Medical Insurance

I am taking a look at health care and health insurance today.  Admittedly this is a complex topic but it is one we should try to understand and support positive changes/improvements for all citizens.  You have already seen all of the studies which show that, in the world, the US ranks down between 25th to 40th in most of the health care areas; e.g., women's health care, pre-natal and infant care. etc.

Below is information based upon a survey done by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health.  These numbers are straight forward.  People who are not sick and those who have been sick within the last year see the quality of health care see the quality and cost getting worse.

Compared to the "not sick" people in our poll, Americans who've been sick in the past 12 months ... 


See the quality of health care as a very serious problem:


          Not sick  31%
          Sick        45%


See the cost of health care as a very serious problem:


          Not sick   61%
          Sick         73%


Think the quality of health care has gotten worse in the past five years:


          Not sick   22%
          Sick         32%


Think the cost of health care has gotten worse in the past five years:


          Not sick   62%
          Sick         70%

Source: NPR/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health Poll

Credit: Alyson Hurt/Nelson Hsu, NPR


So you can see that there is plenty of concern about the affordability and availability of health care.  Obama care was passed to address these concerns, but now our Supreme Court may be striking down all or part of the law.


There is a need for comprehensive coverage for health insurance and it must be affordable.


Please see the following link for information regarding those that are not covered.  Please note that while this is from a government website, the sources are a variety of non-governmental institutions with credibility.  Pre-existing conditions, unattainable health coverage, and losing coverage are three serious problems that affect millions of people that need to be resolved.  Obama care attempts to resolve these issues.


http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/denied_coverage/index.html


There are literally millions who are not covered.  This is not right in the richest country in the world.


There are also concerns about coverage that women have in this country.  Please see the following link that gives you the impact on women's health by the time the new law is fully implemented in 2014.  Table 1 is illustrative of how many women from 18 to 64, state by state, who are not insured and would be covered in 2014 under Obama care.  Most of the states would be able to cover 90% or more of the women currently not insured.  A tremendous improvement!  This is from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and is quite lengthy.

http://www.kff.org/womenshealth/upload/7987-02.pdf


Of course there are many other sources that provide figures concerning the lack of coverage and the cost of health.  One fact is that those who do not have coverage and therefore do not get treatment until they have a serious medical condition that costs the medical care system a tremendous amount of money to treat.  This situation also fosters continuing illnesses and affects the health, well being, and productiveness of our population.  We need to implement, not tear down, the current law (Obama Care) and do even more.  We can not be a strong country if our people are sick.


A final point, which I will come back to at a later date, is that a large segment of the population, generally the young and healthy, are strongly opposed to the current law being fully implemented because they don't want to pay for something that they are not using.  Twenty and Thirty somethings usually do not see a doctor very regularly because they are healthy.  However, there are exceptions, such as those with chronic diseases and those who have disabling accidents.


Basically these folks are being selfish and are not thinking of the community that they live in, be that defined as a local town, their state, or their country.  This country has become strong because of many sacrifices people have made over time.  A current example is that only .5% of the population has served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars - risked their lives, lost their lives, or sacrificed part of their lives for the cause of the country.


We need to do what is right for the basic welfare of all of our people.


Take care.

Second Ride of the Year

My second day of riding my bike to work today – the second day is always harder, and today was no exception.  The temp was 76 compared to 52 on Tuesday and the head wind was an absolute killer – from 25 to 35 mph out of the south.  I only hope that they continue for the ride home this evening – at least that would be some pay back.

There were a few more folks out fishing today and I saw the nun walking in her gray habit.  I usually see her every 2^nd or 3^rd ride around Navy Pier.  There were considerably more racers out today speeding up and down Lakeshore and some construction on the path.

The boats are making there way back slowly to Burnham Harbor and it looks like the 31^st Harbor work could be finished in a month or so.

On days like today I am not too observant, just struggling to get here (over an hour today).

Take care.

First Ride of the Year

 I made my first ride of the year to work today, about a month earlier than the past few years.  It felt great with the temp about 52-53 degrees at 6:55 am when I pulled away.  A very bright day with a strong reflection off of the Lake.  It takes only a few minutes to ride to the bike path and it was only moderately busy this morning with joggers and bikers (no roller blades).  Belmont Harbor was beautiful with most of the boats already in their slips and the birds singing – the cardinals with their cheery songs, some robins, and even a few red wing blackbirds with their shrill calls.  Later I would hear geese flying overhead and even some birds of the meadow on the South Side.

The ride seemed a little easier than other first rides, perhaps because I have been warming up with rides to McFetridge to play tennis for several weeks.  The traffic on the path reflects the diversity of the City, even on a day like today.  There were all sizes of folks, all ages, men and women, recumbent bikes, racers, numerous nationalities & races, and so on.

The first part of the ride tends to be a little downhill and helps getting momentum started.  When I get to the first beaches they are being groomed and look like farmers’ fields with rows neat and straight.  The posts are in place for all of the volleyball nets – I imagine that the leagues may have already started and when I ride home this evening many games will be underway – nothing better than a little sand volleyball!

