Andy Stern is the president of the 1.9 million member Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the fastest-growing union in North America. In this short video he takes us into the lives of one of his union members.

 The reason this video is so powerful is due to the simplicity of its message – walk a day in my shoes. The union member reminds his fellow Americans that union members are Americans too and that they everyone deserves a healthcare system that works. He continues, stating that he does not care who takes control of this isuue, man or woman, republican or democrat, just get started; please.

America is hurting because of the awful state of its healthcare system. When Hillary Clinton was asked last night on Fox news what her plans were for sorting the mess out and how her policies would in any way be different to that of Senator Obama; all she could muster up was a one line soundbite, ” I will make healthcare more affordable and I will cover everyone – Senator Obama’s plans for healthcare would leave out 15 million Americans”.

 And that was that. A three second solution to a problem of such magnitude that her answer seems hugely ambitious at best, vague and implausible at worst.

 And here is why. 

 According to the AARP,

” Cost is at the root of this problem. Health care is expensive and getting more so every day. The health care system is a maze of paperwork and confusing charges that make it impossible for an ordinary family to understand what they have to pay to get the care they need.

The United States spends $1.9 trillion a year on care – some $6,280 for every man, woman and child in the country. Health care expenditures are 16 percent of the U.S. economy, well above what any other industrialized nation spends on health care. And these nations make health care available to all their citizens. Yet, when we compare health outcomes-measurements of health such as infant mortality or life expectancy-the U.S. trails these nations.

• 60 percent of small business owners say that the rising costs of health care amount to a “crisis.”
• 23 percent of Americans have problems paying medical bills, and millions go bankrupt every year because of medical costs.
• 29 percent of Americans say they skipped treatment, tests, or prescriptions because of costs.
• 46 million Americans are uninsured. Middle class families are the fastest growing segment.
• The average cost of health insurance for an American family now exceeds the yearly income of a minimum wage worker.
• Many Americans may be tied to jobs they dislike or stopped from opening their own businesses because of the excessive cost of health care coverage or preexisting medical conditions that deter them from changing insurance providers.

As a result of these high costs, some employers have stopped offering health insurance or require employees to pay more for their health insurance. These rising costs make coverage unaffordable for many people and leave even more with the feeling that they are on the verge of losing their insurance and their peace of mind.”

So Hillary, the next time you are asked about what you would do to improve the healthcare system, perhaps a better answer would be – “How much time do you have”. and there you have it – still a three second tv soundbite, but one that tells all Americans what a formidable task its going to take to turn the healthcare system around.

Hopefully anyone who watches the news on tv these days has not missed the commercial for dividedwefail.org. Supported by cameo performances from actors such as Ben Affleck, Joakin Phoenix and Morgan Freeman, their message is one of hope, urgency and responsibility.

Now, more than ever, should people who care about the state of healthcare make their mark. Make yourselves heard. Pressure your politicians whilst they need your votes.

An underlying message of stop the democratic infighting because that won’t help get things changed also seems to be a theme of the commercial, although I am sure the website would say it is non partisan with no political leaning one way or the other. In fact, one of their ads specifically addresses this point by saying whether you are republican or democrat this affects all of us…..so I guess I am reading too much into it!!

Divided we fail is part of the AARP internet property group of websites.

According to Wikipedia, 

“ Divided We Fail was launched in early 2007  by AARP, the largest political effort in its history, designed to address health care and long-term financial security. The initiative was launched with Business Roundtable and the Service Employees International Union, and encompasses advertising in national outlets and in the primary states, online activities, and traditional grassroots work, in order to engage the public, business and elected officials in the debate, and to encourage public leaders to offer solutions, according to the AARP.

 Nancy LeaMond, executive officer for social impact, said, “We want to really get to these candidates and ask for action, answers and accountability on these questions.” 

I shall be contacting the website and perhaps get an interview with someone from their press department.

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Readers,

I am very proud to be able to announce that I have now completed my Q&A with the founder and president of the ISN (International ScleroDerma Network) Shelley Ensz. I stumbled across the ISN through a magnificent website called Sclero.Org which is the largest website in the world on issues relating to scleroderma. I was initially misdiagnosed with Scleroderma and so joined the forum and found loads of genuine support from others suffering from this chronic and progressive condition.

Here is the Q&A

Shelley.  Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to speak to Care.TV. I guess the best place to start this interview is at the very beginning.

Besides founding the International Scleroderma Network in 2002, you had also previously started up the website - Scleroderma from A-Z in in 1998. What was it that made you start the site and how much information was there on the net at the time with regard to scleroderma? And having started this website and seeing it grow in the way it has, what void did you feel the ISN would fill in a way the website itself could not do on its own?

When the Scleroderma from A to Z website at www.sclero.org had blossomed into 1500 pages in 15 languages, Arnold Slotkin encouraged me to start a nonprofit agency. Our site had already garnered tremendous international collaboration – among physicians and patients alike. We formed a nonprofit to expand upon that, to tackle scleroderma research, support, education and awareness.  The budding Internet provided the means for this unprecedented worldwide collaboration of extremely talented, enthusiastic and dedicated virtual volunteers. (more…)

Let me make it clear – I am still advocating for free universal health-care; in a big way. But I would also like to deal with very topical issues as they present themselves right now, and one of the biggest at the moment seem to be that dreaded pre existing condition.

Alot of insurance companies have very stringent requirements for insurability, and some will just say no to any pre existing condition and there you go – you have no health insurance even if you want to pay for it. Some insurance companies will insure pre existing conditions but charge such a hefty tariff that you either just cannot afford the premium or realise that you will be sacrificing alot to get the insurance your family needs that even your kids education will have to come second.

Finally, I will be discussing the real life cases of people who have been paying their premiums for years only to find out that the insurance companies are refusing to pay out due to highly questionable pre existing condition interpretations.

It is my hope to record some of the conversations with the insurance companies. If I am able to do so I will. Stay tuned.