Wealth vs health

The debate on healthcare reforms being pushed by US president Barack Obama got even more complicated with the issue of racism being added into the mix. During Obama’s speech before a joint session of Congress explaining that illegal immigrants will not be entitled to healthcare benefits, he was rudely interrupted by South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson who shouted, “You lie!” Wilson had already apologized and Obama had accepted, but some people including former president Jimmy Carter believe the incident happened because Obama is black. But others agree with Wilson, saying the outburst is not about race because the Congressman simply voiced what many of them feel regarding the proposed healthcare reform program – undoubtedly a very hot issue in the United States.

Obviously, there is a strong lobby being waged by so-called “special interest groups” – among them health insurance companies, medical equipment manufacturers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceuticals, related health-industry sectors and even doctors who have tie-ups with HMOs – to oppose the proposed health package. Under the plan, new taxes would be imposed on the above sectors and on expensive, “gold plated” health insurance plans. Others are also concerned that the reforms would require working Americans to commit as much as 13 percent of their salaries for basic insurance packages.

But one of the most contentious issues concern illegal immigrants, with critics saying the proposal has no real teeth when it comes to the issue of illegal aliens. In some states, illegal aliens are not entitled to Medicaid, but they can receive government-funded prenatal and post-natal medical care – at the expense of taxpaying American citizens. And when illegal immigrants give birth, the children – called “anchor babies” – automatically become American citizens entitled to government subsidies. Naturally, this causes resentment among Americans who feel that in the first place, the illegal immigrant had no business being in the US.

As it is, Obama is going on a “full-court press” to solicit support for the $880-billion health package, doing the rounds of interviews with major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Univision, a Hispanic TV network, to pound on his message to Americans. As a matter of fact, he’s even scheduled to appear on David Letterman’s “Late Show” – the first time ever that a sitting US president would be guesting on the popular program. Obama certainly has to go on a media blitz to reassure Americans earning less than $250,000 a year that they won’t be paying bigger taxes to subsidize the plan, since a recent Gallup poll showed that 60 percent of respondents believe the only way Obama can expand healthcare coverage is by raising taxes on middle-income earners. The US president also made assurances that Medicare recipients would still benefit under the reform proposals even if cuts are made on government subsidies to insurers, who are reportedly overpaid by as much as 14 percent.

The proposed bill is also facing a lot of resistance from many company owners already paying a lot for employee healthcare insurance. John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods, one of the biggest food and drug chains in the US, got a lot of flak because he posted an opinion piece saying Americans’ health problems are “self-inflicted” and could be prevented through proper diet, exercise and cutting down on smoking and alcohol consumption. Mackey disclosed his company’s employee health insurance policy, saying Whole Foods pays 100 percent of the premiums for those who work over 30 hours a week, with an additional $1,800 given in “healthcare dollars” to every employee every year. Of course, it goes without saying that if insurance rates are raised, companies would have to shell out more funds to cover the costs. Obviously, the problem of healthcare in America involves big money – and those who will end up shelling a huge amount in support of the proposed reforms are not too happy about it. 

In the Philippines, the problem of healthcare is also huge, with majority of Filipinos unable to pay for medical health insurance. Just recently, reports also came out that government-run PhilHealth could go bankrupt in seven years if government does not pay the P19.2-billion debt, with the Department of Education believed to be the most delinquent when it comes to payments. Among serious illnesses afflicting Filipinos are lung-related diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia – compounded by air pollution. In Metro Manila, one of the biggest causes of air pollution – and stress – are buses especially those plying the streets of EDSA. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Alberto Suansing had been promising to reduce the number of buses along EDSA, Quezon Avenue and other congested areas by not renewing franchises, detailing midnight patrols to go after colorums and other schemes, but so far, nothing much has happened.

These buses continue to be accident magnets because for one, operators do not pay their drivers a fixed salary. Instead, they practice a “commission” system where bus drivers get paid according to daily earnings – which is why buses race against each other to get passengers.   In fact, many of these vehicles are virtually flying coffins because most operators do not want to spend on maintenance costs – resulting in fatal accidents due to brake failures and similar causes. In the end, everybody suffers because health operators and bus drivers put more premium on wealth over health.

Meantime, people have no choice but to put up with these pollution-spewing rolling coffins, and could only complain under their breaths. As one frustrated daily EDSA commuter angrily complained to me – “Since when did these psycho bus drivers own EDSA, and how much did they pay for it?”

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