Current Discussion Topic:
Where does health care rank as a priority for you on the topics our elected officials should be discussing

Look below to see what others have to say about this topic and feel free to share your own views.

WHERE TO GET HEALTH CARE FOR SOMEONE WITH CANCER

Posted on 12/22/2008 at 10:03 AM - by MARICE

EVERYONE WANTS TO PUT THE BLAME ON PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE ON THEMSELVES FOR WHATEVER REASON, I WAS READING RICHS COMMENT ON WE AS AMERICANS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF OURSELVES FOR NOT PUTTING OUR PRIORTIES STRAIGHT...LET ME BREAK REALITY DOWN FOR RICH.....I AM A SINGLE PARENT OF 3 TEENAGE BOYS 18,16, & 15 I AM EMPLOYED I MAKE EXACTLY 11.45 PER HOUR MY RENT IS 800 A MONTH MY LIGHT BILL IS 150 MY CAR NOTE IS 250 MY CAR INSURANCE WHICH IS MANDATORY IN FLORDIA IS 250 A MONTH MY GAS RUNS BETWEEN 80 A MONTH GAS IN MY CAR IS 80 A MONTH AND GROCERIES IS 250-300 A MONTH AND TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE IS 180 EVERY 2 WEEKS AND I DONT HAVE A CELL PHONE AND A NICE CAR.....THE REALITY IS YOU DONT LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD! NOW MY OLDEST NEPHEW IS IN THE HOSPITAL DIEING OF CANCER WHO IS ONLY 18 YEARS OLD HE WENT IN WITH A STOMACHACHE, THE 1ST HOSPITAL SENT HIM HOME WITH IBPROFEN THAT FRIDAY. HE CAME BACK ON MONDAY DOUBLED OVER IN PAIN...THEY KEPT HIM THERE UNTIL FRIDAY AGAIN SENT HIM HOME WITH MORE PAIN MEDS, EVEN AFTER THEY FOUND POSSIBLE CANCER CELLS JUST WAITING FOR BIOPSY REPORT...HE WAS BACK AGAIN MONDAY DOUBLED OVER IN PAIN WE TOOK HIM TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL THEY SAID THE TUMOR HAD RUPTURED THEY DID NOT DO SURGERY TO STOP BLEEDINGHE HAS NOW BEEN IN HOSPTIAL SINCE 2 WEEKS BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND NOW HE IS IN A 3RD HOSPTIAL AND WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO FOR HIM BECAUSE THE CANCER HAS SPREAD TO HIS STOMACH AND BEYOND, I WONDER IF THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM STILL BLEEDING FROM THE RUPTURE THAT WAS NEVER STOPPED BLEEDING....OR BECAUSE THE INSURANCE WE HAD HIM ON RAN OUT IF ANY ONE CAN HELP PLEASE CONTACT US.....

where can i get help

Posted on 12/18/2008 at 1:56 AM - by Patricia Hicks

325487 I am 51 years old and was recently told by my brother that he had polyps in his colon. According to the doctor it is hereditary and I was recently told that is what killed my father, colon cancer. I have been experencing some of the symptoms listed for colon cancer and am very concerned. My problem is that I do not have health insurance nor can I afford to get the colon test done because I live from paycheck to paycheck and barely make ends meet as it is. so my question is what do I do and is there a way or some help I can get to have this test done. I make too much money to qualify for medicaid or medicare so that is not an option. So I am at a lost and scared and do not know where to turn. Does anyone have any suggestions? Patricia

Cancer drug Tarceva

Posted on 10/29/2008 at 12:10 AM - by Mamie Duncan

My family has always given to the American Cancer Society and I was a member of United Way for 20 years through my employer. Now my dad has been diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer and prescribed the drug Tarceva, he cannot afford the 1st month prescription cost and we are trying to pull together to pay for it - but it costs $3500.00 for 1 month. He is not a candidate for chemo or radiation due to some other health issues. We are getting no where with the so-called organizations that claim to help underinsured or the elderly with cancer medications. Please tell me that there is help out there. Thanks, A Very Concerned daughter.

response to Debra 9/5/08

Posted on 9/15/2008 at 7:56 AM - by Cathie

Debra: I believe u can find out about getting a free mamogram from the Breast Cancer website. I have been clicking on the site frequently where it says click to fund free mamograms Check it out. Maybe it will help. Good luck. I have GI Stromal Cancer.

Where does healthcare rank with elected officials

Posted on 9/10/2008 at 9:46 AM - by Linda Foster

369751 I think our country is in sad shape. We help every other country on the face of the earth but we don't help our own citizens. Recently my son has been diagnosed with cancer. He un-insured. He has applied for Medicaid and has been told he does not qualify for medicaid but in reading other qualifications for medicaid, I see that a NON CITIZEN OF THE USA can qualify. What's wrong with that picture?

Cancer Testing

Posted on 9/5/2008 at 8:56 PM - by Debra

I admire the show on television right now: Stand Up To Cancer. I have had family members who died of cancer. I applaud those who are able to get proper medical testing for early detection and treatment. I am currently working four jobs in order to support my mother, who is ailing, older and cannot afford her medical bills, even with Social Security and Medicare. They are in the thousands and thousands of dollars. I have NO medical insurance whatsoever. I am never ill, but also never get any testing. I cannot afford it, as I am solely supporting Mom with no assistance whatsoever. Please do not hammer me with 'you should do this and you should do that.' I donated towards the cause. I will skip lunch tomorrow. However, at the age of 53, I sure wish I could get a mammogram, or at least find one that is affordable! Best wishes to all.

