Healthcare Reform. I'm going there. I usually keep my thoughts and opinions to myself regarding hot issues because 1. I like to win, and 2. I suck a debating and therefore usually don't win. I won't be quiet on this issue. I will never tell you how to think or believe, but I will tell you what I do.
I have Crohn's disease. I've linked to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, which funds and supports research for Crohn's and Colitis, as well as provide educational information about the diseases. I won't waste time here to explain something that is explained better elsewhere. I will, however, take the time to talk about what living with Crohn's means. It means that at 27 years old, I have over $10,000 in medical debt, and I have ALWAYS had insurance. It means I pay an arm and a leg to KEEP this insurance. It also means that I pay around $400/month for prescriptions, and my body makes it really hard to work enough to keep on top of any of this. My parents financially support me. Without them, I have no idea where I would be. So, yes, when you ask if/why I live at home, it's because shit needs to change, and God blessed me with an incredible family.
I was in the hospital twice this past month. Two back-to-back 3-4 day stays. During each stay a "financial counselor" marched her ass up to my room to ask me if I could put money down for my stay. She encouraged me to call family and FRIENDS to get this money. She forgot to look past the fact that I was 1. sick enough to require hospitalization and 2. completely unable to give her a penny.
So, when you say things don't need to change, I will beg to differ. And if you have not experienced chronic illness in a loved one or yourself, I will ask you to first, shut up and get educated, and second, you might be the first friend I call to pay that $10,000 bill -- after all, it will get worse if things don't change.
Like I said, I won't for a second tell you who to vote for or what to believe. But kids, shit needs to change because none of this is right. Part 2 will include what it's like to deal with Medicare on a daily basis through my job, but I don't have the energy for that right now.
