Obama Care vs Debt

I recently have been watching, reading and listening to the news broadcasts of yet another looming debt crisis with the Federal Government.  I find it interesting that I am expected to live within my means as are my children and their families, yet the government is not required to do this.  An it is another showdown in the House with Obama Care at the center of the debate.  I have been reading extensively about this whole program, trying to understand exactly what it means. 

For instance, either you have proof of health insurance or you pay penalty.  I would like to sit down with one of these Congressmen that are for Obama Care and this penalty and explain a few things to them.  I at one time had not health insurance.  I had not been at my job long enough to qualify and neither had my husband.  We still occasionally needed to see a doctor for a cough or some other ailment.  At the clinic I would pay $60 for the visit in cash, because I had no health insurance.  Yet now when we do have health coverage, our co-pay is $25, the clinic sends a bill to the insurance company for $128, the insurance company in turns sends a document stating "negotiated" rate and pays $87 of the $128.  Now the clinic has made $112 total from my visit for the same thing, when I had no insurance they made $60.  How is this saving anyone money, when I still paid a $300 premium for the health insurance in the first place?  Especially when we pay that whether or not we go to the doctor, clinic, hospital or any health care for that month.  I personally rather just pay that $60 for the once a year visit and put the remaining $300 a month in the bank.  Then if I do have an emergency I have the funds to cover the expenses.

Now there are a few things with this "plan" that I can understand a need for, such as no limits on benefits.  But when one person has a medical bill over five million dollars, who is expected to pay this?  Even an additional five-hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money for an insurance carrier to all of sudden have to be responsible for paying.  The claim that Obama Care is going to lower the premium rates for all just does not seem possible when these kinds of debts can be adding up everyday.  Those bills are going to have to be paid by someone and it sure will not be the insurance company out of the generous nature of their hearts, they still need to make a profit.

Now it comes down to shutting down the government because the elected officials cannot agree to fund more spending on the Obama Care program.  Where is the money supposed to come from to pay it?  People are losing their jobs or their hours are being cut due to employers saying they cannot afford to offer their employees benefits.  No benefits means that the insurance companies are not getting that extra money in premiums.  No increase in the amount of premiums means that the insurance companies profits are dropping due to having to no cap on medical lifetime expenses.  Insurance companies not being able to pay for medical care means that the Federal Government means more debt ceiling.  More debt ceiling leads to another threat of Government shut-down, which means the loss of income or jobs completely.  Does anyone else feel like we are a carrousel going around and around?

Hunger in America?

For one of my class I had the option to volunteer.  We were provide a list of places that we could volunteer at.  As I looked over the list and was hoping for a place close to home, I saw the local Food Bank.  I contacted the person listed and she got right back to me.  I have been going there once a week now.  To say this experience has been humbling is beyond words.  I never really thought about fixing dinner or other meals for my family.  I just would notice each day it was getting to be that "time" and try to figure out what to cook.  I took for grant there was a cupboard full of cans and a freezer full of food stuff. 

As I walk with these people through the pantry and ask them what they would like, I find myself thinking there is really not that much of a choice here.  Then to realize this is all we can give them for a month of meals, just shocked me.  It makes me wonder how we can worry about Syria, Afghanistan and other places when in the United States 1/3 of the population is hungry.  Last year, 49 million people in this country did not know where there next meal was coming from.  How is this acceptable in the land of the plenty?

The number of people, families and individuals on some type of food program is at an all time high.  This is not including those where there religious facilities maybe assisting with food.  It seems that we need to worry more about feeding the nation, than if they have insurance coverage.  Isn't the cornerstone of health eating healthy and regularly?  I think that Congress needs to look at the facts surrounding the SNAP program.  States can set their regulations on assets, savings, and how long the person can receive assistance.  There needs to be a stable guideline on a Federal level with the focus on the children in need. 

On thing that concerns me also is the waste that the government is creating so much waste while trying to force healthy eating on our school age children.  Children are not going to be told what to eat, especially by in a school cafeteria setting.  The number of fruits and vegetables that are going straight to the trash can are appalling.  To have the first lady push that it must be on the child's tray is not working.  These kids are taking these things because they have to, then they are throwing the straight into the garbage with out even touching them.  These things could be given to the local Food Pantries before the spoil and to people that will eat them.

The next time to see the food drives in your community, realize that even though you may only place one can of vegetables or a box of macaroni in that box, someone is going to appreciate it for what it is to them.  Food for them and or their family.