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My Thyroid, My Congressman: Kairol Rosenthal
Sometimes the phrase “life or death” is not a cliché. I was diagnosed with a complex case of thyroid cancer when I was 27. Even more surprising than the words “you have cancer” were the words from the secretary when I tried to make a appointment for a second opinion: “You have no insurance…
I left my job three weeks prior to my diagnosis to transition to a new workplace. COBRA would have carried my insurance through, but my former employer apparently forgot to submit the paperwork. So there I was: not yet 30, I had a sudden pre-existing condition and no health coverage. The government, insurance companies, my former employer — none of them were willing to pick up the tab for my cancer care.
I needed an operation to remove my thyroid and 30 tumors that were laced throughout my neck and shoulder. There were no healing candle lit baths, no journaling, no “you can fight this cancer” phone calls with friends, and no doctors visits during my first month of cancer. Instead I spent 40 hours a week on the phone with the national COBRAServe headquarters. When the phones were closed I spent my time strategizing back up plans. (Would I be able to fly to another country for care?)
My parents had the heartache of facing the fact that their kid had cancer. , But we all felt like our hands were tied, there was so little we could do to get me the care I needed. , My mom and I both wondered, , So when did this country go so wrong that I might actually die because nobody would cover me, a hardworking 20-something cancer patient?
I lied my butt off to the government and finally obtained insurance that allowed me to receive surgery. (I don’t recommend this to anyone. It was a horrible feeling being wheeled into surgery knowing that my house of insurance cards could tumble at any minute.) Nine years later I am still living with thyroid cancer. I have had scans, more surgery and radioactive iodine treatments. I have likely spent more time on the phone arguing for coverage and fighting for insurance to pay my claims than I have spent in doctors’ offices.
Nothing has felt so important to me as the House of Representatives passing the healthcare reform bill on Sunday. I’m not interested in debating the merits or deficits of the bill. , The time for that is long over. , Instead, I am writing this post and asking those of you who believe that we do need healthcare reform to take ten minutes of your time today and on Saturday to make phone calls. Put down your iPhone apps, your facebooking, your twittering, your blogging, and pick up the phone and, call, call, call your congress person. Use this link to find the phone number of your representative and politely reiterate to them how important it is that they vote yes for healthcare reform. , This feisty thyca gal is counting on you!
(Bio) Kairol Rosenthal is the author of Everything Changes: The Insider’s Guide to Cancer in Your 20s and 30s. She believes strongly in the democratic process and has made many trips to Capitol Hill on behalf of women’s health and young adult cancer care.
Tags: HCR, Health care issues, health care reform, health care reform chronic conditions, health insurance, health reform thyroid cancer, Kairol Rosenthal, My Congressman, My Thyroid
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52 Responses to “My Thyroid, My Congressman: Kairol Rosenthal”
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from your FAQ page:
Why doesn’t Dear Thyroid allow Religion and Politics on their website?
•Simply put, we come together in the name of thyroid disease and thyroid cancer support. So that nobody feels alienated or left out, we do not allow people to write about their personal political or religious beliefs.
Has this changed? This is two days in a row you are promoting support of Obamas Healthcare Reform.
Hi ACS;
Thank you very much for your comment and for addressing your concern.
Dear Thyroid’s focus has not changed and won’t change. We don’t see this is a political issue. We see this as a health issue.
If you don’t support health care reform, your opinion regarding health care is important to us. How do you feel this will benefit your personal health?
Thank you again for your comment and concerns. We appreciate your concerns and thank you!
This is not a political issue – this is an American issue. We need to support each other, whatever community we are involved in, so that everyone can have health benefits. I am lucky because I have insurance and have many choices because of the benefits this health insurance offers. But when I hear stories such as Kairol’s, it saddens me that in this century and in this country there is still so much unfairness.
Monica –
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts regarding health care and your opinion.
I agree with you, it is very sad to hear stories like Kairol’s because nobody should be denied health care, especially in this century, as you said.
Thanks, Monica!
Well, I have been on the phone and emailing because i strongly believe that healthcare reform is needed – just not Obamacare – and so I made sure my voice was also heard. Thank goodness we still can lift our voices in opposition. But I think those days are numbered too.