Approaching the S curve the Lake is relatively calm, only a few whitecaps here and there.  There are a few straightaways along here and I can get my speed up to about 18-½ mph.  I go by the Oak Street beach and there are no long distance swimmers in the water and I am a little surprised.  Usually they would be doing their laps in their wetsuits by now, getting ready for the Chicago Triathlon, which is in August, and other events. 

I go by Navy Pier and under the Drive on the lower part of the bridge and see all of the tour boats parked and ready to go for today’s tourists.  Pass the Monroe Street Harbor and about half of the boats have arrived.  I hear the familiar clink clank of the mooring chains saying good morning.  When all the boats arrive it will be quite a beautiful sight.

Since there are not that many folks out this morning, there are not many who are pealing off as we reach Grant Park to head to their work in the Loop.  In a few weeks there will be dozens getting off of the route here.  At Grant Park I reach the longest straight and flat stretch of the ride.  Again I try to get my speed up, as there are not many folks out running, walking, or riding.  The City added a crosswalk with stoplights on the Drive right across from Buckingham Fountain so that spot will be a little congested on the return trip.

As I gain speed going down the hill by the museum campus I notice a vestige of the NATO meetings with some metal barricades on the path.  Luckily there is a wide enough space to ride through and I try to keep my speed up as I ride around the Aquarium.  I hit ahead wind there, as I usually do.  The wind is almost always coming off the Lake there.  Riding around the back I look for the dolphins and their trainers, but they are not there this morning.

Next comes Burnham Harbor and the other reminder of the safety precautions of the weekend.  There is not one boat there.  Since it adjacent to McCormick Place, it is not a surprise that they were banned.  I expect by this afternoon some boats will have trickled in. 

The South Side is always a quieter ride in terms of traffic so I push on trying to keep burning calories as fast as I can.  The construction is still going on from last year on the 31^st Street Harbor (I don’t know if the City has given it a formal name yet) and I am pleased that I can ride through an underpass at one point where a hill existed last fall – it saves a few painful pedal strokes.  Much of the path is still a “detour” waiting for the harbor work to be completed, but I still get to ride through the Police and Fire Memorial garden areas, the latter being on of my favorite parts of the ride.

I always try to be as observant as possible on these trips as there is so much to see and it is a different part of the City from where I live or work.  As I get to the 47^th Street exit from the drive I notice some building architecture that I never saw before and then again near the 53^rd Street exit I see some more interesting building designs that I never bothered to see previously.  Beautiful old buildings that have seen a lot of history in their years.

I am in the home stretch now, the last couple of miles and I usually try to speed up to “get a good time” for this ride.  One last big hill to climb, from which I see the South Shore smokestacks and those over in Indiana quite well.  I also get a good look at the sole working pumping station in the Lake that provides our daily drinking water.

Finally off of the path and off onto 57^th Street and ride past the Banana and Orange Man.  I didn’t stop today, but on another ride I will pick up some of his fresh fruit to keep me supplied for the week’s snacks.  He is there almost every day all year round selling his produce to those who stop at the light, waiting to get onto the drive.

I ride a little west, cross the Midway Plaisance, where the Midway was for the 1893 World Exposition, and end up at my building at 61^st and Kenwood.  I note that I made the fourteen miles in 53 minutes, not a bad time my first ride of the year.  I store my bike in the basement, take a shower, and am ready to work by 8:15 am.  I feel great (and a secondary benefit, according to my source on the Internet, is that I burned about 750 calories – hoorah!!)

Take care.

Thought for Tuesday

You must take personal responsibility.  You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself.  That is something you have charge of.  You don't have charge of the constellations, but you do have charge of whether you read, develop new skills, and take new classes.   Jim Rohn

Riding Val

Finally, today, after too long of a time letting my motorcycle sit in the garage, I have it running again and rode to work.  It was a beautiful morning to ride, clear and sunny, and the Lake was gorgeous.  Numbers are picking up the bike/running path alongside of LSD and the traffic was light as I left home about 7 am.  The cars kept their distance, not knowing what to expect from a cycle I guess. 

I ride according to the law, within the flow of the car traffic – no lane splitting or wheelies.  I would like to live awhile yet.  The light wind felt good.

I had polished and waterproofed my boots last night – they are the only Harley item that I own.  I also sprayed my jacket with waterproof stuff to help in case of rain, which may happen this evening.  I always carry my rain gear, as you never know when the heavens will open here in Chicago.

I need to take a little time getting re-adjusted to my bike, nicknamed “Val “, but the basic riding comes back quickly.  Just need to get back to not having to think about anything – just react immediately.  I hope to get a little countryside riding in this summer, even though I know my son and I have not planned any trips. The last one (summer of 2008 I think) was a good one – following the Ohio River up to Pittsburgh, with a side trip to Vintondale, in central PA, where my grandmother lived at one time.  It is (was) a typical company town.  On the way back we just cut through PA, OH, & IN, stopping when we felt like it.  I started to write a narrative of the trip and may actually finish it someday.

I was one of the first in the building today, which also houses part of the Info Tech Dept of the U of C.  When I looked out mid-morning, I saw another bike parked by mine - bigger, perhaps an older Gold Wing.  That’s what happens – bikes gather for company and chat during the day until it is time to take their riders home again.

Take care, and, remember, safe riding – keep the rubber side down.