My case for health care reform (response to other blog poll)

This post is in response to our latest poll. I know this isn't really a forum for this kind of discussion generally, but fuck it. So, as many of you probably know (or can at least guess), I support health care reform. In fact, I support the crazy health care reform that would eliminate insurance companies, cover everyone with a single payer, and basically turn our country into Scandinavia. Now, before the rage inside you compells you to come find me and beat me to death with my own hammer and sickle, I'll admit that this will never become a reality. In fact, I don't see the current plan in front of Congress right now (which is far back from the plan I just described) has a good chance of being passed. However, I must contend that some sort of health care reform is needed. To support this belief, I am not bringing a bunch of numbers, but rather a short story about... well for privacy sake, let's call him Kic Nempfert.

Kic graduated in May of 09' and his insurance coverage was set to expire at the end of the month. On May 31st, Kic was diagnosed with leukemia. Now, for all the people in the United States who get sick with no insurance, some personal blame can be laid on them. They should have paid the x$ a month (excuse me, xxx$). However, I don't think Kic can hardly be considered the irresponsible type in this case. This was just bad luck. Not just bad luck, I'm talking Romeo and Juliet star crossed lover luck (look it up if you're confused). The likelihood that he would lose his insurance and be diagnosed with a million dollar disease on the same day is astronomical. Yet, it happened. It sucks, but it happened. Now what can he do? No insurance company would ever accept a recently diagnosed cancer patient (or any cancer patient for that matter). He could get a job, but that also seems a little difficult given the whole chemotherapy and compromised immune system thing. So what options are left open for Kic?

So that leads me to why I believe we need some kind of health care reform and why I believe we need it now. Moreover, the reason I was inclined to write this and post it on this blog was that this shit could happen to anyone... any of us. Moreover, I think an interesting statistic is that 60% of bankruptcies are declared due to medical bills, and 75% of those bankruptcies come from people with insurance (Health Magazine June 2009). Again, I don't care what your political alignment is... that shit is fucked up and you don't want it happening to you.

I don't know what the "right" approach is to health care reform, but I'm not really convinced that anyone does. What I do know is that the current system is broken and I'd rather not see the US sit on its hands any longer.