Americans are facing dramatically more problems in getting access to health care as the COVID pandemic rages on, according to a new study.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1304086
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1304086
We have a elderly neighbor who had to schedule an appointment to find out when he could get an appointment. Itās really a bad time to be an old.
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True dat -
They still have their full shifts at the blood lab in St. Paul for the Red Cross, but thereās no more overtime because elective surgeries are postponed until this all lifts.
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Other advanced countries have healthcare systems - we have a loose conglomeration of for-profit treatment centers that cater to people who can pay, either cash on the barrel head or insurance. Nothing has so quickly brought out the disparity of those who have concierge type healthcare versus the majority who have some kind of basic insurance versus those who have absolutely nothing to help them or back them up at this time. The pandemic is going to split this country into pieces and the healthcare āsystemā is just the first piece to break off and go floating away - the next piece will be the mortgage/rent system that is going to crack - then the insurance companies, then the credit companies - you get the picture. We already know 2 couples with young children who are facing possible homelessness within the next month.
Once again the poorest of us all are going to pay the biggest price for the sins of the wealthy in this country.
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44 percent of cancer survivors or those currently being treated for it have been unable to see their doctor in person over the past two weeks.
My sister fits this category. She continues on oral chemo but has not seen her oncologist in at least a month maybe longer. Her chemo is delivered by mail. If the USPS folds there will be a transition to a private carrier but who knows how long that will take.
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Itās almost like the GOP had this all planned outā¦
Cunning bastardsā¦
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A friend who needs wrist surgery
Another whose outpatient physical therapy was suspended and heās fallen twice this week
Another whose surgery was postponed and he ended up in the ER as a result
A relative who needs a knee replaced
I count my blessings every morning
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I have a friend whose chemo canāt begin at all until further notice. Itās horrifying.
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I was scheduled for hip replacement surgery in May. Aināt gonna happen. But Iām finding that I donāt mind this wheelchair as much as I thought I would. Probably wonāt do that surgery ever at this point.
But my issue is merely āelective surgery.ā My heart goes out to people with life-threatening diseases that cannot be treated now thanks to the Trump Pandemic.
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One thing is for certain - everything is made worse by a lack of leadership in the White House.
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My colonoscopy was postponed indefinitely. Iām sure everything will be fine, though, so thereās no need to worry about any delays. We have the best health care system in the world, Iām told, so if thereās anything really wrong it will be taken care of later!
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One area that could be focused on is obesity, which along with age, is the biggest predictor of death or serious complications from COVID-19. The emerging science of metabolomics is giving new insights into nutrition, and optimal nutrition could be seen as a part of strategic defense, at least as important as the classical machinery in our byzantine armaments chest. Interestingly, this could be done at a fraction of cost of a typical weapons system and it could lead to better food production patterns. Chad, for example, has been noted for its healthy food and diet habits.
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Well, Trump has claimed at least a couple times this year that the US is a developing nation, and heās been working toward achieving that goal.
Itās āAmerican Carnage,ā the theme of his Inaugural Address.
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āLess care for all Americans.ā Itās not as if you had health care for everyone in the first place. This will simply exacerbate the situation for everyone with limited means and highlight the structural inequities of American capitalism. The wealthy, of course, will not be affected.
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I acknowledge the poor are bearing and will bear the brunt of both the economic and coronavirus crises. But the wealthy I know are in health access limbo, too.
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I donāt know, that sounds like a benefit. 
Really, one of the outcomes of this pandemic is going to be an evaluation of our medical system, and how unfairly it treats Americans. Weāre going to hear about the COVID patients who are bankrupted, or who couldnāt get care due to insurance issues until it was too late to save them. Weāll hear about how the poor have worse outcomes than the wealthy (thatās part of the story of black Americans suffering more due to this). All of it must lead to a better health care system for everyone, and the selfish demands of Republicans and corporations must be swept aside this time to make the system work for all.
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I deeply and sincerely hope you are correct and that there will be at least some glimmer of hope for whoever survives this.
And also correct, I was not looking forward to theā¦ cleanseā¦ ahead of the procedure.
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Aside: Life style changes can be applied at any time. Here is one that can actually reverse type 2 diabetes, change the rates of complication and amputation for all diabetics. Based on sound science, itās become the main treatment in Sweden. https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb
This is also the best resource for it.
Caint have less than zero.
-signed A Veteran.
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So I noticed this thing-that-wasnāt-a-mole a couple months ago. Talked to my doc, who made a referral to a dermatology practice. In regular times, I would have gone there, they would have examined, probably biopsied and removed it all in one office. The other day I had a video-chat consult, based mostly on some pictures I took with a macro lens attached to my mobile phone. Itās probably no big deal, and if it grows significantly or starts bleeding or becomes painful I should call them. (And we figure out the risk about going to a medical center thatās COVID central for my state.)
Almost certainly not a big deal, unless of course it is. Less medical care, despite best efforts all round? Yuh-huh.
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