Your situation is not uncommon. In fact it is one reason I don’t feel employers should be the ones providing health insurance. I’ve always thought that was a bad idea. We should buy insurance like we do car and home insurance. And there are health reform solutions that can actually lower health care costs instead of the eventual rationing of it. I do not think forcing insurance companies out of business (which this healthcare reform bill will most definitely do within a few years, but that’s the cloward-piven strategy) and then government controlled healthcare (surely RAI for all Graves patients, synthroid for all who go hypo, no more innovation and hope for cures- just who is the lowest bidder) is overkill. no pun intended.
oh, that should be I do think it is overkill.
dear thyroid, why is healthcare any different from any other commodity? I’m trying to wrap my mind around the idea that some think others should pay for their healthcare – and I don’t quite get it. seriously – help me understand. Don’t get me wrong…it’s not a lack of compassion here. i’ve paid for healthcare for those who couldn’t afford it. But that was my choice. I’m having a bit of a problem that I’m going to be forced to pay for someone else’s health insurance. that feels a bit like theft to me. I just can’t imagine expecting anyone else to pay my way. and don’t give me the line about I’m already paying for it now…yea, i know that aspect of it…but the difference is petty theft and grand larceny.
Whatever you call it, it is a very controversial and polarizing issue.
I know several people who had cancer, with no insurance, yet got full treatment, as many hospitals have programs to cover this, plus many foundations make donations to them. My one friend had invasive ovarian cancer, no insurance at all, and Northwestern U. in Chicago gave them the best of care.
There is no perfect system in ANY society, and the examples of other gov’t healthcare systems in other countries are replete with one example after another of patients being denied efficacious and timely treatment. We need to be careful we don’t jump from the frying pan into the fire. There is a reason that gov’t officials from other countries come here to get their care, and why doctors from other countries are leaving those countries with gov’t healthcare to practice here.
We need to find a way to keep the good parts of a system that has led the world in innovative treatments and diagnostics, rather than throw out the whole system for one that has has never achieved such levels of excellence and choice.
I’m with ACS on this….
I don’t think there is a single reasonable person who doesn’t think our health care needs reforms, but many of us are sure that this near 2000 page monstrosity will NOT give us anything but more problems. The federal government already runs the largest part of US health care “coverage”– Medicare and Medicaid– and those are administrative nightmares, wasteful, inefficient and insufficient for the needs of many who qualify for coverage.
When a letter states to call your Congress Person and tell them how important it is that they vote YES for Obamas Healthcare Reform, that makes it political. A healthy discussion about the fact that we need reform in this country is one thing but this letter is clearly stating her political views on the subject which you state you do not allow.
Also it is probably not a good idea to admit Insurance Fraud publicly on the Internet. I understand why she did what she did but since she is a published author it would not be hard for them to track down her personal information, find her fraudulent claims and retract all of the payments. Not to mention prosecuting her.
I think I will stick to the non-political letters. I LOVE this site but I feel very strongly about this issue so discussing it tends to cause my heart rate to rise!
I come here for support not stress. Enjoy your debate =)
one more note…and then i probably need to stay away from this blog since i hate a political issue is being discussed on a thyroid blog. It can only divide us. But this current health reform bill imo is a political issue primarily – as it will fundamentally transform our republic. It is government control of our bodies. Our freedom of choice will be gone. Where are the women now who are so outraged at anyone telling them what to do with their bodies? Yes, this will soon be the federal government dictating what I can do…and the intrusiveness into my private life, oh my.
I’m actually shocked that any thyroid patient who has struggled to get a proper diagnosis due to TSH – and then struggled to get natural thyroid in many cases – would ever support a measure that will make the “standard of care” the mandate. Truly, I feel my days are numbered when this passes. I’m in mourning here…
Well said Cindi!
Cindi;
This is a thyroid blog. We aren’t veering away from the focus or objective. I would hate to lose you from our community.
We felt this was a health care issue worth discussing. We don’t see this as a political issue. I’m very sorry that this topic was upsetting to you. We didn’t see it that way.
I do hope that you will continue to be part of our community.
I want you to know that I APPRECIATE AND VALUE your opinion!
ACS;
I’m very sorry you feel this way, too. We wanted to table this because we truly believe this as a health issue and one that we wanted to discuss with our community.
I digress… I hope we don’t lose you as a community member. We value you and your opinions, as well as everyone in this community.
Cindi –
I hear you and I appreciate where you’re coming from. Though we see this issue differently, I understand where you’re coming from.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I really appreciate it.
Jean – That’s a wonderful point.
Where I’m coming from is, here we are, a group of individuals with chronic conditions. We spend SO MUCH MONEY on health insurance, managing our conditions nutritionally and also via supplements, etc. I can’t help but think about the folks out there who have lost their homes to thyroid diseases and cancers. Having spoken with people like this, I’m dumbfounded by it.
I wish there was an answer.
ACS – I absolutely hear you and I appreciate where you’re coming from. We don’t want to cause you stress in any way, shape or form. Our goal was to have a discussion about OUR health issues.
Thank you for being so honest about your thoughts and opinions.
Kaytee – Thank you for sharing your opinion on the matter, I really appreciate that you took the time to share your thoughts with us.
