I was self-employed for 2 years and couldn't afford my own insurance (owned my own biz, then worked in Hollywood for a year)...scariest 2 years of my life.
Many in Hollywood, in fact, work job to job as 1099 employees, with no health insurance because they're not with one single employer. And many of them have families to support, so they're forced to pay ridiculous premiums.
(And before you rant that celebrities can afford their own insurance, I'm talking about the actual workers in the industry, not the A-list talent.)
And it's not just that industry...the hospitality industry is another one. There are more, I'm sure, but just saying to please think about folks before you say, "Oh, everyone's going to mooch off the system and you should have to WORK to EARN health care."
10 comments:
Hey Kara...just happened upon your blog. In Australia, everyone has the opportunity to use the govt run Medicare system and its fantastic. You can still get private healthcare if you desire, but you don't have to. Of course, there are some things not covered by Medicare, but on the whole, its a good system. I think it'd be a good thing for the US and it would help your health system immensely. I totally agree with you that not everyone can afford private healthcare.
I'm so tired of hearing people (mostly my conservative family) complain about the health care plan, or better yet why they wish Bush was still in office. Finally someone who offers a valuable opinion-one that looks beyond themselves and thinks about others. Good for you!
Dear Kara,
You seem like a nice lady and I like your blog. I don't think all of us are worried about moochers when it comes to this health care plan. I don't want my health care messed with. Unlike you, I didn't choose to work in Hollywood as contract labor. As a 1099 contractor, you have a choice of how much compensation you are willing to work for. I realize there are others competing with you, and health insurance must be something they forgo to get that kind of work. I'm impressed that you were able to experience working in Hollywood, even as it was scary. I am worried about the many people who will be very scared when they can't get the care they need to stay alive because the government says no. Does the health care bill say that the U.S. is going to adopt Australia's health care plan? I hadn't heard that one. It never was the U.S. government's responsibility to make sure you get to do the kind of work you want to where you want to. That is all yours. Despite the fact that maybe you couldn't afford health insurance, I hope that your career choice was a good choice for you at the time. Perhaps you've made a different choice now...
I don't typically chime in on political discussions because everyone has a right to their opinion and everyone brings different experiences/needs to the table but I agree with Anonymous #2, I also don't want my health care messed with. I've worked very hard to succeed in my career and one of the reasons (not the only reason as I happen to really enjoy what I do) I am not a stay-at-home mom is because of the excellent insurance coverage provided by my company.
But more importantly, with a government run plan that covers everyone, there is the chance for delays and denials. My great-aunt, who was the only "grandma" I ever knew, was Canadian and had a government health plan. She was never denied the treatments she needed but actually getting those treatments, tests, and medication took so long and she had to go through so much red tape. Plus, because she had a pre-existing condition (heart disease), she was NOT covered if she left Canada so for the last 15 years of her life, even though her doctor said she was healthy to travel as long as she took her medication, she was not able to visit us in the US, in the event that something were to happened to her.
So while your post is one side of the story, I believe that there are many others.
Thanks to everyone for continuing the conversation - especially for doing it without resorting to name-calling or gregarious flaming/language. I do wish the 3 "anonymous" posts had names so we could engage in a civil conversation. (It's a pity you wouldn't sign your name to your thoughts.)
It's definitely not an easy discussion. Yes, I value my time in the entertainment industry. I'm also content with where I am in my life right now.
I do hope that 2nd Anonymous can see past the entertainment industry and to my other point - what about hospitality workers? Others in the theatre arts? Take one of my relatives, who works three different jobs waitressing because none of them can give her enough hours to be full-time at any one single of them? Sure, she could get an office job with insurance -- but it wouldn't pay nearly enough as her waitressing gigs, nor would it give her the flexibility (as a single mom) to be at home with her daughter when she's not in school. Doesn't she deserve affordable coverage?
Anonymous 3 - You mention delays and denials in a government-run system...that happens every single day in the private system right now. First claims are denied all the time, in the hopes that patients won't push back and try to get things covered. You say one of the reasons you're not a stay-at-home mom is because of insurance...wow, wouldn't it be great if you could do BOTH? Or work p/t and still be at-home p/t because you wouldn't have to worry about premiums?
I agree, there are many sides to every story. I sincerely hope people remember that and stay open to the discussion on this as we move forward.
I consider myself a fiscal conservative. We need to spend only on the important stuff. Promoting the general welfare and securin the blessings of liberty is a good thing I have read somewhere before.
Someone needs to flip our burgers, help produce our soap operas, and clean large homes. Why can't we make sure everyone gets basic care and/or humane insurance? If a place like Taiwan can do it (I saw the doctor of choice, got the medicine an equipment I needed for less than $20 US on a Sat evening) then we should too.
We pay good money for our level of insurance and still have had to fight coverge and pre-existing condition denials. Sure, it could be worse but we need to try for better, not status quo.
This rich nation can do better.
hmmm...lots of opionions here. I too, have private insurance I like. I do not pay high premiums and I have not been denied anything so far. My family is covered and we also have excellent fertility coverage that helped us have our amazing son and we hope will also work for baby #2. I have to say I am wary that our government will be able to come up with a fair, reasonable and comparable plan that meets the needs of every american when our needs are not generic. We may be one nation under god but we are still individuals. Not to mention that our nation has become one filled with whiners who think they are "owed" something and who always have their hand out for more then they deserve rather than actually putting in some effort and earning it for themselves.
Really enjoy reading your blog, Kara. I agree with you wholeheartedly. This has nothing to do with where we choose to live or what careers each of us can afford. We are one unified nation, not a series of 300 million sovereign islands meant to fend for ourselves.
@fiscalconservativeiwthaheart - Sorry you had to fight over pre-existing conditions. My husband has a pretty big one, as well (hydrocephalus -- has to do with his brain), so I feel for you.
@mamacoreenie - I'm SO happy you were able to have your gorgeous son; here's to hoping we can have a child of our own as well, though it's been quite a bit of red tape with our private insurer (and they *don't* cover much fertility beyond the basics and we don't have $25-50k out of pocket to do the complicated fertility stuff that the HMO doesn't cover). I agree with you, I don't want a generic plan either. I'm not sure that's what Washington's proposing, though. Here's to hoping they don't go in that direction.
@carly - Thanks for reading! :-) Kudos on the following line: "We are one unified nation, not a series of 300 million sovereign islands meant to fend for ourselves."
Most importantly, I appreciate the 3 of you not posting as "Anonymous." :-)
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