In the little town we live in in Northern California, within CA-02, it is very, very red. Our local newspaper (very Republican), which only comes out three days a week, had as it's top story yesterday: $160,000 Needed for Operation.
A local women needs to raise $160,000 before Christmas or she'll lose her eyesight, or worse. She has a brain tumor pressing against her optic nerve, states the lead story in the newspaper.
She started having trouble reading about 6 months ago...finally had a c-scan which discovered a gigantic tumor the size of a grapefruit, which fortunately is benign. Her doctor told her she needs an operation immediately or she'll go blind and could even die because the tumor is likely to hemorrhage. But he requires all the money up front! His fee for the surgery is $1.00 per second ($60.00 per minute).
Now that's a caring surgeon staring you in the face like a loaded gun!
This women has been a member of the town for decades...having owned two different restaurants over the years, then finally retiring in 2009. She had been self-employed this whole time and unable to get health insurance, due to a previous health incident, and thus she's always paid for her health care out of pocket. She owns a home. Her husband has restored a few classic cars over the years, which they also own. They are desperately trying to sell the cars and work with Wells Fargo Bank to refinance their home. But this all takes time.
Time is something they don't have.
I called the newspaper to inform them about the Affordable Care Act. The women whom I talked to was truly clueless as to really any of the provisions within the act.
Locally, it is called "ObamaCare" and vilified of course. It is spun as a government takeover and forced socialism even though, obviously, those who do so have no idea what is even in the Affordable Care Act.
Once I explained to the person at the newspaper who took my call that the women in urgent need of this surgery would be able to get health insurance by being part of a high-risk pool ...and in all likelihood within 2-3 weeks..., her first response was she'd never heard anything about that and seriously doubted me...thinking I was just some nut calling the paper making stuff up.
I very patiently explained it to her again. I told her it is the "law of the land" and had been for some time. I asked her to please contact the women who needed the surgery to tell her about it...that's really all I wanted her to do. I asked her to, "Please show integrity and compassion by calling this women and telling her. This is honestly the law and true."
To this, the lady at the paper replied, "Oh, so it's like Medicaid and someone else would have to pay for the cost of the surgery. We don't support that."
I politely told her it wasn't Medicaid, and also let her know that, in California, Medicaid is called MediCal (she didn't even know that). I told her is it actually health insurance and not cheap at all.
Smileycreek also made a call to the newspaper asking to speak with writer of the news story, but was only able to leave a voice mail yesterday. Today he called her.
He was also not really aware of what the Affordable Care Act entailed, but was genuinely interested. Smileycreek explained the provision within the Affordable Care Act that specifically is intended to provide medical care for those in the exact situation as the women who needs this urgent brain surgery.
His response was, "This could really help people."
Smileycreek directed him to web sites so he could find out more:
http://www.healthcare.gov/...
Map to find your own state: http://www.healthcare.gov/...
jpmassar's diary turned us on to this: http://www.dailykos.com/...
WE ALL HAVE TO KEEP EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT!
Smileycreek and I hope there will be an article the next time we get our local newspaper telling folks the truth about "ObamaCare."
Drip, drip, drip...if it could happen here...if could happen any where that's as red.
OCCUPY!
*****UPDATE by smileycreek******
For the record:
I sent in a recorded comment to the same paper which they published today (you're limited to 75 words)
This comment section is more widely read than letters to the editor and is usually full of Republican ranting. I'm amazed they ran it.
Help for the Lyons
About the Lyons, who need $160,000 for surgery: They may be included in the new high-risk pool most people don't know about.
The PCIP requirements are:
1) Citizenship
2)Can't get insurance because of pre-existing conditions or exhorbitant cost and
3) no insurance for 12 months.
This is an affordable insurance program for people who are uninsurable. They can call 877-428-5060 or go to www.PCIP.ca.gov