Luck of the Insured?

In a blog post today on Crooks and Liars, Susie Madrak explains a few things about Americans and health care. With the help of a recent CBS news report regarding President Obama’s promotions of his health care reform, Madrak suggests that most Americans—regardless of social class or political affiliation—only have “the illusions of health insurance.” A large percentage of those against the proposed health care reform are so because they are (oftentimes erroneously) under the impression that they already have health insurance. However, as Madrak cites, “One argument for health care reform is that 47 million Americans are uninsured.... But not everyone knows that another 25 million are underinsured…”

Madrak references the unfortunate situation of John and Linda Stewardson to illustrate the idea of “underinsurance.” John leaves work early every day around lunchtime so that he can make lunch for his wife Linda—a cancer survivor. Linda explains that, while she is now in remission, in March their healthcare insurance capped out at $150,000 of treatment. Now, without insurance but still ailing, Linda and her husband have had to dip deep into their life savings in order to treat Linda’s cancer and its side effects.

The problem of underinsurance is one that plagues millions of Americans, but one that most Americans don’t realize until they have medical problems to face. And when it does come to medical costs, the underinsured are faced with some heavy choices. The Stewardson’s doctor and counselor, Dr. Deepa Subramaniam contends, “I am trying to balance cost and effectiveness in [Linda’s] case… You worry that somehow by choosing a treatment that is less expensive, that we are compromising the quality of the care.”

I think Susie Madrak’s post is incredibly appropriate—not only because health care is at the forefront of every news station and paper, but because her post enlightens many elements of insurance and health care that 25 millions Americans were not privy to: underinsurance and its dangers. Likewise, I agree with her insinuations that Congress approving health care reform would be a positive move for America. She references a slough of respected sources—CBS news, doctors, senators, and Americans directly effected by underinsurance and the health care reform--all of which make her story more compelling, logical, and believable.