Financial matters
Mamas on Bedrest: I Am in Favor of A Single Payor Health Care System for the US
March 28th, 2012We all knew that it was coming. Following the contentious debates over the health care bill and ever since President Obama signed the bill into law, opponents have vowed to fight the individual mandate requiring Americans to buy health insurance or face a penalty and to repeal the law entirely. Cases have been heard in courts around the country and since none of them have come to consensus agreement, the arguments about constitutionality, whether or not the government can make citizens purchase health insurance, whether or not the government can impose a penalty on Americans who don’t purchase health insurance and whether or not that penalty is a tax is being argued before the justices of the supreme court.
The justices first began hearing arguments on Monday, March 26, 2012 and have continued to listen to arguments for three days. The arguments will conclude this afternoon and the justices will cloister together and later render a verdict. The final verdicts and written rationales are expected to be rendered before July of 2012.
I think that few will argue that the health care system in the United States is in trouble and in dire need of an overhaul. The problem is that we as a nation cannot reach a consensus as to what that overhaul should be and how to structure it so that the majority, if not all Americans are insured and have access to quality health care. To date proposed options have ranged from obliterating insurance all together and returning to a fee-for-services system, a national health care system that is funded with taxes but ensures that everyone has access to health care when needed like Canada or in Europe, complete privatization of health care and everyone is responsible for their own insurance or some other as yet undisclosed plan.
I’m going to go on the record and say that I am in favor of a single payer system that gets funded via taxes. Uh, Gasp, what????? Yup, I’ve said it. I believe that the United States should do away with insurance companies and should establish a single payer health care system which is funded by taxes. Why would I take such a stand? It’s simple. The health of a nation will ultimately determine the wealth of a nation. The United States spends more of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on health care than most any other country in the world. Yet, we have the highest rates of preventable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. We have the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality amongst industrialized nations (and even amongst many “developing” nations) and we have millions of citizens who don’t have access to affordable, quality health care such that when these individuals do get sick, we as a nation end up paying for them with unallocated funds. In a nutshell, we are going broke under our current health care system. Our current national health care spending cannot be sustained. As a nation, once we cannot ensure the health of our citizens, our nation’s wealth-our natural resources of people power, brain power, innovation, technology, agriculture, etc-will all dwindle away. We will dwindle away. It’s all completely preventable. We have to stop this “I’ve got mine, let the other guy get his own” mentality. We are our brothers and sisters keepers. We have to take care of one another.
When I started Mamas on Bedrest & Beyond I was quite ignorant to the plight of many women who were prescribed bed rest and the financial ruin that many families faced as a result of a high risk pregnancy, pregnancy bed rest and intensive care of premature infants. Increasingly, having a family is becoming a luxury only the wealthy can afford. If a woman works in the service industry as a teacher, a care provider, fast food restaurant manager or other such low paying, poorly compensated jobs she literally cannot afford to become pregnant-let alone have a complicated pregnancy. If she goes on bed rest for more than 12 weeks, she risks loses her job and her family is further pushed into financial constraints. Many women are having to choose between having a job and having a family while loss if either is untenable.
I could launch into a diatribe about why we need paid family leave, but I have spoken liberally about that and will continue to do so-just not in this post. In this post, I want to underscore how many women become high risk as a result of not having access to quality, affordable health care early in their pregnancies. Here, I want to underscore the hoards of women who are panicked because they are on bed rest and don’t know how they’ll make ends meet or how they’ll pay their medical bills. And I want to underscore the extraordinary costs associated with the care of premature infants and children. Oh, I could go on and on, but you get the picture. I could talk about the children who don’t receive immunizations because their parents are uninsured and can’t afford them. The women who go without pap smears and pelvic examination, mammograms or birth control because they can’t afford them and are uninsured. Yet we all pay when they become ill or pregnant and require specialized care. I would gladly pay higher taxes so women can have access to birth control pills rather than pay for unintended pregnancies. I would gladly pay higher taxes if it means that all women receive early access to prenatal care so that their pregnancies can start off well and we can potentially avoid preterm labor and prematurity and prolonged NICU stays for these infants. And with the money saved from not having to fuss with insurance claims and administration, I really think that we as a nation really can afford to provide health care to everyone.
For the past 3 days the justices of the US Supreme Court have been listening to arguments as to whether or not the Affordable Care Act and its individual mandate are constitutional and should be upheld. Many Americans want the law repealed and cite “Don’t tell me how to spend my money”. To that I say, don’t ask me for mine or anyone else’s once you get sick. As I see it, we can all pay into the health care pot and share the burden (and actually lower costs). But if you would rather not to contribute to the health care pot, go it alone, have at it. But don’t ask for “your portion” when you’re in need.
Mamas on Bedrest: Who is Ban Ki-Moon?
March 9th, 2012
International Women’s Day was yesterday, March 8, 2012. International Women’s Day, helps to culminate The United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), 2 weeks of meetings during which world leaders come together to discuss the status of women and girls around the world. The meetings are wrapping up this week.
The head of the UN is Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon. To mark the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Secretary General noted gender equality and the empowerment of women are gaining ground worldwide, but urged governments, civil society and the private sector to continue to commit to gender equality and the empowerment of women as a fundamental human right and a force for the benefit of all in his statement to the UN counsel and partners.
