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Our Kids's Health
June 15, 2009
By Helen Jonsen
Working Mom Daily Bread

As a working mom, one of the first people I get to know in a company is the Human Resources professional who handles health benefits. So far, none of them has run the other way.  But it's quite telling when you receive two insurance cards because the names of covered dependents don't fit on one. Tonight I am in Washington surrounded by 50 or so families who for one reason or another have found themselves thrown into health crisis with their children and needed the specialists at children's hospitals to help keep their children alive. These families have come to The Capital to tell senators, representatives and their staffs how much insurance and good pediatric care means to the health of all Americans. (Read Aimee Ossman's blog)  Join us in telling your reps that we all need care. Our insurance needs should not be dependent on our employment.  We should not worry if we are unemployed, if our children wil be covered.  We should not worry that an opportunity to work in another state may endanger our health care coverage.  There is something inherently wrong with the system.  It is broken.  We belivee we may have an advocate in President Obama but without the backing of Congress legislation will not go through. It's time to Speak Now for Kids in Health Reform. Take a minute and be an advocate.  Without healthy children, we cannot have a healthy nation.



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Amanda Adams
June 18, 2009
I've spent approximately 3.5 months of my son's life and my life either sleeping on a pull-out at a children's hospital or at a Ronald McDonald House while my husband slept at the hospital. I've spent over $65,000 out of pocket in the past 6 years to keep my son alive through 13 heart surgeries, and well with orthopedic braces, renal ultrasounds, and SEVERAL visits to specialists. Sometimes I envision myself standing on a corner in a stocking cap and a piece of cardboard box with "Will work for healthcare" scribbled on it. What might I be if I weren't married to my job for the coverage on my son? My husaband and my daughter are on the plan, and we claim FAR less than we pay in benefits for those two each year, but my son - he's a $3 million dollar baby - and counting. I've had some health issues too - but nothing as devastating as my son's life-threatening condition. Now that in office diagnostics are no longer covered with a copay, each time I take my son to see the cardiologist (2-4 times per year) it doesn't just cost me the $45 copay, it's usually about $250 per visit. That's if everything is going well. I'm successful, but I'm not rich, and while many of my coworkers are planning Disney vacations, I'm budgeting for medical expenses. What might I be in a world where I wasn't terrified of losing my benefits? Right now my vision is the street corner nightmare, I'm not allowed to dream of starting my own business, of changing careers, of changing the world (though I do try with the bits of time I can string together) - I'm not allowed to dream for myself, because the fears I have regarding my child's health are more than life and death - as if that weren't enough for a mother to bear. And what happens when and if he grows up and I can't help him anymore?
Wendy Dailey
June 18, 2009
Amen! Think of the additional benefits companies could offer for a great work/life balance if they didn't have to pay for health insurance. My company has recently made drastic changes to our time off program and retirement benefits to allow us to continue to offer "affordable" health insurance (which is really only affordable if you only use it for wellness). Companies should not be forced to make these decisions.

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