America and Its Health Insurance Crisis

I used to wonder why teachers were so disgruntled about their health insurance until my husband started working for a school district. What happened? Well, my husband got a lower paying job and our family went from paying under $200 a month for health, vision, and dental insurance for 3 family members to $106 a month for health insurance for my husband only, and $17 a month for vision for all of us. My son and I lost our insurance. In order to get on my husband's insurance, we would've had to pay about $1000 a month for all of us, and that's what the school district offers through their district to teachers and their families. Shortly after my husband got this job, I started surfing the web for insurance for my son and I. I was surprised to find out that if I wanted insurance that was worth paying for, we would have to cough up about the same amount that my husband's school district was offering! Well, to make a long story short, I ended up getting the state of Texas insurance plan, CHIPS,for my son, that is offered to those who make too much money to get Medicaid but not enough income to purchase private insurance. I just don't have insurance, and I pay out of pocket for myself, which stings our financial situation every time I have to go to the doctor. Of course, I won't go to the doctor unless I absolutely have to, and I also get two of my medications free through two wonderful companies that have plans for those who are, again, in between the income line of poor and middle-class.

So, why are these insurance companies allowed to pull all the strings when it comes to ripping people off? What are the people who have pre-existing conditions supposed to do if they can't any health insurance to cover them? Health insurance companies don't only rip off the public, they rip off hospitals and doctor too. Usually, it's the hospitals and doctors who put the public through the grindstone, but now they're suffering almost as much as us. The insurance companies negotiate a price that is usually less than one quarter of what the doctors and hospitals send in. Supposedly, the insurance companies are trying to lessen the cost to us, the clients. These doctors and hospitals are usually in debt over medical equipment that they are still paying for and since they have to make money somehow, we end up suffering even more through our hospitals and doctors offices.

Why do teachers and police officers have the worst pay and insurance, but politicians and judges have ridiculously high incomes and their insurance is probably less costly too. Of course, even if their insurance is high, I they probably don't a problem affording it with the huge yearly income they receive. It would be mind blowing if our government got their head out of their behinds and attained some humanity and selflessness and recognized that police officers who risks their lives for the publics well being, and teachers who devotes their whole lives to educating our future leaders, should be paid accordingly, instead of like they are the lowest form of citizens. Mrs. Hilary Clinton has been talking about revamping our health options, but her idea of removing a employers responsibility by not requiring them to offer health insurance to their employees isn't even logical. Big corporations like Texas Instruments offer their employees amazingly good insurance for a minimal price, because the corporation ends of paying the bulk of the bill. They can afford it, but the smaller businesses can't. School districts and police departments rely on government grants and housing taxes to fund their health insurance, so their health options are very limited.

Wake up leaders of America! We need help here in our country too. Stop fixating on problems with other countries and help your own country.