The departure of two American cultrual icons yesterday – Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson – demonstrates just how tenuous our grasp is upon life. Both these legendary figures passed away years before their natural time. Their untimely demise provokes some thought surrounding the immense benefits of wellness care and other preventative medical strategies.
While Congress debates the particulars of how to reform our healthcare system, there is a good deal of debate surrounding how to pay for bringing the 70 million currently-uninsured Americans into the system. To me, the solution seems obvious. With a focus on preventative medicine – enabling everyone the ability to enjoy regular check-ups and well visits to their doctor – we as a society could seriously reduce the reliance of the uninsured on Emergency Room visits for treatment of preventable illnesses. The enormous costs currently incurred by ER visits by the uninsured could be saved and applied to providing basic coverage to the same uninsured folks. Simply put, it seems cheaper to subisdize wellness visits than to cover the high costs of emergency care.
So this week, as we say farewell to Farrah and Michael, we should take the opportunity to consider the fleeting nature of life and the value in protecting our health in a proactive way instead of the costlier, reactive way.
14 Responses to “Wellness Care – Preventative Medicine”
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Anthony,
I already heard about what happen to Michael and Farrah. I would like to thank them for sharing their talents with us. I hope they are happy now. My Condolences to their family..
Anthony,
I would like to express my deepest sorrows to the families of Michael and Farrah. They have contributed to the world of entertainment for many years and their work will live on through their fans forever.
Anthony,
Your comment was eloquently put and very respectful. I, too, would like to express my condolences to the families involved. I agree with you whole-heartedly about the need for preventative care. The long-term benefits from providing this type of care of uninsured americans would be quite substantial. There was a news item this morning about a woman in Carson City, NV, who went to the regional hospital with substantial injuries and was referred to the VA Hospital in Reno where she had been treated previously. The VA sent her home, saying that they coud not treat her either. Later that day she expired. We are in a very sad state of affairs indeed.
I think it is very sad how some people are turned away from medical care as well. It could be me one day and that is a frightening thought. But it is also a reality. I lost my job and with that job, I lost my medical insurance benefits as well. So a note on the brighter side-I eat healthy, exercise and network with friends to find a good job (until I graduate with my insurance billing and coding).
Perhaps I am just a little hard hearted. But really, death is a part of life. No one excapes it. 200 years ago, it was rare to see someone over the age of 60. And in 200 years from now, I am sure much of our entire generation wont be remembered.
I don’t know if I will miss Micheal or Farrah. They weren’t apart of my world. I’m sure their families are far more impacted by their loss then the media and the masses.
I’m not throughly convincted that we should ALL be living into our 90+. I dont think this world of ours can support that much life for everyone for that long of a period time.
I feel both of these deaths were tragic as any death is. I was saddened to hear about senator Kennedy’s death. This man as well as his brothers Robert and John Kennedy were a great asset to the country and their memories and their goals and their commitment to this country will live on. I feel that all Americans should have affordable healthcare it is our right and not a priviledge as so many people today that have no healthcare are dying from illnesses that can be prevented but, the people cannot afford this becausing of the rising costs.
I am a fan of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. It hurts but we need to face the fact that they are gone but they will still be in my heart.
Michael Jackson is my favorite. Thank you for coming with this post about him also about Farrah.
Michael Jackson is one my favorite singers. So, thanks for writing on him. I truly enjoyed reading this article.
Michael Jackson is indeed a legendary figure in the world of pop music. So, thanks a lot for writing on his life.
Michael Jackson is one my favorite singers. So, thanks for writing on him. I truly enjoyed reading this article.
I agree that Farrah and Michael were amazing in all they did. What I also agree with is that preventative checkups and regular doctor visits are most important. If we, as Americans, can raise billions to help other nations out on a regular basis then why can we not raise the funds to help ourselves? The only answer I can see is that we help other nations for the public eye or that we really don’t think about our own people for whatever reason that may be. What is worse. I think it may be a combination of both. I pray we soon get our act together and help the less fortunate as a whole to get medical insurance and basic coverage so we all can live better.
A year has passed now yet, I still can believe that MJ is gone..
I miss him even more and his great songs and dances..
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My thoughts on this subject is that actors have the finance to get the best healthcare, but some of them abuse medication or have incompetent doctors that are greedy and they pay the price. I feel bad that Michael died at such a young age. I do believe in preventive healthcare, because I get a phyical every year. Prevention is better than waiting until the situation is out of control and than running to the ER with no health insurance and running up bills that can’t be paid.
This causes the hospital to have debt that they have to write-off. But less face it there are millions of americans without healthcare coverage that they can’t afford. I’m with the President we need affordable healthcare without pre-existing conditions attached. This will prevent over use of the ER . I pay my own healtcare insurance since I was laid-off and it’s not a good policy because of pre-existing conditions which I am glad will be a part of healthcare reform.