@alisoninrome: Thanks for your comments. I am actually now a health care advocate for a single-payer health care campaign in Vermont, where I live. I have told my story numerous times and am writing about it. I have testified before legislators. This year, I was part of Vermont enacting the nation's first single-payer health care law, pointing the state on the road to a single-payer system. I liked your video. I was very close to being like Mr. Edwards.
I was almost like Mr. Edwards and for the same reasons: HMO denials. Liver disease, due to natural causes. I know what it feels like to be denied. I know the intense frustrations that you go through while fighting an insurance company that does not care whether you live or die, would, in fact have you die, so that they do not have to pay for you. This is what America really is. We are not a humane nation, built on freedom, but human lives destroyed for the dollar. that is what we really are
@dilligafst I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. Unfortunately, greed and profit often come first in our system. I hope some day that will change. People fight against health care reform--until they or someone they love has a problem. Then they see the way the system really is. Thanks for watching.
That is a HORRIBLE story, but it happens ALL THE TIME! It's sickening.
Something similar happened to my father. He had a debilitating stroke. The insurance dropped us. We couldn't afford treatment. He later developed lung problems, we coudln't afford the life saving treatments. He slowly sufficated for over a week until he eventually suffered from lung/kidney failure and cardiac arrest.
I was 17. I held him as he died. No one should have to go through that. No one should have to die.
I am so sorry. I agree, no one should have to go through that. No one should die so that insurance companies can be more profitable and pay their execs 11 million a year. I'm sorry for what happened to you and your Dad. Please tell your story. So many people in America (as you can see from posts on this and other videos I've done) think that his doesn't happen in America. Maybe if they knew what has happened to you and others, they would change their minds. Thanks for writing
under our current helth care system people have died in the emergcey waiting room room bleeding to death waiting on care. the people that say we have to wait long has never been in a hospital i recken
Thanks for taking the time to listen and respond. I've been surprised at the number of hostile messages I've received just for telling this poor man's story. It happened 10 years ago and I still feel it deeply. I'm hopeful that we can begin to change things. Thanks again.
I'm both sad and happy for you that you got out of that line of work. It's sad knowing there is one less caring person advocating for very sick people.
17% sales tax in addition to high income tax is way TOO MUCH! I am self employed and pay for my own family Health Insurance. It's 10% of my income. Government health care will destroy health care for all of us! I feel for your brother. Where is all the money going to come from for this program? I'll say it again, we are broke and in massive dept! We can't afford it. Maybe if the politicians hadn't given all our money to the banks and car company's there would be money for this program!
I have an idea about how health care could be paid for, in fact I think I have several. How about taxing big corporations that thanks to accountants and loopholes get away with paying next to nothing in taxes? Oh wait, we couldn't do that. It would mean we'd have to tackle the lobbying system and kickbacks for politicians. Hmm maybe that's why they're all so against health care? Maybe they're getting something out of it?
Next, why doesn't the government regulate the pharmaceutical companies? Why should yet another industry be allowed to profit from our illness? The drug companies would still make a profit. Maybe not 300000% profits, but I'd think 300% profit is still 300% more than say GM will get next year or say any of the American airline companies will see in bottom line profits. Cheap medicine + making rich corporations pay taxes = UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE
I'm all for taxing companies or ending loop poles that allow companies to not pay a fair amount of tax. But the government owes the world $11.4 trillion. This must be addressed first. Also, the bill coming for Medicaid and Medicare is sky rocketing. The nation will not be able to afford to pay either or Social security. We will never be able to afford UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE until the Debt, Deficit, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security are made solvent.
First off the country wouldn't NEED Medicaid or Medicare if we had UNIVERSAL Health Care. We could absorb those programs because care would be for every citizen and not based on age and/or economic status. The bill for these programs is skyrocketing because there is no checks or balances in the different types of companies that make up the medical industry from insurance to drugs to research. A federally funded program would make these companies accountable to more than just their shareholders.
I think you may have missed my point, we can't afford Medicaid and Medicare now, how is adding everyone to this type of Medical system going to work? Also, what about the $11.4 trillion we owe? Where is all this money going to come from? Companies will always find a way to not pay taxes and the rich have always gotten away with it and the government will always be worse at everything.
If almost half the country would stop worrying about people "getting something for nothing" maybe we could BEGIN to have a dialogue that wasn't fraught with fear and even envy. The idea that the government is bad at this is not realistic. Look at Tricare for the military.
If you care so much about the deficit and money America owes to the world, then why do you allow politicians to pass legislation that takes money out of the US economy by allowing companies to just up and move their facilities to cheaper countries (NAFTA)? If you want the US to be economically viable again, you're going to have to get more involved. Citizens need to be less ignorant and demand more. We deserve more. We deserve universal health care.