To Everyone;
Our goal in having these health care discussions over the past two-days wasn’t to divide us or upset anyone. Our goal was to table the issue because we saw it as an issue that affects thyroid patients. Regardless of what you choose to do, we felt it was worth discussing.
Our community is what makes Dear Thyroid so special, safe and sacred. The fact that each member of this community is willing to be as outspoken and brave as you are, is the spirit and essence of our identity.
Every opinion, regardless of whether it’s for or against this bill MATTERS. The point of the discussion is: how do you feel about it? How will it affect you? As a patient with a chronic condition, do you see it as a benefit or not?
Again, I hope that our community remains intact and strong. If this issue upset anyone, my apologies. I do believe it was and is worth talking about.
Thanks,
DT
Weather health care is a political condition or not, I feel, it is definitely an extremely important “human” condition.
No matter which party you support, the situation on the ground, meaning the current system, is NOT working for many folks out there. There are too many bankruptcies just because someone cannot pay their medical expenses. There are too many death due to the lack of affordable health care, or more likely due to the fact that people without insurance wait until it might be too late so seek medical care.
To those who do not want to pay for others insurance, well – think of all the other stuff you pay for with your taxes. I am sure there are many items you do not support, yet you have to pay anyway.
HD
Dear Kairol,
Thank you so much for sharing your horrible story. What an ordeal you went through, and all because the “system” failed you. – I hope you’re are doing better and your cancer is under control.
All the Best to you,
HD
HD;
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and opinions, and for expressing your feelings regarding health care reform.
oh…i’m a glutton for punishment..had to look at the comments one more time. Like ACS, this blog discussion (as the whole health care bill going on with its bribery and corruption in buying votes and the threat of one of those new 16,500 IRS agents putting me in jail and raiding my bank account)has very much upset me. This has been so political. We’ve found time and time again that political discussions just do not work on thyroid forums. I wouldn’t have expected it to be any different here – although I greatly admire Katie’s letting the folks against Obamacare speak freely. Quite honestly, I’m wondering whether to even stay in the thyroid community to help if this bill passes – because I truly feel we thyroid patients will have lost the battle…and the oppoortunity to fight for the care we need.
btw, those who say that those have died because of lack of health care – don’t forget those of us who almost died because we did have insurance/health care. I spent 25 years going to doctors and having tests. Guess what? I almost died. So as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, over-treatment is a problem – and misdiagnosis is a major problem. This bill will not fix those problems.
As for paying for someone else to have health insurance, my hubby and I actually don’t make enough to be in that group. But I still think it is wrong. And definitely we’re not looking forward to seeing our own premiums/taxes rise for a couple of years and then see single-payor ushered in. I don’t mind paying to protect freedoms…but paying for entitlements gets to be a bit much at times.
I’ve been listening and studying the Mass. system. The state treasurer said today that if this health bill is implemented on the federal level if will bankrupt the country in four years. It isn’t working well in Mass. The fed gov had to shore up the system with money. Hospitals are suing because they are going to have to close because they are operating at a loss. health care costs haven’t been lowered. the free health care some are getting is making the premiums rise of those who are paying. what kind of system if that that would encourage a person to not work and not have insurance to get free health care paid for by others? Rationing is the only next logical step if it it to continue to exist. This is not what I want. nor is it what 3 out of 4 people want. And i’m betting the ones that do want it are already on some type of government assistance. I don’t mean that derogatory. I’m drawn unemployment benefits (that I contributed to when able to work) myself, but it lends a perspective. In short, most of the country don’t want government controlled health-care. we do want health reforms that free up the system so that costs actually can be lowered.
also…i really don’t understand even posting this particular blog. wasn’t the real problem the company that messed up the Cobra paperwork? so the author wants to overhaul a system that is working for more than 3/4 of the country because of her company’s mistake?
Dear Kairol,
Thank you so much for sharing your story I think it is very important. I live in the UK so we have the NHS it works well to a degree but people still have choices they can’t take that away from you if you which to pay for your helath care you can so do, but hey unless you go to Harley street you see the same crap doctors and endos that you would if you were just paying through taxes.
I don’t see this as a political debate although politics plays a big part in health care reform,I stay clear of politic and look at the facts and if someone like a friend very recent who’s husband suspects an appendicitis, she wanted to know how she could help him because they had no insurance now that fucking sucks big time. the rich get richer the poor get poorer.
Kariol I hope you beat your cancer and keep fighting the fight it’s worth it if it helps millions of sufferers.
And just as a last note you always have choices so if you don’t like a letter or post that is fine you don’t even have to call congress I think this is a health related topic that will help so many people not just thyroid, cancer sufferers people on low income or changing jobs the list goes on.It might not be perfect but it will be better than your present system.
