NPR is reporting that a recently released bipartisan study shows that the Medicaid program makes a significant difference in the lives of the poor. I certainly don't have to read the study to know this is true. I have firsthand experience -- Medicaid has reaped positive dividends for my overall health!
Three years ago I was among the ranks of the uninsured. My wife and I were barely scraping by and my application for disability with the Social Security Administration had yet to be approved. As of February 2008, I hadn't seen a doctor or ANY medical professional for over one year because we simply couldn't afford it.
One night I awoke with an awful pain in the center of my back. It hurt so bad I could hardly breathe. I initially thought that it was my spastic colon (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and doctored myself as I had countless times before. But nothing I tried provided even the slightest relief. The sharp knifing pain only grew worse.
It got to the point in which I told my wife she needed to take me to the Emergency Room. I knew we couldn't afford it, but this was one of the worst pains I had ever experienced! After undergoing 3 or 4 tests in the ER, I was informed that the culprit was my gallbladder.
It was seriously inflamed. The attending doctor recommended immediate surgery to have it removed. I balked at this suggestion because I already knew that the ER trip was going to bankrupt us. There was no way in the world we could take on that kind of debt. So, after receiving relief from a high-powered painkiller, we returned home.
I did a lot of research and, as the result of it, I greatly altered my diet in order to baby my gallbladder. It was my hope that I could avoid a surgery we couldn't afford.
About 2 weeks later, we received the hospital's bill. It was for nearly $4,000 -- about one-fourth of our annual gross income!! We soon found out that our local hospital has a local fund for po' folk like us and, after applying for a partial waiver, we were delirious when we found out that the hospital decided to eat the entire bill. We still had to shell out several hundred dollars for the various specialists involved, but we were allowed to pay these bills out slowly.
In March 2009, I was approved for Medicaid. Not two weeks later, I was awakened in the middle of the night by that awful pain again. Since I had experienced it the previous year, I was pretty darn sure I knew what the cause was. This time I didn't wait around very long before my wife drove me to the ER.
Within 4 days, I had my gallbladder removed. The cost of the surgery and overnight hospital stay came to $14,000. If I had not had Medicaid, it would have taken us literally decades to pay that bill off. More realistically, I wouldn't have had the needed surgery and would have suffered frequent bouts of indescribable pain from my malfunctioning organ.
Because of the Medicaid program, I have a good set of dentures. Without Medicaid, I would have suffered for years with rotting teeth and a substandard diet.
Because of the Medicaid program, I see a counselor twice per month to help me deal with autism and Schizotypal Personality Disorder (that includes visual and auditory hallucinations). Without Medicaid, I shudder to think what the state of my mental health would be like today.
Because of the Medicaid program, I have a Primary Care Physician that I see regularly. The prescription benefit guarantees that I receive each monthly allotment of testosterone patches that helps to mitigate many of the symptoms of Klinefelter's Syndrome.
In short, my physical and mental health have improved greatly since I went on Medicaid in 2009. It has made a tremendous difference in my life!!!
Now, unfortunately, the Medicaid program has become a bargaining chip in the debt ceiling debate. I may soon get to see what it is like being uninsured again. This prospect sure isn't helping my anxiety level. Good thing I still have a mental health counselor...for awhile at least!
Three years ago I was among the ranks of the uninsured. My wife and I were barely scraping by and my application for disability with the Social Security Administration had yet to be approved. As of February 2008, I hadn't seen a doctor or ANY medical professional for over one year because we simply couldn't afford it.
One night I awoke with an awful pain in the center of my back. It hurt so bad I could hardly breathe. I initially thought that it was my spastic colon (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and doctored myself as I had countless times before. But nothing I tried provided even the slightest relief. The sharp knifing pain only grew worse.
It got to the point in which I told my wife she needed to take me to the Emergency Room. I knew we couldn't afford it, but this was one of the worst pains I had ever experienced! After undergoing 3 or 4 tests in the ER, I was informed that the culprit was my gallbladder.
It was seriously inflamed. The attending doctor recommended immediate surgery to have it removed. I balked at this suggestion because I already knew that the ER trip was going to bankrupt us. There was no way in the world we could take on that kind of debt. So, after receiving relief from a high-powered painkiller, we returned home.
I did a lot of research and, as the result of it, I greatly altered my diet in order to baby my gallbladder. It was my hope that I could avoid a surgery we couldn't afford.
About 2 weeks later, we received the hospital's bill. It was for nearly $4,000 -- about one-fourth of our annual gross income!! We soon found out that our local hospital has a local fund for po' folk like us and, after applying for a partial waiver, we were delirious when we found out that the hospital decided to eat the entire bill. We still had to shell out several hundred dollars for the various specialists involved, but we were allowed to pay these bills out slowly.
In March 2009, I was approved for Medicaid. Not two weeks later, I was awakened in the middle of the night by that awful pain again. Since I had experienced it the previous year, I was pretty darn sure I knew what the cause was. This time I didn't wait around very long before my wife drove me to the ER.
Within 4 days, I had my gallbladder removed. The cost of the surgery and overnight hospital stay came to $14,000. If I had not had Medicaid, it would have taken us literally decades to pay that bill off. More realistically, I wouldn't have had the needed surgery and would have suffered frequent bouts of indescribable pain from my malfunctioning organ.
Because of the Medicaid program, I have a good set of dentures. Without Medicaid, I would have suffered for years with rotting teeth and a substandard diet.
Because of the Medicaid program, I see a counselor twice per month to help me deal with autism and Schizotypal Personality Disorder (that includes visual and auditory hallucinations). Without Medicaid, I shudder to think what the state of my mental health would be like today.
Because of the Medicaid program, I have a Primary Care Physician that I see regularly. The prescription benefit guarantees that I receive each monthly allotment of testosterone patches that helps to mitigate many of the symptoms of Klinefelter's Syndrome.
In short, my physical and mental health have improved greatly since I went on Medicaid in 2009. It has made a tremendous difference in my life!!!
Now, unfortunately, the Medicaid program has become a bargaining chip in the debt ceiling debate. I may soon get to see what it is like being uninsured again. This prospect sure isn't helping my anxiety level. Good thing I still have a mental health counselor...for awhile at least!
4 of my 6 children were born while we were on Medicaid. I worked but had no insurance. It wad Medicaid that was there for me when I had a hospitalization for mono that almost killed me.
ReplyDeleteGovernment is not the problem. Bad government is.
Bruce
The health care system for average working Americans is abysmal, far too expensive,and may get worse. Fortunately I have good medical insurance, but I sympathize with those who don't.
ReplyDelete