I have only recently began to study Mr. Ban and I am heartily impressed. This man is a staunch advocate for women’s rights and well being. One of his primary initiatives as Secretary General is empowering women. Here is what he has done during his tenure as Secretary General:
The Secretary-General pressed successfully for the creation of UN Women, a major new agency that consolidates the UN’s work in this area. His advocacy for women’s rights and gender equality has also included the “Unite to End Violence against Women” campaign, the “Stop Rape Now” initiative, the creation of a “Network of Men Leaders” and the establishment of a new Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Within the UN itself, the Secretary-General has increased the number of women in senior management positions by more than 40 per cent, reaching the highest level in the Organization’s history.
How fantastic is it that a man with such global power has such a heart for the health and well being of the world’s women? One could argue that Mr. Ban is inspired by his wife, Madam Yoo (Ban) Soon-taek. Since 2007, Mrs. Ban has devoted her attention to women’s and children’s health, including autism, the elimination of violence against women, and the campaign to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. So maybe his interest stems from her interest, her “whispering sweet nothings in his ear”?
That is not the impression that I get. In his own words, Mr. Ban says, “I grew up in war” (Mr. Ban was born in the Republic of Korea (South Korea)) and he knows first hand the destruction and hardship people often endure. He also knows the importance of global help in order to rebuild a nation and its people. But even more key, Mr. Ban recognizes that for a nation to be strong a nation must tend to the care of all of its people and when one or more segments of the population are not thriving, the nation and subsequently the world, cannot thrive.
I am thrilled that I am learning about his plans for global women’s empowerment. I think that it behooves all of us to learn more about the United Nations’ initiatives on women’s empowerment and to see what we each can do to help move these initiatives forward-after all, they will impact us all in one way or another. There is something for everyone to do. For some of us, it will be making financial donations. For others, it may mean becoming involved with one of the many partnering organizations. I think most of us will work in our immediate neighborhoods, towns, cities, states and nations to effect change. There is nothing wrong with that. We are not all called to perform on the global stage as Mr. Ban does, but we are all called to serve.
Mamas on Bedrest: Can’t Do What You Want to Do? Consider Hiring a Doula
February 23rd, 2012Ugh! I’m having a week where I can’t get done what I want to do. It seems like everytime I sit down the phone rings, or there is some “quickie” emergency that I need to tend to. Add to that my general feeling of inertia and I’m having a less than productive week.
I realize that many of you are probably thinking, “Well at least you CAN do those things that you need to do! I can’t do what I need or want to do because I’m on bed rest!”
I hear you sisters! Bed rest is no fun. It’s frustrating, boring, a means to body aches and at times absolutely mind-numbing. Add to that the time that is sucks up from your friends, family and obligations and it’s enough to make the strongest of women batty. I have heard from countless women that they are increasingly depressed by the fact that they don’t have their nurseries ready, their existing children aren’t getting the attention they would normally receive and that they are worried that their jobs/careers may suffer as a result of bed rest.
Ladies, you aren’t going to be able to do this on your own. You need help. If you are one of the lucky ones with friends and family close by, part of a close knit neighborhood or faith community, you are way ahead of the game. But if you are like I was, you are in a new community where the neighbors are not so outgoing. You haven’t established a connection with a community of faith and in a nutshell, you are on bed rest and you are on your own. In addition to being stressful from a health care standpoint (if there is an emergency, is there someone available who can get you immediate medical attention) there is a huge psychological component. Women with high risk pregnancies are at increased risk of developing perinatal anxiety/panic disorders and depression. Don’t try to go this alone! And while I am a staunch advocate of online communities (KeepEmCookin.com, BetterBedrest.org and Sidelines.org) if you need help around your house getting things done, consider hiring a doula.
I can hear the collective gasps. “But don’t you do many of the same things that doulas do?”
Yes, this is very true, but I am in Austin, TX and I can only serve women in the Greater Austin area. Yet, at least once a week I get a call, e-mail or tweet from a woman (or loved one of a woman) on bed rest who needs help and can’t find someone in her area to help her. Ante Natal Doulas, while a true subset of doulas, are in short supply. Yet, I often suggest that women ask doulas in their areas if they’d be willing to perform some of their post partum duties in the prenatal period. According to Doulas of North America (DONA):
“Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow. In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences.”
This is especially true of high risk pregnant women on bed rest. Having someone who will attend to mama’s needs specifically will go a long way to keeping mama calm and stress free and on to delivering a healthy, full term infant. Women who have doula supported pregnancies and labors (according to DONA):
- tend to have shorter labors with fewer complications
- have reduced negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
- have reduced need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
- have fewer requests for pain medication and/or epidurals
Couples and families who have doula support:
- Feel more secure and cared for
- Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
- Have greater success with breastfeeding
- Have greater self-confidence
- Have less postpartum depression
- Have lower incidence of abuse
I’d love to serve every woman that calls, writes or tweets to me, but it is simply physically impossible. When women ask, “What can I do?” I have often said, “See if there are doulas in your area (DONA has a membership list) and hire a doula.”
Inevitably, the issue of funds comes up. With women being “out of work” and not having their customary income, hiring help is often the last thing on a mama’s mind. But I invite you all to consider this. Care for a preterm labor and delivery as well as for a premature infant that spends even 1 day in the NICU will quickly reach into the thousands of dollars, not all covered by insurance. A doula to help you in your home and to offer reassurance and support may cost $500. You’ll also receive the aforementioned tangible and intangible benefits. Finances always make decisions complicated. In this case, I encourage you to consider not just the immediate output of cash, but the potential long term consequences of not getting the help that you need.
If you are looking for bed rest support in the Austin area, we’re here for you. We have a several support services from throughout the US listed on our Resources Page. DONA also has an international listing of doulas.