And you can still pay through the nose for insurance were you have to pay a percentage of your hospitalisation medication and and surgery.
Lolly
Dear Kairol, thank you for that wonderful letter-and kudos on your book…your efforts have helped a lot of young people cope with their cancers.
Cindi – Thanks for speaking up and sharing more, I appreciate it. I want to assure you that we are NOT going to become a political community. We are a thyroid community, period. I truly believed that this was a health issue, not a political issue. I apologize and will continue to do so. My goal was not to offend or upset anyone at all. My goal was to bring us closer together regarding health care issues.
I have a question regarding this point: Quite honestly, I’m wondering whether to even stay in the thyroid community to help if this bill passes — because I truly feel we thyroid patients will have lost the battle;and the oppoortunity to fight for the care we need.
What do you think, in an ideal world, would benefit thyroid patients? What can we do as a community to get the health care we need? I would love to hear your ideas.
Katie-
Cindi,
We must have posted at the same time, you say you don’t like politics on forums I see you and IMO being more political about it than anyone else you seem to know more about what is going on than I would ever know not living in your country. I’ve seen so many people In the USA struggling for good health care while paying through the nose for it.And not everyone is on state assistance either so I found that remark a little offensive to those who are because this disease can cause debilitating symptoms and people work no matter how they feel because they have to pay for there health care to try and make them feel better it’s like a catch 22.
Your present system isn’t working for everyone, you sort of contradicted yourself there but back tracked about nearly dying and you paid for the privilege.So glad you didn’t and around to tell the tale.
Lolly just voicing my opinion for what it’s worth.
Lolly;
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and lending your support to Kairol.
I also appreciate that you see this as a health care issue, not a political issue. I was hoping the discussion of health care would be the focal point and the concept of ‘reform’ for thyroid patients and patients with other chronic conditions.
K
Donna – Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for lending support to Kairol.
Lolly – Thanks for expressing your opinions honestly!
Katie
Katie,
I think there are several things to be done for thyroid patients. First and foremost, information about thyroid disease must get in the public…and quite frankly to doctors. They do not know thyroid disease symptoms. They only know labs. And so many everyday people do not know their symptoms are hypo ones. how could they if the docs don’t know?
I was overjoyed to see a show on Discovery Health Channel/Mystery Diagnosis a few days ago about Hashimoto’s. Guess what? I knew the gal’s problem within the first 10 minutes of the show by just hearing a couple of her symptoms and her background (recently had a baby) – guess how many years it took the docs? 3 years.
So that’s the first thing. EDUCATION to doctors and the public. and not just thyroid disease per see, but also the autoimmune aspect. So..we must get more magazines publishing articles…we need brochures in doc’s offices..we need to reeducate docs about the clinical symptoms, because they didn’t get that in med school. and so i guess we have to bombard some docs’ associations and such.
after that, we need to debunk TSH. bad bad evil test imo. for over 5 years i’ve heard how that test almost killed folks. Dr. Holtorf has made a start with his site, http://www.nahypothyroidism.org We need more docs on board with this. we need them from across the nation. this message must get across to the medical profession – that TSH does not always tell the story.
So then…we need to teach what really does evaluate thyroid function..the stuff mary teaches and others talk about – how to really evaluate thyroid function. We need to educate about the adrenals connection to thyroid.
We need a dang public awareness/medical profession/every dang medical group awareness campaign. unrelentless. i’ll voluteer mary to go speak to all of them. don’t tell her i said that though. 🙂
and for many of us – and this is what SNT wants to do – we need to have our options for treatment. SNT is adamant about legitimizing natural thyroid. And it’s the only thing that works for me. And now, canada’s product is the only thing that works for me. what a fix i’m in if importation gets shut down. i’m telling ya, my gov’t is trying to kill me. 🙂
so that’s off the top of my head, katie gal…education…it starts with education….and then we probably need to band together to be a formidable thyroid force and scare them. 🙂
oh – i left out educating the insurance companies. but it’s probably too late if the health care bill passes anyway – but i’ve always wanted to write my insurance company and point out the savings from proper treatment of hypo…and talk about my misdiagnosis…and what that cost for years. all thyroid patients who have experienced this should be doing this…but we need an organized campaign. force them to put their money where their mouth is…in saving money by better treatment.