Its not that hard folks

Posted on 9/5/2008 at 11:44 AM - by Rich

You want health care in America. But you don't want to pay out of pocket for all of your medical costs(who would?). So in our country we have medical insurance. It is not hard to find! Just get a freakin job that offers it. They are available in every town in our country. If you have chosen to be slef empolyed(and I applaud you for that) ,then purchase a policy on your own. If you can't afford to do so then perhaps you may want to consider not being self employed. But for the love of God, do not complain when you who essentially choose not to seek out coverage get whamed with high medical bills. I mean you have chosen to not have insurance in many instnaces so you are gambling everyday with your health and financial futures and when you lose your gamble you complain that the government screwed you. Not so. You screwed yourself with poor priorites. I'll bet many of you drive nice cars, have cell phones, eat out at restaurants, etc but complain you can't afford medical premiums. I say you have your spending priorities so screwed up that your cable tv is more important to you and insurance. Shame on you and as a taxpayer I will not pick up the burden for you. You messed up and now you want me to pay for you. Nope. This of course is very general and may will give examples of someone they know or perhaps even themselves that doesn't fall into this category. I am not suggesting EVERYONE without insurance falls into this category but I feel certain a huge percentage does. Do you even know anyone without cable tv and a cell phone? Its called poor priorites and personal responsibility. In this country we have plenty of the former and little of the latter. Sorry if the truth bothers you. But its still true.

health care for cancer patients

Posted on 7/14/2008 at 12:10 PM - by mandy

I am a social worker who recently tried to help a client with her battle with cancer. She was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer and had no health insurance because she could not afford it at her job. She is a single adult and does not have many services that are available to her. I was appauled to learn that there was nothing no one could do for her. She was not eligble for NYS health insurance and her insurance at work considered this a pre existanting condition and would not cover her, even if she could get the money to pay for it. The fact that the cancer society only covers certain cancers was my first shock. Cancer is Cancer and should all be high priority. Then the fact that hospitals and county services could do nothing for her, made me realize how this country has let down it's people. I spent half a day getting passed from organization to organization only to be told there was nothing they could do but to refer me to someplace else. This process alone was exhaugsting, and i don't have cancer. Basically they are saying to her to quit her job and then we will support you on welfare and give you full healh insurance so you can get better. It is pitiful that a woman who is willing to work and contribute to society has to give that up to get the help she needs. If she chooses to do this to save herself, the process make take so long that she could lose the fight. This country and it's politicians should be ashamed of how they have let their people down. People who are willing to work hard and support it. Mandy

cancer survivor 7 years remission

Posted on 7/2/2008 at 4:15 PM - by darja

I am a 59 year old breast cancer survivor that can not get health insurance for affordable premiums. I have exhausted my cobra and now the insurance companies can ask more than double the cost. My daughter pays $356.00, per month to cover the family of 4. I would pay $782.00, with a $1,000.00, deductable and of course all the co-pays. Of course an individual plan is out of the question because now they won't even offer a plan until you are 10 years in remission (It was 5 years but I guess they can do what ever they want, it would be to expensive anyway.) I became a citizen in 1993, my parents immagrated from Holland in 1957. I thought this was the greatest country but now that I am older I have realized that it is no longer "...for the people, by the people" as our forfathers wanted this country to be. It is now "...for the corporations by the corporations." Perhaps it is because our elected officials are no longer "under God" themselves. Our officials are elected by the people (I think!) therefore we must vote for candidates that live their lives under God. Higher taxes straight accross the board for the rich or poor with no tax loop holes for the rich. corporations,churches or chartable organizations. If the CEO will work for free perhaps an exception could be made.

Health Care in America

Posted on 6/17/2008 at 10:20 AM - by Robert Heath

I am very concerned about healthcare in America. I'm also concerned that the current presidential administration and it's affiliated party really are more interested in the private sector, it's profit margins and shareholders than they are average, hard working Americans. In my opinion there are three key elements to having a successful, free market economy. Infrastructure, education and healthcare. Every American should have roads, communication systems, safe air traffic systems, be educated and HEALTHY. If we have a healthy, educated American with the right tools, they should be able to contribute to a healthy economy. The current Administration and the Republican Party seem to feel that privatizing each of these sectors, including healthcare benefits everyone, when in reality it only benefits the wealthy in this country. There are certain things which need to be separate from free enterprise and healthcare is one of them. Our healthcare system is currently being controlled or strangled by the insurance industry it's shareholders (thanks to the Republicans)and ultimately to the profit margins of this industry. Until we can realize that these elements are part of a healthy free market economy, but at the same time they cannot be run for profit, we're going to continue to see a decline in healthcare quality and availability. Healthcare IS worth investing in. In fact, it's essential to a healthy society. Singapore, Germany, England, Canada, Japan and every other civilized society provide basic healthcare to it's people. So, where does that leave the United States? Sadly, it's leaves us with the wealthy funding a healthcare system which would rather focus on facelifts and lyposuction, rather than a health care system which takes care of the general population which have built this country.