Obamacare

In a few short hours the Supreme Court will rule on the Affordable Healthcare Act – aka – Obamacare.  I am nervous about the decision probably because deep down I already know the ruling – at least in part.  I think what disturbs me most about the debate surrounding the AHA is people still don’t really know what it is and what it could do for all Americans.  Ok not all – the exception will be for those who have a financial incentive to Healthcare Insurance companies.  I see certain constituents utilize their position and media to bully fear into countless of Americans. 

When it comes to politics and faith – the healthcare debate is my issue.  Nothing gets my blood pressure going than when I think about how the United States is the ONLY developed nation that relies on a for-profit private insurance plans.  By doing so, the United States chooses – yes chooses – to preserve separate classes of healthcare based on economic class. I get mad when I think about the 1 million people who will file for bankruptcy because of medical bills this year.  I am saddened when I consider the sacred lives of those who will lose their lives because they cannot pay for healthcare. Selfishly, I also fear for my own future as it would only take one major illness to put this private-educated, Blue Cross carrying, upper middle class white woman – and her family - into the poor house.  I can’t imagine what it would do for the poor.

Two years ago I taught a class called Tackling Healthcare in America.  It was a very good class and I was impressed by the students who took the conversation seriously.  The class looked at the various healthcare models embraced by other nations around the world.  For those interested, I’m going to share a bit of information about each.  There are four main models of healthcare in the world.  You will find all of these models in the United States:

Bismarck Model: This is where the worker and employer share the premium for a health insurance policy.  This model might also sound familiar to us if we are lucky enough to have a job that offers benefits.  If you or your loved one were to acquire an illness you would be covered as long as you continue to work, pay your monthly premiums, co-pays and don’t max out your life-time benefits.

Beveridge Modal: Government owed and run clinics and hospitals.  No bills are exchanged.  If you are a veteran, Native American or work for the Federal Government you have access to this system.  If you or your loved one were to contract a tragic illness – you would be covered. 

National Health Insurance: A combination of the above two models.  The Doctors and hospitals are private but the payer is the government.   Citizens pay monthly premiums (or paid into the system) and the government is the insurance company.  Like many of our government run programs it can be done so cheaply – but yes, there are kinks.  This is like our Medicare and Medicaid programs.  (There are many problems with our Medicare/Medicaid program in the US.  I personally believe the biggest is that the government will not (cannot) pay the price of medical care that the insurance companies can/will.  (There are other issues here that I won’t go into now)  So what happens is that doctors will only take a certain amount of Medicare/Medicaid individuals, leaving many to go without. 

Out-of-Pocket Model: You have access to medical care if you can pay the bill.  In 2010, there were 49.9 million uninsured people in the United States. 

Though not perfect, the AHA was a step in the right direction to create an equal playing field.  The AHA would do many things but the following, I think is critical to helping more Americans:

·         You wouldn’t be denied insurance because of preexisting conditions.

·         Insurance companies could not drop you when you get sick – which they CAN do now.   

·         No cap on lifetime benefits.

·         Everyone has to buy insurance therefore sharing the risk of the unhealthy (which we will all be at some point)

·         New affordable insurance options are available (Exchanges)

·         Everyone has access to a basic affordable healthcare plan

·         Overtime, will help reduce medical costs

Contrary to what you’ve heard on television, from your Congressman, pastor, mother or father, the AHA:

·         Is NOT Socialized healthcare

·         Will not have death panels (frankly, the real death panels are the health insurance companies)

·         You will have a choice of insurance company, doctors and hospitals (probably more so than you do NOW!)

·         Hospitals and doctors will still be able to make a lot of money

Now why most people would not want these things is beyond me.  If you are a part of the 99% - you should want access to the above.   I do not think the Affordable Healthcare Act is a failure but there are many that would like you to believe it is. 

For me, creating affordable healthcare for everyone intersects with and is a reflection of my faith.  I believe in a Risen Christ that healed the sick and defied death.  He actively helped others do the same.  He courageously spoke out against the powers and principalities of this world so the poor and oppressed could live a fuller life.  As a follower of Jesus, I need to actively do the same. 

If we are going to claim we are a national based on Christian principals, we cannot do so if we actively maintain systems of oppression and allow corporations to hold profits over people.  I don’t understand why people of faith will picket clinics and doctors over the issue of the abortion but then do nothing when innocent people are dying from a lack of healthcare.  We can’t care for a human life in utero then disregard it when it comes out and call ourselves Christ-like.

 There are many unjust systems in the United States – many that we will not be able to do much about but creating a system that provides healthcare for more people is one that we CAN do something about and should.  In a few short hours we will know a ruling that will change the lives of many, but it will be reduced to a political debate over who will win the next Presidential election.  

Lessons

We all learn from our parents.  As children, our job is to act out, obey, and ask questions.  A parent’s job is to push us along the path and rear us into shape. I have learned many things from my mom and dad but there are two lessons that have truly stuck with me and I think, helped mold me into who I am today.  

The first lesson is from my mom.  I didn’t grow up into an over religious family. My mom grew up an Episcopalian and my dad, Catholic.  Dad would drag me Mass when I was young, but I think my Sunday morning tantrums finally wore him down and we stopped going.  I have a distinct memory of my mom telling me that God is bigger than I could imagine and that God knows everything I do and think.  As a 7 year old I thought that was amazing – and daunting.  I feel certain she told me this just to rear me in acceptable societal norms when she could not be present.  It worked. But deeper, it was my first lesson in theology: Never put God in a box!  (Consequently, my grandmother was asked by the priest to not bring my mother back to Church as she asked too many questions.  Such a shame as I believe she would have made a great theologian.)  This theological claim has stuck with me over the years; as I grew up, as I made my way back into the church, as my world view was deconstructed in seminary and slowly reconstructed in my 10 years of ministry.  This one claim was the basis for permission to: ask the tough questions,  not believe everything I read, and perhaps most important - when in doubt, ere on the side of LOVE.  

The second lesson, which I learned from my dad, was to do things right the first time.  Whatever I was asked to do from chores to my job; do it complete and do it correctly.  Of course learning this meant several attempts at cleaning my room, washing the dishes, or even cleaning up the dog's poop in the back yard.  I remember being in youth group one Sunday evening and my youth minister, Mike, was asking us questions about a scripture passage.  I don’t recall exactly, but something about what we think God is asking of us in this or that passage.  I confidently spoke out “God doesn’t want us to do a half-asked job!”  This is what my dad always instructed of me “Hollie, don’t do a half-asked job.”   I really did think the saying was half-asked but it was at church youth group that I found out the saying is half-assed, which essentially has the same meaning unless you’re in church.  

Like so many others, I am joining the blogging world. One might think I am a little late, but for the record I first started blogging about 10 years ago – before blogging was cool on a site called Diaryland.  If I recall, I convinced many of my friends to join the Diaryland bandwagon.  I got off at a stop soon after, others stayed on and it turned into blogging.  I’m not saying I made blogging cool – but you connect the dots.  So here is- The Underside; my attempt to open the box we not only find ourselves in, but then, sometimes unintentionally, bring God in too.  It’s about turning over the tables at our half-ass attempts at life – not because we mean too but because we are tired and it’s easier to make excuses.   This will be a journey about rediscovering myself and learning and attempting to once again live fully into the fullness God calls.