But see…i can think long-term…i can see the logical progression of this health care bill. and it’s standard of care..it’s the HMO on steroids…it’s rationing…and so where I am now is: how many years worth of meds can I stockpile to keep myself alive? – because natural thyroid got banned in the UK for hypo treatment…and medicare is no longer covering it…and things weren’t looking too good last year for natural thyroid (until the SNT letter writing campaign) and well, i can see the handwriting on the wall. And I don’t like reading “TSH is the gold standard for diagnosing hypothyroidism and Synthroid is the treatment”.
phew..i guess i coulda talked about some health care reforms (like tort reform, buying insurance across state lines, etc)..but ya done wore me out, katie gal…love ya!
Dear Kairol, Thank you for sharing your story. It puts a face on the healthcare debate and SHOULD make it more personal – especially in a forum like this where we all have issues with healthcare, insurance coverage and NON coverage, etc.
Cindi – NOWHERE does Kairol mention the words “Obamacare” – that is a very negative and politically volatile way to address healthcare reform. There also has NEVER been a mention of YOU having to pay for someone else’s care. The US is the ONLY civilized country in the world that barters healthcare for money. We should all be ashamed and SCARED of that. We are all only are a nan-second away from being in the same position Carol was in. Lose your job, then your insurance, get sick – what next? I am happy things are OK for you and your family Cindi – but there are MILLIONS of people who aren’t as fortunate – compassion and morality should enter into the equation. This is NOT a political issue – this is an issue about our humanity as a people and a country. One of the richest countries in the world should not have citizens that die because they aren’t wealthy enough to afford “INSURANCE”. There is nothing in the bill that says the government is going to take over your freedoms regarding your care or your Dr’s ability to administer care. You are perpetuating a myth – PLEASE stop spreading misinformation, there is enough of that everywhere else (and that makes the issue political).
Jean, whether or not it’s called ‘Obamacare’ makes very little difference. Obama is the one traipsing all over the country trying to sell it and telling us it he ‘will’ get the votes, no matter what.
I realize there are very real issues and hardships with some people in this country, but we really do have to get beyond the emotion of it and study the facts and implications of what this will do. And also educate ourselves on the Constitution and the ramifications of what can happen if we refuse to follow it. If gov’t healthcare had worked anywhere else without rationing and bankrupting the country, then you might have a case, but so far that hasn’t happened.
I agree we should have compassion and morality, but that should be something we do as people, it was never intended for gov’t to do this, since it has never worked and only leads to less freedoms and more controls, along with burdensome taxes.
Forced charity (and all types of welfare) by the heavy hand of government is not true charity. Voting for programs that steal the fruits of another person’s hard labors does not make one charitable, it makes them a tyrannical theif who plunders the wealth of others for his own gain.
Most people don’t die from lack of healthcare, I am a health professional and worked in the ER for years, and I can tell you that NO ONE ever got turned away or got less care because they had no insurance. It simply doesn’t happen. Even people who used the ER for minor things got treated.
There are many charitable foundations that give money to hospitals and doctors to help care for those without insurance, I see it happen every single day. Why must we think the ONLY solution is to throw the good out along with the bad and put in place a system that has never worked as well as ours for any country that has tried it? There are so many great ideas and ways to help those in need, where the full amount of money would actually go to that person, rather than a good part of it being diverted to some bloated, inefficient, gov’t bureaucracy to administer the program inefficiently?
I HAVE read large sections of the bill and most certainly it will restrict our choices and that of our doctors. Ignore those who say we’re ‘fear-mongers’ and read something outside of sources who do nothing but praise it. Read it yourself, don’t let me or anyone else tell you what it will do.
I can tell you this–if you are a fan of NDT and want the freedom to use it instead of Synthroid, and if you don’t believe docs should treat by TSH only, you should be very fearful of gov’t HC. Ask those in the UK if they can get NDT. And how they can’t get a doc to Rx anything at all unless the TSH is close to 10 or higher. The problems we have now getting adequate treatment will seem minor once the gov’t starts setting guideline for how to treat each health issue.
Just wanted to be sure I make this clear: I am not denying there are people who truly do need help. I’m all for looking at solutions to address that, but not the FedGov. For something that has the potential to have negative effects if done wrong, we simply cannot just say ‘hurry up, pass something’ in a desperate attempt to solve the problem. We need to be careful and thoughtful and explore ALL potential solutions, including those not involving the FedGov, of which there have been many proposed. There is something very, very wrong when the President and Congress refuse to even look at these alternative proposals and lead us to believe there is no other solution.
Honestly everyone, I think we should just all stop paying insurance premiums – EVERYONE – what do you think would happen? After all, my insurance won’t pay for my NDT, acupuncture, chiropractic care (oh yeah – that’s a $65 co-pay per visit) the list goes on and on and on. Then there’s that pesky little co-insurance – cost us THOUSANDS when my husband had surgery – what exactly is that anyways? Have asked for explanation from ins. co. – haven’t gotten a rational one yet!! And what about preventative care, nutritional supplements and diet? Insurers wouldn’t make much $$ if we all just got healthy now would they – and the drug companies would croak……………….I am sick and tired of being sick and tired because of a system that has failed so many.
well, i think Jean answered most of the questions directed at me. I agree with all she said.
