Health Insurance for All
Health insurance is one of the most debated topics in the country today. The President and Congress continue to work on how to provide health insurance for all Americans, including the millions currently without health insurance, while not increasing the financial deficit of the country. Of the millions without insurance, many have been trying to find avoidable coverage. Under the current heath insurance structure, this is an almost impossible task, and many individuals and families are being forced to live without the coverage they desperately.
It is sad to see families who cannot afford the drugs they need to stabilize their health. Many are putting off operations and/or doctor visits and testing, just hoping that they can survive until help arrives in the form of insurance for all. It is sad to read articles about individuals who have small incomes and must decide between food and medicine. Some are taking half their prescribed medicines while others are not taking them at all.
Although there are drug programs in place to help the poor, many people still do not qualify. The goal is to provide insurance for everyone, but we must do it properly and offer plans that everyone can afford, while still providing the coverage that is necessary. Cheap insurance sounds like a great solution until you find out what it does not make available to the insured.
In Florida, Governor Charlie Crist, a Republican, has recently implemented a plan to provide medical coverage to individuals and families who have been uninsured, or are newly uninsured because they have lost their job. Governor Crist, in conjunction with the largest medical insurers licensed in the state of Florida, has now provided medical insurance to over 3 million people who were previously uninsured. This act has provided people with the medical coverage they need to get healthy, stay healthy, and in some cases has saved lives.
As a country, we do not have time for politics as usual and we, the citizens, must make our feelings known to our representatives. We must inform them that health insurance for everyone is the number one goal in our country and that they must do whatever is necessary to help us attain that goal. Anything less is unacceptable and our displeasure will be shown by how we vote in the next election. The American people expect results from their elected officials and will not accept excuses in this most important issue.
