America's Failing Healthcare System... Educate Yourself And Be Opened Minded

As a medical professional (pharmacist) I would hope that my message would be taken seriously by all those out there who are reading this even though it has more to do with politics than pills. Why? Because your health now and in the future depend on it.

Like many in America I was against the idea of universal healthcare coverage a few years ago when the idea was being talked about. That was when I was naive, closed minded, and hadn't educated myself on how our system in the United States worked or failed to work in many cases.

Now for all of you who don't want to listen to me please swallow your political pride and take a chance that you might actually learn something about the details of a healthcare system that you probably have very little knowledge on how it works. That's probably because you are either - A) healthy and lucky to be healthy right now or B) lucky enough to have a job and insurance to go with it.

Our current hodge podge healthcare system made up of uninsured patients, privately insured patients, and government insured patients is unsustainable. And before you get all worked up about universal care then know this - universal care is not just a system where the government and the taxes they collect covers everybody's healthcare issues. There's more than one way to achieve universal coverage and still do it with a combination of private and government sponsored insurance programs. To find out how take the time to watch the following two videos. They are very fair in my opinion at evaluating the pros and cons of healthcare systems (capitalistic and universal) around the world and in the United States.

Sick Around the World - www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld

Sick Around America - www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundamerica/view

For those of you who have taken the time to educate yourself about the importance of this topic.... Thank You!!

For those of you who think our current capitalistic healthcare system is superior to anything on the planet then let's have a discussion. Feel free to email me and I will gladly communicate with you in anyway (email, phone, letters, etc.) about this issue. I'm sure for every horror story of a universal healthcare system that you may have I can find two stories of our capitalistic healthcare system ending in bankruptcy, hardship, or even death for someone in the U.S. In fact, I have a very close friend in her 20's who's already had to declare bankruptcy because she was born with an illness that she didn't ask for. I'd be happy to talk to you about it :)

We all have to be a part of finding a solution to our failing healthcare system. And by failing I mean more and more people losing their health insurance while healthcare costs keep skyrocketing out of control. All this is happening while America has a shorter life span than many other developed countries with universal care and we spend nearly 25-50% more on healthcare. Patients, healthcare providers, insurance companies, drug companies, and healthcare organizations all need to compromise and give a little to allow for a sustainable healthcare system in this country. I'd be more than willing to take a cut in pay to do my part if everyone else would do the same.

If you're still not convinced then read this blog entry from Dr. Charles Clark, medical director of Corpus Christi Medical Center.
www.charlesclarknovels.com/speaking-out/2008/12/16/healthcare-reform-is-anyone-listening.html