Summer of 2013

Healthcare reform, family healthcare crisis, clinic, doctor appointments, webinars, presentations, healthcare reform, clinic… My head is spinning this summer, and it appears the blog is one of the things that have been neglected.

The Michigan Senate is still on vacation, while the hardworking low-income residents of Michigan continue without healthcare coverage. We wait… and wait… to plan, to put into action, to teach, to help… until they act.

According to the SEIU Blog, “Every day the state of Michigan delays implementing Medicaid expansion costs the state $7,000,000 in federal tax dollars. This breaks down to $241,667 an hour, $4,861 a minute, and $81 a second.” That is real money that would provide real care to the uninsured residents of Michigan. It would also provide for jobs, increased spending – a boost to our economy.

October 1 is the day open enrollment begins for the Marketplace and for Medicaid, if expansion is approved. There is a lot to do in that short amount of time. The primary job is to educate those who will be most impacted by this – the uninsured. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, over 80% of those who will be eligible for Medicaid don’t know about the changes in the law. Most of the uninsured do not know about the Marketplace, and that they will be eligible for tax credits to help them buy insurance.

There is a lot of work to do. I hope I am ready.