I think basically – it is political primarily – because idealogy is driving some viewpoints here. There are those who think we can have a marxist utopia where everyone gets all the health care they need without the country going bankrupt. And the fact this is the first time the gov’t is mandating that an american citizen buy something or risk the IRS seizing their funds is no big deal to some evidently. i mean we do have a Constitution, folks.
and again, there is no question that health care reform is needed. Reform that lowers costs (doesn’t ration) and still allows the freedom of choice that Americans have always enjoyed. Does anyone really disagree that big government, nationalization of industry, massive taxation, wealth redistribution, etc. all point towards socialism? That is why this health care bill is so controversial…as it is without any doubt – socialized medicine. And socialized medicine coming to America means political is trumping the health care aspect. Most Americans want to retain their freedom and liberties…they don’t want to dismantle the best medical system in the world (imperfect though it is)…
btw, have you compared how many americans die (supposedly) each year due to a lack of health care versus how many die as a result of medical error?
And what’s the deal with folks getting upset about calling it Obamacare? He is the one who has made it all about him and his presidency…so he probably likes calling it that i would think. don’t you?
Jean Gilcher, we AGREE. i said this over a year ago – if everyone would just drop their insurance immediately -watch those health care costs go down.
i mean i don’t blame just the insurance companies. consumers and physicians started abusing the insurance system years ago in the ’80s. I’m old enough to remember when the insurance companies actually reimbursed us! but the system has gone bad now. It truly is broken and needs fixing. but it doesn’t need a takeover. Heck, gov’t mandates on insurance companies are part of the problem. they are forced to pay for things like mammos and bone density tests and vaccines and colonscopies, etc….all sorts of things i think are unhealthy. i want to be able to purchase a policy that doesn’t cover those things…but what I need – just catastrophic coverage. I’ll pay the doc bills – after all i don’t go running to the doc for every little thing like I see so many doing. And i refuse to take 15 RXs that the doc might recommend to me so he can get perks.
i digress though…but absolutely if we could get everyone to drop their dang insurance – you would see a major shift in costs. but folks are addicted to their copays. I’ve seen folks so addicted to their RX copay they don’t even realize they can buy natural thyroid cheaper than most copays. it’s always all about what will the insurance pay. and folks wonder why premiums keep rising…folks keep having too many unnessary tests and surgeries for one thing..geez…i’m digressing again…
Cindi, you are so right. I remember as a young mother my first husband had Caterpillar insurance. I had no idea how good we had it. I never paid one cent–not for anything!! And CAT was a huge employer in our area so there were thousands of people covered.
So we all ran to the doc/ER for every little thing. Why not? We didn’t have to pay. And we learned that it was often faster to go to the ER than wait for a Dr. appt so we went there for anything. Had no clue how expensive an ER visit was because we never saw the actual bill, nor did we realize how expensive meds were.
And guess what? The docs took full advantage of this because back then, the ins companies did not hold their feet to the fire like they do now, demanding they justify everything. They just willy nilly ordered every conceivable test under the sun with no regard to cost, because they knew the ins company wouldn’t question. Thus, HC costs skyrocketed. This scenario was not unique to CAT either. It played out all over the country with the great ins. most people had back then.
Well, eventually it was discovered by investigation that the docs/clinics/hospitals/labs were padding their bills for those of us with Cat ins. And that, along with the threat of Hillarycare when Bill got elected, was the beginning of insurance companies tightening up as a response to us running up bills for every little thing.
Now that I have to pay out of pocket, I can tell you that I now am a much more discerning consumer of healthcare. I only go to the doc when absolutely necessary, and now I call around to see what they charge and how much time they will give me. I am seeing more people having to do this as their ins. coverage has been reduced, and I see a very slight trend in docs becoming slightly more accommodating due to this. But nowhere where it would be if more had to approach their HC this way.
If we all did this, health care costs would come down so fast it would make your head spin. Instead of docs being arrogant and dismissive because they’ve got more patients than they know what to do with (which would only be worse with gov’t HC), they would be falling all over themselves trying to get our business, and competition would drive prices down and give us much better service.
Those were the golden years of great ins. coverage, but alas, very unrealistic. We have to share the blame for contributing to the skyrocketing costs for being unwise in our use of HC. But when something is free, people will always use more of it, which is exactly the problem with gov’t HC. It will be the same scenario–HC is ‘free’ so people run to the doc for everything rather than wait to see if they get better. Then costs go up, docs and nurses are overworked, waiting times are long, and the whole system suffers.
