Health Care - One Mother's Perspective

So, I hate to get political on the internet because I feel it is a personal decision, but I am also very saddened by some recent posts of my facebook friends. I hope my opinion isn't seen as an attack, but rather a justification of my beliefs and views. An appeal to your emotion - Let's just start with a story. If I saw a dog on my street, maybe limping, very thin, obviously hot; I might not take him in, but I would at least provide some water. No judgement. I wouldn't think, "well he got himself in this mess, he should get himself out." But when it's a person, we (including myself) seem so quick to judge. As if they deserve to be where they are in life. I know that I've worked hard in my life, but I've also made more than enough mistakes. I don't believe my actions are 100% the reason I am where I am. It also took a little bit of luck. So now I'd like you to picture yourself as a mother or father of two. And one child gets very sick. So sick that you sell all your posessions and re-finance your home to pay for the hospital bills. You have health insurance, but it's not enough. And this child needs an operation. One that you can't afford. Even if you know it will cost taxpayers' money, you would do anything to save your child, so you schedule the surgery at a PUBLIC (not private) hospital (because you can't pay). While these doctors were great, this child couldn't survive. You are devastated. Your spouse is devastated. You cannot work and neither can they. It takes all the effort you have to be a parent to your remaining child. You have no money; all you have is each other. And you don't want another second to go by without soaking up all the love of your remaining child. And you don't have health insurance. I hope that I, nor any of my friends/family are ever in this situation. But someone's friend/family is. And for them, I wish for something better. I pray that their remaining child doesn't get sick while they are without insurance. An appeal to your wallet - My best friend is a doctor working at both public and private hospitals. When you don't have health insurance, you cannot just walk into a Kelsey Seybold and see a doctor. You may be able to find a free clinic (if you have transportation and are willing to wait hours if not days). So if your child has a cold, you probably wouldn't take them to the clinic. It's just a hassle. Maybe this cold moves into their chest. And they're coughing and having a hard time sleeping, some difficulty breathing. You may justify skipping the doctor because the fever is under 102 degrees. But then, a week later, they're wiped out. Heavy fever, green snot, can barely open their eyes, straining for breath, and no excuses can be made. You take them to the emergency room at a public hospital. They are admitted to the hospital for three days to clear up the pneumonia. Do you suppose that if the parent could pay, they would have gotten their child to the doctor at the stage of the cold? If not, at least at the level of bronchitis. The cost to the insurance company (or taxpayers) would probably be less than $500 at either of those points. But if they wait until they ABSOLUTELY have to go see a doctor, what do you think that cost is? I've been in the hospital, and it was at least $5,000/day. While in the short run, healthcare for everyone may be an expense to taxpayers, in the long run this may actually reduce the healthcare burden taxpayers are already paying for. Yes - we're already paying for those who can't pay. The only difference is that we would be paying for them up front. So they can get help easier, earlier on. A summary - Morally, what is the right thing to do? Focus on ourselves, our family, our friends? If we have the opportunity to help someone else, shouldn't we? Regardless of religion, political belief, nationality, gender, etc. I would hope that someone would help me, if I needed it.