East Carolinian

Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Opinion

There are more than 13 million young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 without health insurance. Some of us are still covered by health insurance through our parents, but what are we to do once we have grown too big to be considered mother's baby by her insurance company? Hopefully, all of us will land incredible jobs that pay well -- or offer fantastic benefits. Realistically, the majority of us will forever run the race of reality with all of its hurdles.

We feel indestructible now, but accidents and uncommon diseases happen. Paying for a hospital bill and a prescription, along with rent, food and fuel during an economic crisis seems impossible.

Last month, The New York Times reported that a 28-year-old woman in Manhattan owes more than $17,000 for two nights in a hospital to treat her diverticulitis. She could have nearly paid for two years worth of tuition and housing at ECU with that kind of medical bill.

Here's a solution: Every worker has a portion of their pay check go into one large sum controlled by the government. With this money, doctors and other medical staff become government employees and are paid a fixed but respectable salary. A person who has suffered an accident would have a large portion of the medical expenses, if not all of it, already paid by the state if they seek medical attention.

Ultimately, this would make it possible for people to pay for daily necessities like food and running water. People wouldn't live in constant fear of losing everything if a tumor is discovered at the next doctor's appointment.

Oh, wait, socialized health care was voted against and people still have to make decisions between buying necessities for their children and filling their prescriptions. Has anyone else seen Michael Moore's "Sicko?"

Last week, I commented on how the health of young adults has not improved in the past 10 to 15 years. We are at a static moment in health care and are without any kind of backup plan in case something goes awry.

We have been told from the beginning that we have the inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Shouldn't my government, whether I am a soldier in a war or a productive civilian, protect my right to life?

As things stand, my pursuit of happiness can be cut short because I don't have the money to pay for all of my medical expenses. Health insurance companies have the liberty to choose who is accepted and who is denied coverage.

I hope that I will eventually find time in my career to do something artistic with my life between working hard to live comfortably.

Hopefully, I will land a job that isn't stressful. Stress is one of the instigators of heart attacks. It seems to be a vicious cycle, doesn't it?



This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.

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