Kairol, thank you for sharing YOUR story. Thank you for using your cancer to create awareness…awareness of thyroid cancers/diseases, cancer in young adults, health care issues, and the list goes on and on. Thank you for pursuing a cause with PASSION. Thank you for throwing your heart and soul into something you believe in. Thank you for not debating, as you say, “the merits and deficits of the bill,” but for encouraging us to make our own voices heard.
xoxo,
Joanna
Joanna,
So well put. And this is what the letter was about and not a political one as first thought by a few.
I applaud you Kariol for speaking out and standing up for your rights while helping others, it must have been so hard for you at a time you needed health insurance and reassurance.
I wish you good health and freedom from cancer but never freedom of speech.
Lolly
“I also appreciate that you see this as a health care issue, not a political issue. I was hoping the discussion of health care would be the focal point and the concept of ‘reform’ for thyroid patients and patients with other chronic conditions.”
Katie I couldn’t agree with you more I know that is more about Health care than political debate, I have to laugh you know I like to laugh for those who say that they veer clear of political debates and this wasn’t really one are the ones who are talking about it more than anyone else.
And another thing are NHS might not be perfect but our country isn’t bankrupt from it the medical side of things isn’t actually run by government concering TSH levels but the British thyroid association who work in conjunction with the endocrinologists this is there guidelines and not Governements.And that is being g[fought on a daily basis this is where things need to change within our system and you can still get Armour thyroid in the UK some doctors will still prescribe it not many.
People fear change and the unknown but something has to be done to recitfy your current health care system because that is seriously flawed, statics show that Americia has one of the highest death rates in the world and you pride yourself on your current system BS.
Lolly
yes, there are some problems in our current medical system….
for example, it’s been estimated 44,000 and possibly up to 98,000 die annually as the result of medical error.
that compares to the estimated 45,000 who die annually from lack of having insurance.
geez, statistically it looks like it is safer not to have medical care. 🙂
which gets back to my own experience…and the experiences of thousands I’ve heard over the years from thyroid patients: they went to the physicians and specialists and did not get help.
so access to medical care was not the major problem for the majority of thyroid patients. it was proper diagnosis. and once diagnosed, it was proper treatment. which means not relying on TSH dosing and Synthroid for all.
I don’t see how this health care bill can help thyroid patients in any way – i only see its potential to harm them.
this senate bill loophole will cost thyroid patients in their wallets from what I see…anyone see it differently?
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2010/January/08/Reform-loopholes.aspx
the law calls for the creation of pilot programs that would allow insurers to penalize those with certain conditions via higher premiums or deductibles.” MarketWatch reports that insurers can already charge policyholders 20 percent more for not participating in wellness programs. The Senate bill would increase the difference to 50 percent
another article regarding senate bill loopholes as nurses see it:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121801022
Cindi,
I can’t see it changing much in regards to thyroid treatment other than educating the medical profession, who are supposed to be the experts it’s no better here in the UK infact I would probably say worse and that has nothing to do with it being NHS after all the doctors and endos are the ones who trained for years in there specialised profession. Change needs to come from the thyroid community as well as Doctors who know what they are doing.
there are many advocates for thyroid disease hyper hypo who are fighting the fight me included to be able to get the right treatment in respect of medication and adequate testing I still have to pay for my FT3 out of pocket because the labs here seem to have a say in when they do it or not. At least my doc doesn’t go by TSH as I see that happening in many countries not just yours ior ours it seems to be worldwide and this is where things need to change for the better too many people go undiagnosed because all the test is TSH and it maybe with in the range albeit high or low side but they see it as normal for me that is not good enough FT4 and FT3 should be a standard test for thyroid function and it wouldn’t hurt to do it with an annual medical check maybe catch it early in some people.
Just my point of view what I would like to see change in regards to thyroid testing.
I can’t see that it will harm people only do more good than harm because you wouldn’t be worrying about if you could afford to pay for treatment if needed or be to worried to go seek medical advise because you weren’t insured or you couldn’t pay the percentage they insurance companies ask you too. This is were I don’t think your Healthcare is working because some people are still paying hefty bills years after maybe surgical treatment or high tech testing.
Lolly
Maybe I’m missing something, Lolly – but this senate health reform bill isn’t free medical care for all…although this is the stepping stone of course.
But keeping it current, folks will still have to pay for medical care. It’s still about “ability to pay”.
Just supposedly for 33 million, the other approx. 300 million will be paying for those to have insurance. And the gov’t is going to be mandating what type of insurance we must have and if we don’t comply, our money can be seized, we can be put in jail, etc.
