My Letter To Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-MI

The following is a letter I received in reply to my opposition on 'Health Care Reform'. Following that is my response. If you don't agree, that's fine with me. I just wanted to have my say-so.



"From: Senator Debbie Stabenow senator@stabenow.senate.gov
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 4:44:47 PM
Subject: Re: Health Care 'Reform" and Cap & Trade

July 29, 2009


Thank you . . .

. . . for contacting me regarding your opposition to universal health care coverage. I understand your concerns.

When it comes to health care, our families and businesses are in a serious crisis. High health care costs are causing cuts in benefits and increases in premiums, adding to the ranks of the uninsured at alarming rates. But the impact of this problem goes beyond individual families. Skyrocketing health care costs make our businesses less competitive in the global marketplace and cost us good-paying jobs. We are already paying for the uninsured through overuse of the emergency room-the most inefficient and expensive way of providing care.

I believe that health care is a right, not a privilege. There is no doubt that the problems we face are complex, but there are real solutions. We can create a system that is uniquely American and shares the cost between the government, businesses, and individuals in a way that is fair and equitable. Now is the time to show the political will to tackle these issues because there is so much at stake. I am committed to working with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee to find solutions to America's health care crisis.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please don't hesitate to do so again if my office can be of assistance to you or your family.

Sincerely,

Debbie Stabenow

United States Senator



DS:SM"


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U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow
The United States Senate • Washington, DC 20510
stabenow.senate.gov

Dear Senator,

Thank you for your reply. We differ in many areas of thought on Health Care reform. I do not believe that insurance is a right. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are rights.

I enjoy the fact that my employer offers health care - however, I can only afford to cover myself - not my husband or college age child. I have a $1000 deductible and $1500 co-pay. For the most part, my insurance coverage is catastrophic only. My portion of the premiums if I were to cover eligible members of my family would cost nearly 1/4 of my bi-weekly take home pay. Obviously, if a mortgage is only supposed to by 1/3 of your monthly salary, then insurance premiums are nearly the price of a good-sized house.

Adding to the 'ranks of the uninsured' is the fact of a 14.2% unemployment rate - of which my husband is one. He doesn't qualify for unemployment insurance so he isn't even counted.

So, why are my premiums so high?

First, because malpractice insurance for my physicians is totally out of control due to frivolous law suits, huge legal fees and the costs associated with trying even a small case. The judge, clerks, bailiffs, secretaries, etc...all have to be paid - by me, the taxpayer.

Because of the need to cover themselves, doctors are forced to order complicated, often if not always expensive and sometimes unnecessary tests and procedures.

Every time a doctor orders a CT scan or a battery of blood tests - there is his fee (which includes the salaries of his staff, his building costs and the portion of his malpractice insurance that he must pass on to the patient), the cost to the facility to pay the personnel, the supplies, the equipment (none of which is cheap) and their own malpractice insurance costs, and usually a specialist qualified to interpret the results.

The second reason my premiums are so high: illegal residents who leech our resources in everything from medical care to education. Someone has to pay for what they use or are given. Guess who that is? The taxpayer. The insurance premium payer. The legal worker. ME.

We already send food and monetary aid to many other countries - including where many of our illegals come from. Why are we not sending them back? Why the oversensitivity to their 'plight'. I hate to say this, but my only concern right now is for MY family - not theirs.

My great-grandparents came from Italy around 1910 - on a boat - steerage class. They learned English, they got jobs, they became citizens. Why should it be any different now? When did being lawbreakers ENTITLE anyone to my money? When did it become unacceptable for me to spend my money with charities or organizations that help people at my own discretion? Why is it now the governments job?

So, Senator, I stand firm in my convictions that we don't need 'Health Care Reform', we need basic laws already on the books enforced, tort reform to stop the lawyers from destroying us while they get wealthy and to put in place the means for the insurance companies to be able to lower premiums for malpractice insurance as well as health insurance.

One more thing. Health Care in this country is the finest in the world - people from all over the world come HERE for care, not the other way around. No one in this country is ever denied medical care - it's illegal to do so - however, people without insurance put off getting care, or only do the minimum so it doesn't bankrupt them.

The plan the President is touting is going to be very expensive, create more bloated government bureaucracy, and in the end, won't help the average patient. By the way, the term 'deficit neutral' is not only a lie, but actually quite silly.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my point of view.

Sincerely,

Jennifer, RN