If you’re not already following me on Instagram, here’s a friendly reminder and invitation to connect with me, if you want. My RA Instagram page is: @inflamed.ra
Feel free to follow me for RA and health-related posts, bad selfies, vegan meals (when I’m not cheating), and lots of other things.
Hope to see you there!
Happy 2017 everyone!
I know I haven’t updated this blog in seemingly forever. Sincere apologies (I’m embarrassed about this)! 2016 was one of the most challenging years I’ve ever experienced, I’d argue, and it used up a lot of my time, energy, and health. I know I’m being vague here, but I’ll explain more in following posts. I’m really glad that a new year is finally here and I hope it will be happy and healthy for everyone!
That said, here’s a recently published article of mine on rheumatoidarthritis.net about the issue of rising and unaffordable out-of-pocket costs for people who currently have health insurance. I know I’m not alone is having to deal with this issue.
“Health Insurance & RA: Dangerously Uncovered”
I’ve lived most of my adult life being “dangerously uncovered” even while having health insurance. I know that the fate of our country’s health insurance is on shaky ground right now; it will be interesting (and hopefully not alarming) to see what happens in the near future with the Affordable Care Act and the Trump administration.
So this is exciting–I just created a Facebook page for “Inflamed!” Please “like” it if you’re interested and feel free to share it with others (so I feel like I have more than two friends, ha). I’m really looking forward to connecting with more people in the RA and chronic pain and illness communities via Facebook and sharing dialogue/stories/photos/tips/etc.
https://www.facebook.com/inflamedRA
Check it out!
Thanks!
Apparently everyone in the health care field is incompetent today. About to go punch out someone at Target pharmacy right now.
That’s all.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” – The Declaration of Independence, 1776
So I am a day late posting this, but better late than never, right? I didn’t tune in to ALL of the inauguration coverage that was happening yesterday (and before yesterday), but I did catch some of it and listened to President Obama’s speech, which I liked. I’m glad that he mentioned health care reform in it, because of course that is something I am passionate about and support. Publicly debating politics or getting preachy about political issues isn’t really my thing, but I will stand up for what I believe in and I don’t expect others to agree with me. I voted for Obama again this election, as I did four years ago and I’m incredibly happy that he won. I suppose I would consider myself a Moderate Liberal – more fiscally conservative but socially liberal. I’m not for outrageous wasteful government spending (who is, really?), but I also believe in many of the social programs that exist to help people. And of course health care is a huge issue for me and one that has affected my own life, very personally, in so many ways. Speaking of that – I’ve been having some major health and arthritis-related things going on over the last month, which I will update about after this post. I promise!
Health care should not be a luxury or privilege for few, but it should be seen as a basic human right, and this I believe with my whole heart and mind. I don’t blindly think President Obama or the Democrats are perfect by any means, but I do sincerely hope that the President and people across all parties will realize the importance of improving our corrupt, archaic, and broken health care system and will do something about it. There are too many people suffering just in our own country because they can’t get decent, affordable medical care when or if they need it. This is wrong and must change.
Anyway, here are some quotes from President Obama’s speech yesterday that stuck with me:
“For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it.
We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity. We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit.
We do not believe that in this country freedom is reserved for the lucky or happiness for the few. We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, any one of us at any time may face a job loss or a sudden illness or a home swept away in a terrible storm. The commitments we make to each other through Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, these things do not sap our initiative. They strengthen us.
It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began, for our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts.
That is our generation’s task, to make these works, these rights, these values of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness real for every American.”
To read the entire transcript of President Obama’s speech, go here:
“The Washington Post – President Obama’s Second Inaugural Address“
Check out this story from Minnesota Public Radio:
“Doctor as renegade – accepts cash, checks, eggs or pie, not insurance”
It’s about a small-town “renegade” doctor who is passionate about her job and lets patients pay with whatever they can afford, whether it’s cash, check, or eggs from the farm. My friend told me about the story this morning which is perfect timing since I’m driving up to Osakis tomorrow to spend the weekend there. I’ve loved this little town for years and it’s great to see one of its residents making the news for doing something good for the community. As a patient myself, who is continually fighting against rising health insurance costs and just the health care industry in general, Dr. Wasson is certainly a breath of fresh air.
Inflamed: Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis 