Many years ago, when I was in my 7th grade, My parents decided that it was time to get my teeth fixed. It really was a terrible mess, but I couldn't care less. I had a couple of extra teeth inside my mouth and the beauty of it was that not a single one was in its original place where it was supposed to be. So off we go to the medical college and few weeks later and many agonizing visits later, I had braces. All the extra teeth were pulled out and now, the metal in my mouth was going to pull my teeth back to its original locations. Since the procedure was done in a medical college, it did not cost us more than 100 rs to have the whole procedure done. So yeah, for less than Rs 100, I had a pretty neat set of teeth. Even after my braces came off years later, I never really took good care of my teeth. I had a couple of root canals and some fillings done when I was in college. I got this done from a private dentist and this too cost me less than Rs 1000.
Once I came to the USA, my college requires that students show proof of insurance or else be admitted to the insurance program that they put you in. Since I did not have my insurance, I had to obviously join the one provided from the college. I had to pay a little more than $ 700 (Rs 27,000 approx) each year. It was indeed a huge amount for me to foot, but I had to, and I also knew that I would be secure in case of an emergency and I had to run to the hospital. I had never faced a harsh winter and I knew that if the climate takes a toll on me, I would not have to worry about the money. Oh boy, was I in for a surprise or what.
Once I started my practicals, I was asked to take a complete medical test and submit the report that I was in the best of health. I made the usual round of calls to hospitals and clinics and none of them were accepting the insurance I had. Next I called my insurance company and guess what they told me. They said that my insurance does not cover health check ups. It did not cover any sort of screening tests for any disease. It only provided partial care in case of an accident, and only if it was pre-approved. Hhhmmm, so when exactly am i supposed to pre-approve it if I have an accident? Do they expect me to do it when I'm knocked out cold and being taken to a hospital? Or maybe they expect me to foresee my accident and get it pre-approved a day before I actually had the accident. What a great system. So anyway, There was no way I could afford a complete health check and I was grateful that someone from my college offered to cover the expense for me.
About two years ago, one of the fillings I had on my tooth came off. I now had an open cavity and it hurt like hell. Pain killers worked for a while, but the effect wouldn't last. So here I go again making calls to my insurance company and the dentist office. As expected my insurance did not cover dental expense. Finding a good and cheap dentist was my only hope. Any guesses about the quote i got? He said that it would be $910 (Rs 36,000) for just a root canal and maybe around $ 500 for a filling. I decided to give up the cause. I struggled with the tooth and the pain it caused. Somehow managed with painkillers. It does not hurt anymore and I think that all the tissues are dead. The cavity became bigger and deeper over time and now the only option I have is to have it pulled out. I cant do that here and so I am waiting till I get back to India to have it done. I lost a tooth because I could not afford it.
Proper health care should be the right of every individual. Everyone should have the right to have accessible health care. Even if it is not free, it should be affordable. No one should be denied care because they cannot pay for it. It just doesn't seem fair, does it? How can we ever put a price on ones life? That's pretty much what this country does. Maybe if you have not guessed it by now, I just watched "Sicko" by Michael Moore. It makes me angry and really sick to think of the way health care is managed in this country. Now I am not saying that India is perfect, but at least we have affordable care. You can get a tooth pulled for Rs 10 and you can have a lot more done with just a little cash. Of course there are super expensive deals in India too, but that needs to be there for those who can afford it, but what is important is that we have cheap care for those who are on a smaller budget. That's really missing in this country. Insurance companies become richer by ripping off the common man and finding small loop holes to not pay for his care.
Education is another basic human right. Every one should have the right to have an education and money should not be an obstacle to prevent one from having an education. In my college, one single class costs $ 1500 for a semester. So with the four classes I used to take each semester, it was $ 6000, just for my classes for one semester. Remember that we are a small college and the rates are lesser than elsewhere. I would not be here if I did not get a fee waiver from the college. I assumed that all students enrolled here made enough to study, but I was wrong. They are all deep in debt because they had taken huge loans to pursue their education. So, by the time someone is 25, they have already racked up personal debts of over $ 25,000. Compare this to the Rs 475 I used to pay each semester back in college. This is just not the way it is supposed to be. Education should be free or at least affordable or else how can we really have people who are well educated. Is it really fair to burden a young person with huge debts even before they have stepped out into the real world?
