Blog#2 Economics of Healthcare

Is healthcare a right or a privilege? In my opinion, it is both. I think that everyone should have access to healthcare however, I do not feel that it should be handed out without a cost. I feel that people who are in our country illegally should not be given free care until all US citizens have the same care available. I feel that this especially applies to the baby-boomer generation who are in between retirement age and the age where Medicare becomes available. There are too many people who are paying taxes and legitimately contributing to this country that are not able to go to the doctor for routine check-ups or seek care when they are ill. For a healthy 60-65 year old female with no preexisting conditions, the cost for private health insurance runs $500-$700 per month. For "catastrophic care" insurance which covers major services (no doctor visits, prescriptions, etc.) the cost is $250-$400 per month. This is ridiculous! It is also frustrating that young women who get pregnant and do not have the means to pay for the prenatal care or care for themselves or the child after it is born is given Medicaid to cover the costs. Why are we essentially rewarding irresponsible behavior when women are dying of breast cancer and many other diseases because they have no means to pay for care and do not fit into the criteria for Medicaid? I have a friend who lost her mother because of this terrible situation. She died at the age of 42 from breast cancer.

Today, I participated in an event called Give Kids a Smile. At this event, local dentists and hygienists volunteer their time to provide free dental care to the underprivileged children in the community. I spent my entire day providing free dental care to children with decay more severe than you can imagine, gum disease at the age of 6, and fear that could bring you to tears. I am an active participant in many events such as these but I have to say, sometimes it is a trying experience. On my way out, I was behind two of the families with children who received care and I was taken back when I saw them hop into a Chrysler Pacifica and a Ford Expedition, respectively. These were nice, newer vehicles that are in the $30,000-$45,000 range! Frankly, I was disgusted. If you can afford to spend money in this way, you should be able to pay for your child’s dental needs. I find this behavior exploitive and selfish. While I do not know these families or their circumstances and should not judge them, I cannot help but to feel like my fellow volunteers and I were taken advantage of. Many of the families were tremendously grateful and truly valued the services they were receiving, for that, I was glad to be of service and for them I will continue to use the talents that the Lord blessed me with to help those in need.

Interviews

Kathie - 51 year old, caucasian

Primary concern - cancer. A 2 year survivor of breast cancer, she is concerned that it will come back. Early detection was what allowed for recovery. A good thing came of the chemo portion of treatment, skin cancer was detected and sucessfully treated on her scalp, but only after her hair fell out. The doctor told her that the skin cancer could have been more deadly that the breast cancer.

Stephanie - 26 year old, Hispanic

Primary concern - HPV and cervical cancer.
**As a dental health care provider this is a topic I feel warrants more of my attention. There have been several reports that link the HPV virus to some oral cancers.**

The issue of cancer surely hits home with me. The issue of HPV was not something I thought of but I know that it is a HUGE concern for women. I was surprised that neither woman mentioned weight as a concern. Not to say that either is overweight but, both have made comments about being on "diets" in previous conversations.

Blog #1

My main health concerns are cancer, heart disease and obesity. I have a family history of multiple types of cancer. I myself have had skin cancer removed from my upper arm. Several of my female relatives have had breast cancer - some have survived and others have not. My maternal grandmother has had not only breast cancer but also uterine cancer and lymphoma. She is a walking miracle at 89 years old! With treatments improving, early diagnosis and the extensive research for a cure, there is hope for a brighter future without breast cancer and many other cancers. My family has also been impacted by heart disease. My father died at the age of 48 from a heart attack. No one knew he was sick, not even himself. He looked like a picture of health. There is a lot of media regarding men and heart disease but women are at substantial risk and need to be more aware. The signs and symptoms are even more difficult to detect for women so prevention is extra important. Obesity is a concern for me because research indicates that overweight people are far more susceptible to heart disease and cancers - in addition to many other fatal diseases. While I am not morbidly obese, I am overweight. I have taken the appropriate steps to be aware of my personal health issues by going to the doctor and taking the medication prescribed for my cholesterol However, doing my part to eat well and exercise has been a giant struggle. I fear that 25 pounds of excess weight will turn into 50 and then 75 and so on! It was so easy to gain 25 pounds without noticing a whole lot. Losing it is a whole other ballgame!!