In other words, it looks like to me that where we had some people going bankrupt from a lack of health insurance – now we will have people having financial difficulty/going bankrupt because of having to have a certain level of gov’t mandated insurance and pay more for others to have insurance.
so – i think you’re basically advocating the USA go ahead and move right on over to socialized medicine, right? Well, we aren’t a European socialist country because of our constitution – and I think Jean has addressed a lot of this. But see…this is why this health care reform issue can’t be discussed apart from “political” – because it is about both at this point in time.
Sadly, this just looks like a bad situation is going to be made worse as it doesn’t lower costs and infringes upon our freedom and liberties…and all that done through back room deals and bribery. what’s to like about it? and then thyroid patients, because of having a chronic condition, are in the vulnerable position of having to pay higher premiums under this bill.
just to be a bit clearer on this for you, lolly…the lowest level of coverage, the “bronze” plan – only covers 60% of costs. Those people previously uninsured who will now have this coverage….still have to cover the 40% of costs best I can see. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.
And what I and some others have said is this: Even a 60% coverage insurance plan may end up costing us more than we are currently paying for better coverage, probably under an employer’s plan. And employers have no incentive to continue to provide coverage when they can just pay a fine that is lower than what they are currently paying to cover an employee for insurance. So here I go to the bronze plan – because that’s all I can afford and I now have less coverage and more liability.
So the net result is…those who have insurance currently…are going to be harmed in ways. Those who don’t have insurance and don’t want it, risk prison time unless they pay up. Those who didn’t have insurance have a small gain should they suffer catastrophic loss, but they’re still on the hook for medical expenses.
Please – somebody correct me on this if it is wrong.
wasn’t this supposed to be about lowering health care costs????
and then we get caught in the loop….insurance companies still must make a profit if they are to remain in business…health care costs will continue to rise…ins. premiums must rise accordingly….the public can not afford to be paying 20% of their income for insurance premiums…the gov’t will declare an emergency and take over the industry…and so forth and so on. What a mess…
I too am facing trouble due to lack of options when it comes to my health. I have no insurance: I am self-employed and it simply would cost too much. Even the basic plans cost over $600 a month and would hardly pay for any of my care. I struggle to pay my basic bills, so there is no way I could afford this. Yet I make too much for state health insurance programs.
My thyroid was covered in cysts (And cancer as I later found out). It was so large that it was choking me. However the surgeon wanted $1200 down before he would touch me. I had to go through a lot to try to get that money, but I did it. Now I’m faced with a giant pile of bills from the hospital, anesthesia, ENT, Endo, general doctor, blood draws, and I’m sure there are more to come.
However when I lived in England, we had national health care. The doctors were unhappy. They weren’t paid very much. They got the patients in and out as quick as they could. They had no idea what this bump on my neck was, and they didn’t care to investigate it. Regardless, the government pays for your health care: If you don’t like what you get, too bad. There is only the one type of thyroid replacement medication, and if it doesn’t work… too bad.
Which is better? I don’t know, but it would be nice to have something that does not reduce our *quality* of health care, but still increases the *availability* of it.
Erika, i am curious…if you could pay $250 a month that paid say 85% of any hospital/doctor/diagnostic medical bills (not over stuff) over $5000 – and it has a stop loss clause after you have paid out say $2000 for your 15% (thus 100% coverage after a person has paid a total of $7000 of their own money)…would this suffice for you?
This keeps in mind you wouldn’t have preventative coverage for bone density tests and mammos unless you pay for them yourself and no Rx coverage (maybe you can get assistance through the drug co though)….and that you are indeed paying out of pocket….knowing you’re using that $1800 savings in insurance premiums to do so. and if you don’t use it…you’ve saved it.
just curious…
erika, one thing to do here is write all those folks who are billing you….and asking if they will accept the medicare allowance amount in payment as you do not have insurance. you may find some adjustment in billing can be made.
Erika,
sosorry that happend to you in the UK shame on the crap shoot drs we get. I can;t say I had that problem the suspected caner I had 5 yeas 5FNA’s over a 5 moth period I have my blood taken when I need it. It depends were you are in the UK as to the standard of healthcare you get and that can be the same for any country. At least we keep our patients in longer after thyroidectomies I was in 3 days until my drain had stopped and was removed so talking about getting the job done a shipping you out. It cost too much to keep you in any longer than 27 hours I believe correct me if I am wrong not to mention paying for anaesthesia drugs surgery. Our system may not be perfect but at least everyone is treated equally regardless of earnings and there is always the option for private medical pensions were you can get yourself up the list quicker in and out of surgery quicker and your insurance covers the cost.
I’m not saying I am for it but do see there is certainly need for change in your healthcare system one that suits everyone.
Lolly