Open Letter to Medicaid Recipients

Dear Medicaid Recipients,

The health care reform debate is heating up and I wonder if you really care. I know you already have "universal coverage," so the lively town hall discussions may not seem apropros to you. When people talk about "affordable health care coverage," you may not know what they are talking about, as you receive your health care coverage for free.

This may or may not get you interested in the health care debate going on around the country, but as it turns out, your coverage is not free. It is funded by thousands of tax paying citizens from all across the nation. There are many, many folks who earn income and see the government take a portion of it to fund your health care. Your health care is also provided for, in part, by the professionals and businesses where you seek treatment. Each one of them has to take a drastic cut in their reimbursement when they bill the state for your care. The Medicaid reimbursement does not cover their costs.

There are many Medicaid recipients who are not comfortable receiving this benefit from the state, and many who are probably embarrassed when they have to pull our their Medicaid cards when seeking treatment. This embarrassment is not necessary, but it is understandable. For some there is a stigma attached to being on any kind of welfare program.

If you find yourself on Medicaid, by all means use your benefits, that's why they are there. There is no sense in going through the application process, getting qualified, and then not accessing care. You should do everything you can to keep you and your family healthy. Though many people believe it's a shame that we have to rely on the government to make sure you have health coverage, verses relying on family, a church community, or a privately paid for health plan through a group or employer, no one would deny that you shouldn't utilize your tax payer funded plan if you have it.

Besides seeking the care you need, there is one thing I encourage you, and every other patient to do when going to the doctor or hospital. Please be gracious. In light of everything, please be thankful that you will likely walk out of the hospital owing nothing, even after receiving a high dollar test. There are many patients who pay an insurance premium every month, and will still owe a high deductable on that same test. Legally you may be entitled to your Medicaid coverage, but it would be a stretch to say you deserve it. No one should ever treat you with disrespect. You should receive the same caring and customer service as everyone else, but please be sure to return that kindness.

Perhaps one day we'll all have the same health ID card and no one will ever have to worry about being treated differently because of his coverage. Until then, take care.

Sincerely,

kenkenkenamerica

Write Your Congressman-I Did

Never in my life have I written my congressman, until this evening. I actually sent a message to the two MO US senators as well. Here is what I said:

Subj: Health Care Reform

Dear _______,

Please do your best to keep the United States government from getting into health care anymore than it already is. Our government cannot solve all of our problems. Please let the free market and the citizens' ingenuity solve this one.

Sincerely,

KRL

Writing your legislators has never been easier. Go to house.gov or senate.gov, find your legislators, follow the links to contact them, and clickety click, send a message. See. Easy.

I Trust the Government

Here is the preamble to that House bill 3200, you know, the one that will solve all of our health care problems:

"To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes."

• Affordable. For who? Services received by anyone on the government plan will be paid an Medicare rates. That's where the government tells you how much you'll be paid for providing care. But be careful, if you provide more care than the government says the patient needs, you won't be paid at all. Medicare rates are meant to cover costs, and Medicare gets to say what the cost is. And it's not like the Medicare system is rolling in cash. The free market is on life support.
• Quality. If more services are paid at Medicare rates, providers will see revenues drop. How many businesses do you know of where when you pay less, you get more?
• Reduce...spending. Uh? I thought we were all about spending! What's the stimulus package then?
• And for other purposes. This one's my favorite. Spend 10 minutes reading the monster bill and you'll see things in there that make you wonder why the government cares, and even if it did, how in the world will it ever manage or oversee it all without creating this huge, bloated bureaucracy that will become involved in our every health care decision...oh wait.

The government's got to get out. Reform the tort laws. Let medical insurance be insurance, not a pre-paid medical plan. Providers should make it clear what services will cost, ahead of time. Health care is not a right. Let the free market live.

If you feel that this blog is providing misinformation about the health care bill, feel free to report it to the White House.