I don't allow politicians to do anything. I write them all the time. I was against NAFTA and still am. I'm not ignorant, you are if you think government health care will be any better then what you have now. Universal health care is government health care. Calling it universal health care is just sugar coating it. We need greater competition to lower costs.
Yes lets fix health care by lowering the cost and stopping abuse by the insurance companies. Lets not ruin health care of the rest of us. How are we going to pay for this "FIX" The Country is broke and beyond. The sales taxes in England is 17%, if that is what you want you are nuts!
17% is not that bad. It's twice the sales tax as Texas, but people don't go bankrupt when they get sick. Do you realize what some people pay every month for health insurance? My own brother pays more than 30% of his income just for health insurance. That's in ADDITION to his taxes. He's got a pre-existing illness, so no one else will cover him. He is not the only one.
WOW that was an enlightning vid and a very sad story. I an Canadian and I am very happy with our system. I could give less of a shit If I had to wait for an elective surgery, because I know its for the greater good of my fellow citizens who need it more than me
I honestly don't feel that Canadians wait longer than Americans for non-emergency care. I think that it is what community that you live in is what plays a factor on it. I lived on the border of Detroit about 12 miles from the DMC and the wait there was extremely long even just for a script for something as small as medicine to break a fever 7 hours to be exact. Well then I moved to Waterford/ Clarkston border and that's a little north of Detroit, wait time is like 20-30mins at tops.
@alisoninrome: Thanks for your comments. I am actually now a health care advocate for a single-payer health care campaign in Vermont, where I live. I have told my story numerous times and am writing about it. I have testified before legislators. This year, I was part of Vermont enacting the nation's first single-payer health care law, pointing the state on the road to a single-payer system. I liked your video. I was very close to being like Mr. Edwards.
dilligafst 5 months ago
I was almost like Mr. Edwards and for the same reasons: HMO denials. Liver disease, due to natural causes. I know what it feels like to be denied. I know the intense frustrations that you go through while fighting an insurance company that does not care whether you live or die, would, in fact have you die, so that they do not have to pay for you. This is what America really is. We are not a humane nation, built on freedom, but human lives destroyed for the dollar. that is what we really are
dilligafst 5 months ago
@dilligafst I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. Unfortunately, greed and profit often come first in our system. I hope some day that will change. People fight against health care reform--until they or someone they love has a problem. Then they see the way the system really is. Thanks for watching.
alisoninrome 5 months ago
That is a HORRIBLE story, but it happens ALL THE TIME! It's sickening.
Something similar happened to my father. He had a debilitating stroke. The insurance dropped us. We couldn't afford treatment. He later developed lung problems, we coudln't afford the life saving treatments. He slowly sufficated for over a week until he eventually suffered from lung/kidney failure and cardiac arrest.
I was 17. I held him as he died. No one should have to go through that. No one should have to die.
HikariHime29 2 years ago
I am so sorry. I agree, no one should have to go through that. No one should die so that insurance companies can be more profitable and pay their execs 11 million a year. I'm sorry for what happened to you and your Dad. Please tell your story. So many people in America (as you can see from posts on this and other videos I've done) think that his doesn't happen in America. Maybe if they knew what has happened to you and others, they would change their minds. Thanks for writing
alisoninrome 2 years ago
You are an incredible voice for the need for healthcare, Thankyou for sharing your knowledge and experience.
theqmogvlogs 2 years ago
Riddle: Who is the biggest chump in the world?
Answer:
An uninsured organ donor. or
The American citizens being systematically disenfranchised from medical insurance.
Textynn 2 years ago
under our current helth care system people have died in the emergcey waiting room room bleeding to death waiting on care. the people that say we have to wait long has never been in a hospital i recken
Landdar 2 years ago
Thank you for sharing Mr. Edwards tragic story. Bless you for caring.
meekadam 2 years ago
Thanks for taking the time to listen and respond. I've been surprised at the number of hostile messages I've received just for telling this poor man's story. It happened 10 years ago and I still feel it deeply. I'm hopeful that we can begin to change things. Thanks again.
alisoninrome 2 years ago
I'm both sad and happy for you that you got out of that line of work. It's sad knowing there is one less caring person advocating for very sick people.
xxxild 2 years ago
Thank you for sending me to these videos.
theqmogvlogs 2 years ago
of course~ and we are now on my messed up friends list. probably bcause I haven't been on in so long.
xxxild 2 years ago
now that is sad. i hope you get your health care in better shape.
i am from a country that is way poorer than yours and things like that never happen.
all because of the fact that we were once comunists and you cant take away good public healthcare once you already have it
good luck
and
peace
tinimpajko 2 years ago
Thank you for listening.
alisoninrome 2 years ago
17% sales tax in addition to high income tax is way TOO MUCH! I am self employed and pay for my own family Health Insurance. It's 10% of my income. Government health care will destroy health care for all of us! I feel for your brother. Where is all the money going to come from for this program? I'll say it again, we are broke and in massive dept! We can't afford it. Maybe if the politicians hadn't given all our money to the banks and car company's there would be money for this program!