I am really grateful for the way things are in my country. We do complain a lot and whine and bitch about everything. We say that our country will never progress and blah blah. We need to remember that we have it way better than a lot of others. Coming to the USA and getting a green card still remains a priority for a lot of us. We think that this is the closest to heaven that we can get on earth. Most of us realize the hardships only after we get here. Once you are here, you better earn shit loads of money or, just cross your fingers and pray everyday that you do not fall sick. If you do, its probably time to put an add in the newspaper in India that you house and property are for sale.
ps: If you have not seen "Sicko" yet, you have to.
Once I came to the USA, my college requires that students show proof of insurance or else be admitted to the insurance program that they put you in. Since I did not have my insurance, I had to obviously join the one provided from the college. I had to pay a little more than $ 700 (Rs 27,000 approx) each year. It was indeed a huge amount for me to foot, but I had to, and I also knew that I would be secure in case of an emergency and I had to run to the hospital. I had never faced a harsh winter and I knew that if the climate takes a toll on me, I would not have to worry about the money. Oh boy, was I in for a surprise or what.
Once I started my practicals, I was asked to take a complete medical test and submit the report that I was in the best of health. I made the usual round of calls to hospitals and clinics and none of them were accepting the insurance I had. Next I called my insurance company and guess what they told me. They said that my insurance does not cover health check ups. It did not cover any sort of screening tests for any disease. It only provided partial care in case of an accident, and only if it was pre-approved. Hhhmmm, so when exactly am i supposed to pre-approve it if I have an accident? Do they expect me to do it when I'm knocked out cold and being taken to a hospital? Or maybe they expect me to foresee my accident and get it pre-approved a day before I actually had the accident. What a great system. So anyway, There was no way I could afford a complete health check and I was grateful that someone from my college offered to cover the expense for me.
About two years ago, one of the fillings I had on my tooth came off. I now had an open cavity and it hurt like hell. Pain killers worked for a while, but the effect wouldn't last. So here I go again making calls to my insurance company and the dentist office. As expected my insurance did not cover dental expense. Finding a good and cheap dentist was my only hope. Any guesses about the quote i got? He said that it would be $910 (Rs 36,000) for just a root canal and maybe around $ 500 for a filling. I decided to give up the cause. I struggled with the tooth and the pain it caused. Somehow managed with painkillers. It does not hurt anymore and I think that all the tissues are dead. The cavity became bigger and deeper over time and now the only option I have is to have it pulled out. I cant do that here and so I am waiting till I get back to India to have it done. I lost a tooth because I could not afford it.
Proper health care should be the right of every individual. Everyone should have the right to have accessible health care. Even if it is not free, it should be affordable. No one should be denied care because they cannot pay for it. It just doesn't seem fair, does it? How can we ever put a price on ones life? That's pretty much what this country does. Maybe if you have not guessed it by now, I just watched "Sicko" by Michael Moore. It makes me angry and really sick to think of the way health care is managed in this country. Now I am not saying that India is perfect, but at least we have affordable care. You can get a tooth pulled for Rs 10 and you can have a lot more done with just a little cash. Of course there are super expensive deals in India too, but that needs to be there for those who can afford it, but what is important is that we have cheap care for those who are on a smaller budget. That's really missing in this country. Insurance companies become richer by ripping off the common man and finding small loop holes to not pay for his care.
Education is another basic human right. Every one should have the right to have an education and money should not be an obstacle to prevent one from having an education. In my college, one single class costs $ 1500 for a semester. So with the four classes I used to take each semester, it was $ 6000, just for my classes for one semester. Remember that we are a small college and the rates are lesser than elsewhere. I would not be here if I did not get a fee waiver from the college. I assumed that all students enrolled here made enough to study, but I was wrong. They are all deep in debt because they had taken huge loans to pursue their education. So, by the time someone is 25, they have already racked up personal debts of over $ 25,000. Compare this to the Rs 475 I used to pay each semester back in college. This is just not the way it is supposed to be. Education should be free or at least affordable or else how can we really have people who are well educated. Is it really fair to burden a young person with huge debts even before they have stepped out into the real world?
I am really grateful for the way things are in my country. We do complain a lot and whine and bitch about everything. We say that our country will never progress and blah blah. We need to remember that we have it way better than a lot of others. Coming to the USA and getting a green card still remains a priority for a lot of us. We think that this is the closest to heaven that we can get on earth. Most of us realize the hardships only after we get here. Once you are here, you better earn shit loads of money or, just cross your fingers and pray everyday that you do not fall sick. If you do, its probably time to put an add in the newspaper in India that you house and property are for sale.
ps: If you have not seen "Sicko" yet, you have to.
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