Even years in the past, mother knew that for-profit well being protection was like a rip-off | Opinion

By Marley Ghizzone

When I was young, maybe 9 years old, my mom gave me some temporary advice. It was something like:

“Never pay a doctor’s bill when it comes in. The insurance companies will avoid paying, but if you keep tossing them back to the doctor’s office, they will poke the insurance company. Just wait; They will eventually cover what they should. “

She has repeated similar advice over the years, but always stuck with me the first time. I take a quick break here to create some transparency. I am a middle class white woman. I’ve had health insurance all my life, a job that has been stable throughout the pandemic, and the ultimate privilege of being able to cover an emergency medical bill – something that two-thirds of Americans can’t.

However, when I receive an email from a provider or my insurance carrier, or have to make an appointment with a specialist, it worries me while waiting for a possible invoice or rejection of insurance coverage.

I always come back to the question I had that day a long time ago: “Is this how the world is supposed to work?”

Now, as an adult with some experience all over the world, I can confidently and courageously answer: “No, the world shouldn’t work that way.”

Health shouldn’t be dictated by for-profit companies. To be honest, health insurance often works like a scam.

Health care is a human right and everyone is worth it. While our current system is structured to take into account profits, not people, there is a possibility of course correction.

The Congressional laws, reintroduced for the current March 17 session by Democrats Pramila Jayapal of Washington State and Debbie Dingell of Michigan, would establish a national health insurance program for all ages, also known as Medicare for All is known. HR 1976 Bill, filed by Title, is expected to include comprehensive benefits, including primary care, eyesight, dentistry, prescription drugs, mental health, long-term services and support, reproductive health care, and more – with no individual rewards. and no co-payments, deductibles or other co-payments from patients if they are receiving benefits.

US Representative Donald Norcross, D-1st Dist., Announced his support for the law shortly after it was introduced in a tweet confirming that millions in the world’s richest country cannot yet afford private health insurance. This was a nice surprise, especially with the remarkable silence of the fellow South Jersey Congressional Democrat, Rep. Andy Kim of the 3rd Ward.

HR 1976 currently has 114 co-sponsors and I urge Norcross to sign up as a co-sponsor as well. Medicare for All supporters love to see words of support, but definitive action is most important.

The American healthcare system’s dumpster fire has been burning since before the pandemic, as evidenced by the fact that a third of GoFundMe campaigns were created to cover medical expenses and COVID-19 was an accelerator, like a good pouring of lighter fluid. In the first few months of 2020, around 124,000 New Jersey residents lost access to health insurance due to job losses. This means that around 701,000 or 13% of all non-older adults in the state were not insured by May 2020.

It is more worthwhile than ever to fight for health care. There is a solution, so I ask representatives Norcross and Kim for assistance from HR 1976.

Marley Ghizzone is a writer and editor and a 2016 graduate of Rowan University. She lives in Audubon.

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