The Low-down on the Healthcare Meltdown

I must admit in truth its a very frustrating topic, when you've been raised by a struggling mother who was disabled, and had no other option but be in a system that already had many flaws.

I open my arms to a "change" in our systems, IF that change directs its sights not just in the middle-class hard-working people of America, but to our elderly, our disabled, and poverty level groups of people as well. I can't say as I agree with Obama's plan. I'm not sure the full details of all of what he is trying to do. I highly doubt it will take a quick fix in the signing of paperwork in a reform to rectify so much damage that has already been done. I will however say I heard enough about the middle-class people of the U.S. and not nearly enough about the lower-class. I can't say I don't agree with a plan of some form to try to fix healthcare in our country, just not so sure about the President's "plan."

I look at this economy, and though different jobs are now being offered there are still so many out of work, including the man I've partnered with in love. People are still being laid off, businesses are closing their doors, and the hard-working middle-class people of America are becoming a bigger part of the lower-class community and needing assistance to get by, and my feeling is, those numbers will only rise.

I guess in the position I'm in I look at all of this from the bottom up, and I feel that is where the changes need to be made first and foremost. But I'm not the President, trying to make a decision on what is best for a country on the downslope. I'm just a writer expressing what I feel most passionate about.

Today in the news we hear about a very large portion of money obtained in the make and sale of just one movie for views and ratings, yet we cannot pull ourselves out of this healthcare deficit. An economy is dying while "Harry Potter" sucks it all in like magic. No pun intended really but can you understand my point? Its not just "Harry Potter" monetary allotments that are shocking, because this is happening throughout the country where the things that are very important issues are set aside for something that will last until the next great movie hit, or great fad. There are literally people dying because of improper healthcare, or unattainable healthcare because of the costs, or they neglect to go into an emergency room when they need to because they are afraid of what the hospital is going to bill them.

For a good start in Obama's "plan" of reform I'd like to address the issue of Medicaid for starters:

Make that a more stable one containing the same make-up of rules instead of differing so much state to state. Where a New York resident can visit family in South Carolina (for an example) take their child to a doctor and be approved, and the same for a South Carolinian on Medicaid that can go to New York hospitals and do the same.

Raise some of these guidelines to allow those who are maybe $100 above it, but still can't afford health insurance, to get that approval they need for the healthcare through medicaid. This is the boat my family is in currently: he's out of work, my health hasn't been its best but his unemployment amount is too "high" for us to get coverage, but yet they will help in other areas where our income is still considered to be low.

Another is foodstamp benefits programs. In one state if a guideline is met on the income level you are at and you are able to acquire the foodstamps, you're automatically approved for its state medicaid program as well for healthcare coverage. Some states do not do this, the guidelines fluctuate greatly. You may be assisted with the foodstamp program and not be assisted with the healthcare.

These are just a couple of minimal changes I see that could be addressed among many that need to be made. More and more people are and will be applying for these services being out of work. Unemployment benefits are not enough to cover all the bills of everyday lifestyles, so I can't understand how that single income level would be too high to obtain some form of healthcare assistance.

Many other issues are the Social Security Disability benefits. The economy being at a low, costs being at a high, how are these people supposed to sustain their lives? Their benefits could be increased to at least flow in accordance to their bills. The monthly allotments for these benefits are very low. Some do not even cover mortgage payments or rent, nonetheless all of the utilities, electricity, heating and cooling costs etc.

Once some of those problems are covered and resolved maybe then working up to those still left in the middle-class who are attempting to balance their car payments, their health insurances, and employment assistance if necessary so they don't drown into the lower-class group. Maybe some preventative measures, alternative assistance for healthcare until the insurance companies are dealt with that are raking in the money and leaving people high and dry.

Now some of those large insurance companies now are in this upper-class group, make some cuts, make them reduce some prices, investigate the figures and review how it balances out. I'm not sure how it does balance out.

No I don't really have answers, easily typed into text the emotions that drive one to writing about, that can be very upsetting at times, when you're at the bottom looking up, and have been there for awhile. I don't know if what the President is doing is wrong, or an attempt at making things right. I wish I could see all the highlighted information on those papers about a so-called reform to feel confident that a difference will be made that will assist all walks of life.

We all know something needs to be done, but what exactly?