Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience so earnestly and humbly. I'm with you!
I am near 40, been working since college (traditional student) and have never had employer- provided insurance. Because of pre-existing conditions and the way the healthcare system is set up in the United States, I couldn't rely on faith-based health shares, either (tried a couple), so I've been reliant on government programs that make private insurance possible.
I remember when I burst into tears at work one day because my husband and I had preciously spent hours on the phone with my insurance company until they finally denied me coverage. There's nothing quiet like that feeling.
Here in this country, I believe our Achilles Heel is rugged individualism.
Our local radio station advertises one of those "faith-based health shares" every danged morning and I had such a knee-jerk bad reaction to it for so long that I finally thought I needed to practice what I preach. So I went on to see if it WOULD be an option for us. To no one's surprise, the answer was "no." But at least I checked, right? I find those things so disingenuous. What is so Christian about all the healthy people excluding those who have chronic problems so they can save money? (Not that I have opinions...)
Yeah, being with each one was a *unique* experience. Some very nice people and we received sweet messages and prayers, but ultimately it just isn't built to help the neediest in this particular country.
Really appreciate your thoughtful and engaged listening here. It is so very, very complicated. Not a black and white issue at all but I am 100% with you that I consider healthcare a human right. If we start from that basis, what will that lead us toward? No healthcare system or system of government is perfect but it's become quite evident to me that our profit-based capitalism-end-all-be-all system is hurting the most vulnerable among us.
Ugh! I meant to email you this morning when this went live and my life exploded. I'm so glad you found it! (And if you haven't connected it, I'm logged in to my "other" Substack right now. :) I appreciated both podcast episodes so much. I'm always worried that this binary, either/or thing means you can't critique a system without being labeled as a hater of all within it. I have choir members and high school friends who are nurses, current friends who are doctors, and what they went through during COVID was just terrible. They are truly heroes, working in a terrible system. I even said it to the nurses at the desk after my husband's surgery last week, when we were trying to decide whether to check him out and send him home even though he could barely keep his eyes open BECAUSE WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER INSURANCE WOULD COVER IT. It's just insane!
Okay, I'm done now. :) Thanks for reading and for the podcast.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience so earnestly and humbly. I'm with you!
I am near 40, been working since college (traditional student) and have never had employer- provided insurance. Because of pre-existing conditions and the way the healthcare system is set up in the United States, I couldn't rely on faith-based health shares, either (tried a couple), so I've been reliant on government programs that make private insurance possible.
I remember when I burst into tears at work one day because my husband and I had preciously spent hours on the phone with my insurance company until they finally denied me coverage. There's nothing quiet like that feeling.
Here in this country, I believe our Achilles Heel is rugged individualism.
Looking forward to reading more; I'm subbing!
Our local radio station advertises one of those "faith-based health shares" every danged morning and I had such a knee-jerk bad reaction to it for so long that I finally thought I needed to practice what I preach. So I went on to see if it WOULD be an option for us. To no one's surprise, the answer was "no." But at least I checked, right? I find those things so disingenuous. What is so Christian about all the healthy people excluding those who have chronic problems so they can save money? (Not that I have opinions...)
Okay, but tell me how you REALLY feel... 🤭
Yeah, being with each one was a *unique* experience. Some very nice people and we received sweet messages and prayers, but ultimately it just isn't built to help the neediest in this particular country.
Ha! Yes, I can only imagine that.
Really appreciate your thoughtful and engaged listening here. It is so very, very complicated. Not a black and white issue at all but I am 100% with you that I consider healthcare a human right. If we start from that basis, what will that lead us toward? No healthcare system or system of government is perfect but it's become quite evident to me that our profit-based capitalism-end-all-be-all system is hurting the most vulnerable among us.
Ugh! I meant to email you this morning when this went live and my life exploded. I'm so glad you found it! (And if you haven't connected it, I'm logged in to my "other" Substack right now. :) I appreciated both podcast episodes so much. I'm always worried that this binary, either/or thing means you can't critique a system without being labeled as a hater of all within it. I have choir members and high school friends who are nurses, current friends who are doctors, and what they went through during COVID was just terrible. They are truly heroes, working in a terrible system. I even said it to the nurses at the desk after my husband's surgery last week, when we were trying to decide whether to check him out and send him home even though he could barely keep his eyes open BECAUSE WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER INSURANCE WOULD COVER IT. It's just insane!
Okay, I'm done now. :) Thanks for reading and for the podcast.