The Importance of Health Insurance
I'm spending my weekend wondering whether or not I can go to Antarctica, on pins and needles as I deal with "Unfortunately the official line right now is “waiting” – yeah we are just starting to sort out what is going to happen and what is not. Hopefully we’ll all know more by the middle of this week." (from my logistics coordinator earlier today - note she's working on the weekend!)
To help deal with my stress, I spent almost 3 hours in capoeira classes at Capoeira Mandinga. It was wonderful. I'm tired, happy, sore, and relaxed - almost. After class, we talked about a capoeirista who is in the hospital with pneumonia, and he doesn't have health insurance. His friends (which include some of my friends) are raising money for him. I've donated to the fund (and you can too at http://www.mandinga.org/support.html, tax deductible, let me know if you want more information). We also talked about workshops that are being organized on how to sign up for health care under California's implementation of Obama Care (a name I love! He deserves a lot of credit for this law.) There are many in the capoeira community who don't currently have health care, and there is now the opportunity to get it, which they greatly appreciate. (I don't say "we" because I have outstanding health benefits through UC Davis.)
These discussions on health care while I'm waiting to hear about Antarctic create a very ironic situation for me. I am struggling with the fallout of the Republicans shutting down our government over KEEPING people from being able to get affordable health care, while I am donating money to someone in my community who was previously UNABLE to get health care.
I would say the timing is particularly ironic, but the truth is that I almost always know a friend-of-a-friend who is in this situation. And these situations are so horrible. The tax payer covers most of the cost of the health care because the individuals can't. But the person in the hospital and their family lose all their money and resources to pay the little bit that they can. The money we raise to support them is essential to keeping their life together financially while they are also dealing with a physically life threatening (or at least dangerous) situation.
Health care should be a universal right in any society with doctors. Although Obama Care is a good first step, we need a single payer system that covers every person in the country.
To help deal with my stress, I spent almost 3 hours in capoeira classes at Capoeira Mandinga. It was wonderful. I'm tired, happy, sore, and relaxed - almost. After class, we talked about a capoeirista who is in the hospital with pneumonia, and he doesn't have health insurance. His friends (which include some of my friends) are raising money for him. I've donated to the fund (and you can too at http://www.mandinga.org/support.html, tax deductible, let me know if you want more information). We also talked about workshops that are being organized on how to sign up for health care under California's implementation of Obama Care (a name I love! He deserves a lot of credit for this law.) There are many in the capoeira community who don't currently have health care, and there is now the opportunity to get it, which they greatly appreciate. (I don't say "we" because I have outstanding health benefits through UC Davis.)
These discussions on health care while I'm waiting to hear about Antarctic create a very ironic situation for me. I am struggling with the fallout of the Republicans shutting down our government over KEEPING people from being able to get affordable health care, while I am donating money to someone in my community who was previously UNABLE to get health care.
I would say the timing is particularly ironic, but the truth is that I almost always know a friend-of-a-friend who is in this situation. And these situations are so horrible. The tax payer covers most of the cost of the health care because the individuals can't. But the person in the hospital and their family lose all their money and resources to pay the little bit that they can. The money we raise to support them is essential to keeping their life together financially while they are also dealing with a physically life threatening (or at least dangerous) situation.
Health care should be a universal right in any society with doctors. Although Obama Care is a good first step, we need a single payer system that covers every person in the country.
