I was all hyped, for example, about universal coverage. As far as I’m concerned, there are times when the government has to ensure that resources are distributed equitably. And health care is just one such issue.

No matter, though. When conservatives cried foul, the president quickly ditched the idea for the seemingly more palatable public option, which was in and then it was out, and then it was in again and now it’s out.

Who can keep up? It’s difficult to figure out which reform is actually part of the reform. And am I the only one who feels like the entire debate has gone from energizing to energy draining? These days, health care reminds me of last week’s hangover: heavy, tiresome and short on fun.

In the latest non-progress surrounding the bill, the Senate race in Massachusetts is closer than Democrats expected. The party is in danger of losing its majority, which it needs to push health care legislation through. A surprise win for the GOP in Ted Kennedy’s old seat would no doubt be a setback for the Dems. In turn, that would likely delay the bill further, which translates into critical setbacks for me and many others.

You see, I’m one of those Americans who would be denied insurance coverage because of my preexisting condition, even if I pay for it out of pocket. My medical history sends up clouds of black smoke to carriers. But under the new health care bill, discriminating against folks based on health conditions would be illegal.

In the interim, a program like Medicare could offer a reprieve for people in my situation. Under the new bill, Medicare will be expanded to include Americans with serious diseases under the age of 65. These measures, however, take time to implement, and a languishing bill is only exasperating matters. According to a piece written by DNC Chairman Howard Dean, most Americans wouldn’t see the benefits of the bill until 2014.

A lot of good that’s doing for the uninsured or underinsured today.

The latest news out of Washington is that there will likely be another version of the health care bill before lawmakers agree on one. I’m feeling like they’ve had one too many already.

]]> http://cancerslayergyrl.com/2010/01/12/health-care-hangover/feed/ 6 garciagyrl hangover http://cancerslayergyrl.com/2009/11/12/how-roland-burris-punked-the-democrats-saved-the-public-option/ http://cancerslayergyrl.com/2009/11/12/how-roland-burris-punked-the-democrats-saved-the-public-option/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:02:33 +0000 garciagyrl http://cancerslayergyrl.com/?p=1215 Continue reading →]]> This is a piece that I wrote for TheRoot.com. Considering the events of the last week, though, I thought it was important to re-post it here.

When Illinois Sen. Roland Burris took office almost a year ago, he already appeared to be a lame-duck politician.

After being appointed by the shady Gov. Rod Blagojevich in late December, Burris found himself shrouded in a haze of suspicion and controversy. With such a troubled introduction to national politics, it seemed as if “Blago’s boy” was little more than a political eunuch.

But the hard-knuckle Chicago politician seized his moment a few weeks ago when he proclaimed that he wouldn’t sign a health care bill that didn’t include a public option. With that, he not only propelled himself into prime time, landing  spots on C-SPAN, MSNBC, and Fox, but he also made himself relevant.

The landmark bill that passed the House on Saturday likely included a government-sponsored plan because of Burris. And if all goes right, he might just emerge as the savior of the public option. Read more here.

A bill that includes a government-run plan is before the House, but whether it survives the next round of debates remains to be seen. Maybe it has a better chance of getting passed with the newly added opt-out option for states.

The fact that the public plan has been resurrected, though, is promising. After the insurance industry threatened to raise premiums a couple of weeks ago, and subsequent news polls showed that 57 percent of Americans back the idea of a government option, the Dems switched up their game plan.

Rather than worry about winning over the GOP, they’ve decided to push an agenda supported by their constituents. It’s about time, too. The Dems have gotten punked for far too long regarding health care reform. We’ll see if they follow up their words with action.

I’m really excited about the measure. I’ve been down for a public plan since the beginning. But there’s one voice that has been missing from the debate, one that I believe will further bolster support for universal coverage: people with insurance who rely on it regularly, people like me.

I have yet to hear the opinions of insured men and women living with health issues or chronic diseases such as cancer. Maybe it’s because they can’t rattle off sound bites. Or maybe because, if asked, they would make an incontrovertible case for why the government needs to step in for the 40 million uninsured in this country and the 38 million underinsured.

I often have discussions with the patients at the center where I’m being treated. And, as you may have guessed, health care reform is a popular topic. For the most part, the cancer patients I know are not only well informed, but they also support health care for everyone.

The reason for that is simple: When you’re facing  a serious illness, it tends to bring out a level of compassion you didn’t know you had, one that is desperately needed in a debate dominated by politics. Cancer survivors know what it’s like to be sick. And when your medical bills are in the six figures, you sure do appreciate health coverage. It’s nice not worrying about how you’ll pay for this week’s treatment or next week’s lab tests. The last time I checked, a CAT scan cost in excess of $7,000, and I’ve had two in the last three months.

Unlike the Tea Partiers, who—if they even have insurance to begin with—don’t want others to share in the health care spoils, cancer patients understand that universal coverage is a moral imperative. There’s something about walking through the fire that makes you want to help out the next person. You don’t want others to suffer or be denied care. U.S. Sen. Roland Burris of Illinois got it right. “It’s time to do it for the benefit of those who are uninsured,” he said about health care reform.

Last week, he came out publicly to declare that he has no intention of signing a bill that doesn’t include a government option. And although his primary motive is likely to land a spot on prime time, I’m not mad if he plays politics to promote the greater good.

With all the media coverage of the return of the public option, the junior senator stepped up at just the right time. Folks had counted him out, but he’s clearly determined to play hardball. Just like the Yankees. If we can get universal coverage and win the World Series, this will turn out to be a really good year.