Keats69 2 years ago
I have an idea about how health care could be paid for, in fact I think I have several. How about taxing big corporations that thanks to accountants and loopholes get away with paying next to nothing in taxes? Oh wait, we couldn't do that. It would mean we'd have to tackle the lobbying system and kickbacks for politicians. Hmm maybe that's why they're all so against health care? Maybe they're getting something out of it?
amaudet77 2 years ago
Next, why doesn't the government regulate the pharmaceutical companies? Why should yet another industry be allowed to profit from our illness? The drug companies would still make a profit. Maybe not 300000% profits, but I'd think 300% profit is still 300% more than say GM will get next year or say any of the American airline companies will see in bottom line profits. Cheap medicine + making rich corporations pay taxes = UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE
amaudet77 2 years ago
I'm all for taxing companies or ending loop poles that allow companies to not pay a fair amount of tax. But the government owes the world $11.4 trillion. This must be addressed first. Also, the bill coming for Medicaid and Medicare is sky rocketing. The nation will not be able to afford to pay either or Social security. We will never be able to afford UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE until the Debt, Deficit, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security are made solvent.
Keats69 2 years ago
First off the country wouldn't NEED Medicaid or Medicare if we had UNIVERSAL Health Care. We could absorb those programs because care would be for every citizen and not based on age and/or economic status. The bill for these programs is skyrocketing because there is no checks or balances in the different types of companies that make up the medical industry from insurance to drugs to research. A federally funded program would make these companies accountable to more than just their shareholders.
amaudet77 2 years ago
I think you may have missed my point, we can't afford Medicaid and Medicare now, how is adding everyone to this type of Medical system going to work? Also, what about the $11.4 trillion we owe? Where is all this money going to come from? Companies will always find a way to not pay taxes and the rich have always gotten away with it and the government will always be worse at everything.
Keats69 2 years ago
If almost half the country would stop worrying about people "getting something for nothing" maybe we could BEGIN to have a dialogue that wasn't fraught with fear and even envy. The idea that the government is bad at this is not realistic. Look at Tricare for the military.
xxxild 2 years ago
If you care so much about the deficit and money America owes to the world, then why do you allow politicians to pass legislation that takes money out of the US economy by allowing companies to just up and move their facilities to cheaper countries (NAFTA)? If you want the US to be economically viable again, you're going to have to get more involved. Citizens need to be less ignorant and demand more. We deserve more. We deserve universal health care.
amaudet77 2 years ago
I don't allow politicians to do anything. I write them all the time. I was against NAFTA and still am. I'm not ignorant, you are if you think government health care will be any better then what you have now. Universal health care is government health care. Calling it universal health care is just sugar coating it. We need greater competition to lower costs.
Keats69 2 years ago
Yes lets fix health care by lowering the cost and stopping abuse by the insurance companies. Lets not ruin health care of the rest of us. How are we going to pay for this "FIX" The Country is broke and beyond. The sales taxes in England is 17%, if that is what you want you are nuts!
Keats69 2 years ago
17% is not that bad. It's twice the sales tax as Texas, but people don't go bankrupt when they get sick. Do you realize what some people pay every month for health insurance? My own brother pays more than 30% of his income just for health insurance. That's in ADDITION to his taxes. He's got a pre-existing illness, so no one else will cover him. He is not the only one.
alisoninrome 2 years ago
WOW that was an enlightning vid and a very sad story. I an Canadian and I am very happy with our system. I could give less of a shit If I had to wait for an elective surgery, because I know its for the greater good of my fellow citizens who need it more than me
LGLF1 2 years ago
Thanks for watching. I think most Canadians are very happy with their system. I wish we had something like it.
alisoninrome 2 years ago
Great video!
LoveToday8 2 years ago
I know. And Canadians overall are MUCH happier than Americans with their healthcare. Thanks for listening
alisoninrome 2 years ago
Canadians wait longer than Americans for non-emergency care. They do not wait for a year, or even a month, for essential care.
urbanverificationist 2 years ago
I honestly don't feel that Canadians wait longer than Americans for non-emergency care. I think that it is what community that you live in is what plays a factor on it. I lived on the border of Detroit about 12 miles from the DMC and the wait there was extremely long even just for a script for something as small as medicine to break a fever 7 hours to be exact. Well then I moved to Waterford/ Clarkston border and that's a little north of Detroit, wait time is like 20-30mins at tops.
mikeFUCKINGross 2 years ago