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THE PRICE OF GOOD HEALTH

You have all known someone who has been sick. Most of you know someone who has died.

And most likely you know someone who became very sick or died because something kept them from getting the care they needed.

What happened?

· Some people are just plain stubborn. They don’t believe they are getting older. They still think they are younger and can bounce back from injuries or illness like they used to.

· Some people don’t like to be told what to do. They avoid doctors who tell them to change behaviors like drinking, smoking or bad diets.

· Some people put other people’s needs ahead of their own when they should not.

· Some elderly people may fear losing what little they still feel they have in their control.

· Many people deny that their illness is serious. They hope it will just go away.

These are all natural obstacles. They are common parts of being human.

But there is one obstacle that is common - but it is not natural.

It is artificial.

People avoid making appointments or seeking medical help – because they worry about the cost. When people know that the cost of the care is beyond their budget, they may put off the care.

They delay or cancel appointments. This becomes a grave obstacle to seeking care.

They wait until a small problem becomes a much bigger problem

Medical debt is a main reason people become bankrupt in the United States.

The saddest part of this is that it does not have to be this way.

People in other wealthy nations face the same natural obstacles to getting medical care. They may be stubborn, afraid or in denial. But the cost of care is not one of the obstacles. In the United States, the cost, the insurance coverage, co-payments, paper work, prior authorization and waiting for approval all make it harder to get the care we need.

We are so used to these problems that we think they are natural.

But they are not. We have other options.

By Ben Boardman and Friends.

Barn Owl is paid for by Ace Allen, in loving memory of his Linn County grandparents: Bessie Epps Hart (Graham) and John Talbot Graham, 

Submit comments or questions to ace.allen@me.com