Living with Cerebral Palsy and Change is not always a Good Thing
Chicago may be called the windy city, but I think Wyoming should be called the windy state! Tuesday, the wind was so bad, it was blowing dust and debris EVERYWHERE! Unfortunately, it also set my asthma in overdrive.
Since wheelchairs and snow don’t go well together, I have really been looking forward to Spring. Unfortunately, I forgot the wonders of dirt and spring allergies. Not everything about a change in seasons is good.
Another season of change has me a little more than worried about our healthcare, your and mine! I don’t know if you voted for Obama or not. Frankly, politics are not my area of expertise. But, I have read some things that make me very worried that I might lose the best doctor I’ve had in years, or be denied health care because of living with cerebral palsy and my age, because of the healthcare bill President Obama recently signed.
In a news and commentary report by Fiedor on March 25th called Obama Care Looks a lot like Hillary Care, under the section A Violation of Our Right to Private Contract it states:
According to Representatives Dick Armey and Newt Gingrich(30): “The bill denies funds for extended treatment of congenital conditions such as cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal bifida.” Apparently, people with these anomalies may contract for treatment of those specific problems, but no other.
In other words, depending on how the politically correct wind is bowing, sometimes citizens will be permitted to contract for medical services, but usually they will not!
Of course, I don’t claim to be an expert in politics. However, even many of the politicians said they didn’t even have time to read the bill! If the Obama Care bill is like the Hilary Care bill, are people living with cerebral palsy going to be able to continue getting the care we need, by our healthcare providers, or are we going to have to pray to stay healthy, if we don’t have big bucks?
Click on the link above, read his article, and tell us what you think. Am I worried over nothing, or are people like us and the elderly in big trouble?
April 4th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
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April 17th, 2010 at 1:38 am
My wife, who lives with CP and is a very well educated political junky (MSW, MPH and has worked in disability policy for years) thinks that the new health care bill is one of the best things that has happened for people with disabilities in a long time. There is nothing in the bill that takes away your right to see your doctor, and in fact it protects your right to medical insurance many ways. Specifically, the bill prevent insurers from denying you (or anyone) coverage based upon pre-existing conditions, including CP, or jacking up your rate because of pre-existing conditions. It also prevents insurers from placing yearly or lifetime caps on coverage.
The DPC is UCP’s policy wing. Liz Savage, Director of Health Policy for the Disability Policy Collaboration, said “These laws represent a sea change in access to quality, affordable health care for people with disabilities.”
Much more about the benefits to folks with CP can be found at UCP’s website:
http://www.ucp.org/ucp_generaldoc.cfm/1/9/10020/10020-16780/9854
April 17th, 2010 at 8:21 am
David,
Thank you so much for the information. Tell your wife I said thank you also. I certainly will check out the link, and I am sure other readers will too. I know my doctor was concerned how it would might change the way she cares for her patients. I think many people are totally confused as to how it will ultimately affect them and their families. I appreciate your contribution to the conversation.
Tina
April 19th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tina Matsunaga. Tina Matsunaga said: RT @tweetmeme Living with Cerebral Palsy » Blog Archive » Living with Cerebral Palsy and Change is not always a Good T… http://bit.ly/b9eno8 [...]
April 23rd, 2010 at 7:54 am
My wife, who lives with CP and is a very well educated political junky (MSW, MPH and has worked in disability policy for years) thinks that the new health care bill is one of the best things that has happened for people with disabilities in a long time. There is nothing in the bill that takes away your right to see your doctor, and in fact it protects your right to medical insurance many ways. Specifically, the bill prevent insurers from denying you (or anyone) coverage based upon pre-existing conditions, including CP, or jacking up your rate because of pre-existing conditions. It also prevents insurers from placing yearly or lifetime caps on coverage.
The DPC is UCP’s policy wing. Liz Savage, Director of Health Policy for the Disability Policy Collaboration, said “These laws represent a sea change in access to quality, affordable health care for people with disabilities.”
Much more about the benefits to folks with CP can be found at UCP’s website:
http://www.ucp.org/ucp_generaldoc.cfm/1/9/10020/10020-16780/9854
April 27th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Dean,
Thank you for the information, but I think you already posted it once. ?? I am sure many of our readers will find the site helpful and informative.
Tina