modified AGI above a specified level." <br /><br />How do you reconcile the two statements? <br /><br />Jokingly (with a hint of humble truthfullness), I must say if you believe there will be no rationing I have some ocean front property in Oklahoma to sell you. ;-) Do you believe there will not be groups of bureaucrats deciding which initiatives to fund and where money shall go? I am already part of this process everyday in the Fed government for telecommunication systems. The process is very ugly, wasteful and inefficient. Money does not go to those groups who need telecommunication upgrades the most, it goes to those with the best political connections, or to those who can spend the money at the drop of a hat (whether they should spend the money or not), or to those who can make themselves look the neediest, whether they are or not. Also, when the money is spent it is spent on "Cadillac" type telecommunications systems instead of "Chevys" even though a Chevy would meet the need. This mondey spent on the Cadillac is at the expense of several groups who needed Chevys. I could go on... I look forward to your reply. <br /><br />Respectfully,<br /><br />Your Cousin BobbyRobert Emrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295363425710873629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-10936279447315720972009-08-27T22:08:54.463-04:002009-08-27T22:08:54.463-04:00Great Job Lisa and thank you for representing! I h...Great Job Lisa and thank you for representing! I hope people get the FACTS str8 soon.Diane J Standifordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862850657925658079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-43758005480383917072009-08-27T22:08:53.569-04:002009-08-27T22:08:53.569-04:00Great Job Lisa and thank you for representing! I h...Great Job Lisa and thank you for representing! I hope people get the FACTS str8 soon.Diane J Standifordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11862850657925658079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-18212839145480806112009-08-27T19:11:52.716-04:002009-08-27T19:11:52.716-04:00Thank you for the wonderful first-person account o...Thank you for the wonderful first-person account of a town meeting. Very interesting!zoomdoggieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11576886847864593216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-24453030954733623812009-08-27T00:47:53.832-04:002009-08-27T00:47:53.832-04:00Oh Lisa, well done!! What a great comprehensive o...Oh Lisa, well done!! What a great comprehensive overview! Thank you so much for the link to watch.<br /><br />Our local senator, Frank Pallone, held a Town Hall last night and the behavior was unspeakable. Just as bad are the comments left at the online article at our local paper, the Asbury Park Press. The ignorance and racism is frightening.<br /><br />These thugs have nothing constructive to say. They are just hate mongering idiots.Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10106720865034468249noreply@blogger.com