For those of us living here in America the Health Care Reform has indeed become the bone of contention. Some are very vocal about their support for the reform suggestions still others are vociferous about their disapproval of the proposal. Not a day goes by without the news broadcasters drowning the very rudiment of journalism (for it is rarely unbiased and informational) by their opinionated vehemence. I must admit information is indeed very hard to come by; God knows that my husband and I have been trying hard to glean that ever elusive unbiased and honest information. I won’t pretend like I am privy to every minutiae, whatever I am about to say stems from my reading of the word of God and I bring to the table my understanding of the ethical and moral issues surrounding the providing of health care in this country, of which I am but a fledgling member.
A close relative narrated to us only last week the sorry tale of his woes about his very personal experience with the health care system here. He said that he has had that experience of being turned down by a health insurance company because medical records revealed a certain visit to the doctor. Even though I have been here only a while I understand what such a rejection portends. Without health insurance, treatment for one’s sickness is a near impossibility simply because of the exorbitant prices that one would have to pay. It just seems a very sad state of affairs that someone would be deprived of the prospect of getting help and treatment because insurance companies refuse to cover them. And this is just one example of the fact that the present health care system is not all that it should be in a country that is still considered the wealthiest in the world.
In a system where health care and insurance are so closely related, that it is difficult to see any lines separating one from the other, I believe, health care reform is no longer a political issue where citizens bound by loyalties should feel the strong need to toe the party line, but rather is a moral issue where every human being is called to strive to set right a system that is skewed.
Before I extend my reasons for supporting the oft heard “public option” (see footnote 1), I must reiterate that I have no expertise on the subtleties that might be involved in this system (and it is needless to say that practically every system has its share of it). My support for it comes from my strong allegiance to God’s directive or must I say that which is implied when He said, “what you do to the least of my brethren you do it unto me.” I do understand that with the public option there is a possibility of a “federal takeover of health care” and there is much fear and I would not say that it is unfounded because that might be a real likelihood; and a lot remains to be seen; No one can vouch for a health care system that is still a conjecture. With the public option perhaps there would be tax increases for folk who might be in a position to afford it. But these are chances followers of Christ should be willing to take. Because with the reduced cost of insurance that the public option brings there could be a possible avenue of respite for those who otherwise might be forced to make that painful choice between putting food on the table and getting a life threatening illness treated; For health insurance plans sometimes exclude those who are ill and almost always exclude those who don’t have the financial means. We as Christians are called specifically to come alongside those who have not the strength, wealth or the voice to be heard. Who knows the tide might change and we might become “the least of these.” We must ever remember to love our lesser privileged neighbor because the basis for our social ethic is concern for “the least of my brethren.”
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Mathew 25: 34-40).
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Footnotes
1. “A government –run health insurance plan that theoretically offers coverage at a price below that of private insurance plans. Federal leverage could lower administration costs and reimbursements to doctors and hospitals” – Health –care Glossary: Terms you Need to Know, TIME Magazine, August 31, 2009. It must also be added that the public option in its present proposed form is to function alongside other private insurance companies.
A close relative narrated to us only last week the sorry tale of his woes about his very personal experience with the health care system here. He said that he has had that experience of being turned down by a health insurance company because medical records revealed a certain visit to the doctor. Even though I have been here only a while I understand what such a rejection portends. Without health insurance, treatment for one’s sickness is a near impossibility simply because of the exorbitant prices that one would have to pay. It just seems a very sad state of affairs that someone would be deprived of the prospect of getting help and treatment because insurance companies refuse to cover them. And this is just one example of the fact that the present health care system is not all that it should be in a country that is still considered the wealthiest in the world.
In a system where health care and insurance are so closely related, that it is difficult to see any lines separating one from the other, I believe, health care reform is no longer a political issue where citizens bound by loyalties should feel the strong need to toe the party line, but rather is a moral issue where every human being is called to strive to set right a system that is skewed.
Before I extend my reasons for supporting the oft heard “public option” (see footnote 1), I must reiterate that I have no expertise on the subtleties that might be involved in this system (and it is needless to say that practically every system has its share of it). My support for it comes from my strong allegiance to God’s directive or must I say that which is implied when He said, “what you do to the least of my brethren you do it unto me.” I do understand that with the public option there is a possibility of a “federal takeover of health care” and there is much fear and I would not say that it is unfounded because that might be a real likelihood; and a lot remains to be seen; No one can vouch for a health care system that is still a conjecture. With the public option perhaps there would be tax increases for folk who might be in a position to afford it. But these are chances followers of Christ should be willing to take. Because with the reduced cost of insurance that the public option brings there could be a possible avenue of respite for those who otherwise might be forced to make that painful choice between putting food on the table and getting a life threatening illness treated; For health insurance plans sometimes exclude those who are ill and almost always exclude those who don’t have the financial means. We as Christians are called specifically to come alongside those who have not the strength, wealth or the voice to be heard. Who knows the tide might change and we might become “the least of these.” We must ever remember to love our lesser privileged neighbor because the basis for our social ethic is concern for “the least of my brethren.”
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Mathew 25: 34-40).
______________________________
Footnotes
1. “A government –run health insurance plan that theoretically offers coverage at a price below that of private insurance plans. Federal leverage could lower administration costs and reimbursements to doctors and hospitals” – Health –care Glossary: Terms you Need to Know, TIME Magazine, August 31, 2009. It must also be added that the public option in its present proposed form is to function alongside other private insurance companies.
2 comments:
Well written as always Esther. I think it is a great challenge to pose to Christians. Probably a broad brush stroke here---but typically conservative Christians are republicans. And typically "we/they" automatically oppose anything the Democratic party is behind. Thank you for the challenge to think through this issue!
Thank you for your feedback; it is much valued.
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