Last week, I was telling my mother about my latest healthcare woes. She suggested I write about it, become an advocate for those who are adversely affected by our current system. I've touched on this topic before, as it affects my life more than I would like it to. And let's be real: it affects everyone, some more than others. I have tried before to write about it, to vent my frustrations, but I've always gotten so upset before I can concisely make my point that I just save the draft and table it for the time being. Obviously, being liberally minded, venting my opinions isn't going to get me far, being a big, blue Southern dot in a sea of red. Let me say this, though: I'm a little more purple than blue. I'm going to stick to the facts the best I can, but I am still going to throw in opinion, in order to maintain the passion of this issue. So, if you disagree with my opinion, that is totally fine with me. I believe diversity is what makes this world so awesome. Just hear me out, and consider what I have to say. I'm not trying to change anyone's core belief system or anything like that. My goal is to raise awareness. I also want to acknowledge that I am not a debater by nature. I don't like conflict. It stresses me out, and in doing so, raises my blood pressure, which is not a pleasant feeling. So, I'm going to channel my inner Ralph Nader (as a consumer activist), Julia Sugarbaker (as a great orator, and "diatribe-r"), Political Scientist (as a commentator on the state of affairs) and Chris Rock in Head of State ("That ain't right!"), and just go for it. This is going to get deep and unpleasant and very long. Please note: I will boldface my main points as a way to ease skimming.
The state of affairs relating to healthcare really hits home for me. In 2004, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. In 2007, I began experiencing chronic nausea, fatigue, and abdominal pain (a.k.a. my mystery illness). In 2008, still experiencing the mystery illness, I was denied health insurance (due to pre-existing conditions). In 2009, I found a health insurance plan that was more expensive to pay for than to go with private pay (paying out of pocket, without insurance). In 2010, my health insurance company was ordered to cease and desist operation because it was, at this point, only an insurance card, and not actually covering anything. I am still sick. I pay out of pocket to my healthcare providers. I deal with discrimination in doctors' offices because of my lack of insurance. Thankfully, for now at least, I am able to afford to "do private pay" (as the office staff calls it). But what about those who can't afford it? Just because I can afford it, doesn't mean everyone else can. (And that, to all those sociologists calling me an individualist, is what sets me apart from the individualists.)
Per the Declaration of Independence, I believe that healthcare is a right. I believe this right falls under "right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". While the "pursuit of happiness" clause is a weak argument (the key word being pursuit), I will state that it's hard to be happy when you are sick. But you still have the right to pursue healthcare in order to heal and, therefore, be happy. The "right to life" clause is what I prefer to argue. Life can be thought of in two ways. One of which is the ability to live in the figurative sense, as in "living life to the fullest." It's hard to do that when you're sick, but given the wording, you can always live as full a life as possible, given the circumstances. The other way I look at life, and the way I prefer to look at this clause for my argument, is the right to live. It's kind of hard to live when you're dead, isn't it? And it's pretty hard to get the treatment you need when you don't have appropriate healthcare. These rights were deemed unalienable by our founding fathers. That means, according to the intention of the Declaration, we have the right to alter or abolish the government when these rights are violated. (I am aware this way of thinking opens up a whole related can of worms, but I'm going to save my thoughts on that for another day. A day when I don't feel the need to advocate for the nation as a whole.)
