And another thing ...
Larkin Mead has been denied health insurance because of a pre-existing medical condition. So has his wife.
The 63-year-old Woodstock resident is in good shape for his age, though, he pointed out. In fact, after retiring from a career in construction technology, he's working toward a degree in health fitness education at McHenry County College.
(Marina Makropoulos/Staff Photographer)
(Marina Makropoulos/Staff Photographer)
(Marina Makropoulos/Staff Photographer)
• Comment: Share your thoughts
• Day 1: When illness strikes
• Day 2: How to pay for reform?
• Day 3: Uninsured: No safety net
• Day 4: Can tort reform save health care?
As the health care debate rages in Washington, we asked for your thoughts about this controversial issue. The response was overwhelming. Hundreds of you wrote, e-mailed or went online to share your feelings. This series addresses the issues you’re most passionate about.
• Sunday: When illness strikes
Even those with insurance aren’t protected from financial and emotional disaster.
• Monday: Don’t take my money
Many taxpayers don’t trust the government to fix the problem; nor do they want to bear the burden of those uninsured.
• Tuesday: Speaking of uninsured
Those who can’t afford health insurance want more options than disability or welfare.
• Wednesday: Fire the lawyers
Some are convinced tort reform could go far in fixing our health care woes.
• Thursday: Your suggestions
So how do you really feel? We look at more of your concerns.
"This 'health care bill' is the last thing we need. Please DO NOT pass this mess on to us. I just retired, and with things the way they are right now, I am not looking forward to any 'golden years.' I will be paying for this mess the rest of my life, and it is not fair. PLEASE DO NOT PASS THIS THING!!!"
— Paula Drake, St. Charles
"Fix the inaccurate formula Medicare uses to determine reimbursement to physicians. The general public needs to understand that Medicare sets the fee standard for ALL insurance, which is why your co-pay and balances are higher!"
— Anonymous
"All free to ALL CITIZENS!!!"
— Lois E. Reichenbach, Carpentersville
"Single-payer. This alone would save tons of money on administration and paperwork. Cut out waste. Cut out profits. Be efficient. Look at health care in Scandinavian countries, Great Britain and Canada. Select what works and improve what does not work. Save money in other ways that would indirectly affect health care and crime."
— R. Lorece Smith, Elgin
"People need to be responsible, work and pay their own way, especially illegals."
— Anonymous
"Mandate insurance for all; provide subsidies for the poor with revenue from taxing unhealthy lifestyle choices (candy, high fat foods, soda, cigarettes, alcohol, salt, chocolate, sugar)."
— Todd Martin, Elgin
Continue the local health care debate online: Comment on this story here, or message Emily McFarlan, your Readers' Reporter, on Twitter (twitter.com/couriernews) or Facebook (facebook.com/couriernews).
Over the years, Mead has corresponded about his troubles securing health insurance with members of Congress, including the now-late U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, only to be offered coverage from a private insurer at a rate he couldn't afford — $963 a month.
"With all these troubles, you would think someone like myself would be all for the health care reform, but I'm not," he said. "I think that will be a burden on our children and grandchildren."
Mead was among 34 area residents who responded to a reader survey conducted by The Courier-News in September. Of those, some answered for more than one adult in their homes. Some answered all our questions, and some only answered the questions about which they felt the strongest.
Most — 82 percent, or 28 respondents — answered that they and their families do have adequate health care coverage. Three-fourths also said they never have been denied health care. Six said they have been.
Other questions were split: Almost an equal number of residents receive that health care through an employer (15) as those who do not (13). They also were split on whether they would be willing to pay more taxes to ensure care for all Americans — 12 said yes and 18, no.
On average, readers said they pay $373.52 a month for insurance. That ranges from one Elgin woman who pays $170 to another who pays $1,086.
Also varying widely were the ideas that readers offered for changes they would like to see in how health care is administered. They ranged from not excluding people from health insurance coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions to seven residents who said not to change a thing.
"We would like to see federal and state governments receive the same health care bill that any other American has to pay," Ward and JoAnn Simmons of South Elgin wrote.
Anita Klein of Burlington said that in the ideal health care system, the "uninsured would receive doctor's visits and preventative health care."
And Katherine Nelson of Elgin had several suggestions: "Public option. Insurance companies required of all. Higher taxes for those who can afford to pay (upper incomes can). ... I would love to see a public option run like Medicare."
First things first
But before any of those changes can take place, Terri Jacobsen of Aurora said the health care industry needs to move to an electronic medical records system.
"Technology is going to make change in health care possible," she said.
Jacobsen left a career in nursing and health information systems a few years ago to open her own in-home health care business, Comfort Keepers of Elgin. She still works as a consultant on health information systems, though, and in September made two trips to Washington, D.C., to speak to lawmakers about the importance of electronic medical records.
Such records are computerized legal medical records — interoperable records that can be accessed by any other health care provider anywhere in the country. Full electronic medical records include computerized orders for prescriptions, computerized orders for tests, reporting of test results, and physician notes.
Jacobsen said that computerized records would reduce medical errors and improve the continuity and quality of patient care.
"The one thing everyone agrees about is electronic medical records," she said.
Most U.S. senators and House members she's talked to seem receptive to the idea, she said. And President Barack Obama has set a goal of most Americans having access to secure, interoperable electronic medical records by 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Over the next five years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be offering incentives to health care providers who make progress toward that goal, according to the department.
The transition to electronic medical records probably should have happened already, Jacobsen said.
"Health care as an industry — we have never been good at using clinical information to improve patient care," she said.
But she understands why it hasn't yet embraced electronic medical records: "People don't understand the health care debate. Health care is very complex. It's not like a bank transaction."
And people always have concerns about the privacy and security of their medical information, she added.
Sherman and Provena Saint Joseph hospitals in Elgin both use a hybrid of paper and electronic medical records. Neither is yet available to health care providers outside the hospital systems.
Michelle Howe, a spokesperson for Sherman, said the hospital just began inputting paper records into a computer system in September.
"As health care evolves, we also will move forward with technology, but this is where we are now," Howe said.
Sandra Joe, Provena's regional director of health information management, said Provena also is on track to transition to full electronic medical records by 2012 or 2013.
Wary of government
Area resident Mead said he can see the value in changes to health care such as an electronic medical records system. Having no health insurance, the former veteran relies on Veterans Affairs hospitals for checkups and other doctor's appointments.
"The VA has an excellent system. It's nationwide," Mead said.
"If I'm in California, and I'm in an auto accident, they can go on a database and see I'm a veteran, and they can get a complete record of the medications I've been on," Mead said. "This is vital if you're talking about administering something to somebody. It's giving valid information, and it may well save a life."
Still, when it comes to changes such as a public health insurance option or tax credits for people to buy insurance, readers such as Mead and Margaret Watson of Elgin are wary.
"I am not for national health care," Watson wrote. "The government should stay out of health care! The government is involved in way too much now!"
And one anonymous reader cautioned, "Don't fix what is not broken."
Mead said he's read through two-thirds of the current health care bill being discussed by Congress. He believes Obama's health care plan will add to the national deficit. And he doesn't think the government does a very good job running many programs it already has.
He's concerned that the quality of American health care, which he calls "the best system in the world," will suffer under that plan.
"I get a little bit concerned when federal government gets concerned in our personal lives, particularly health care," he said.
