GOP Rep Tells Uninsured Cancer Patient: You're Bankrupt, But Things Worked Out Well

Released in June, a national study by the American Journal of Medicine (.PDF) showed that 62% of bankruptcies in 2007 were tied to medical expenses. That's what a constituent told Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) at a recent town hall, but despite his bankruptcy, Kingston told the man he did "very well."

Eh? The elderly man, Jim Parker, told Kingston that he was recently treated for colon cancer, but did not have insurance. Kingston replied by telling Parker “you did do very well” because he was able to get treated when he arrived at the hospital. Parker responded, “I am functionally bankrupt!” Kingston cut him off and said:

But you did get coverage. You didn’t get the insurance, but they won’t turn you down at the door. And we do need to focus on people like you. However, here’s the problem: among other things, in countries that have socialized medicine, you have longer waiting lines, you have bureaucracy ... it does lead to rationing.

In reality, Parker didn't get coverage. He got treatment. Big difference. Two things, in addition, however: we already have rationing; the insurance companies ration health care by denying claims. As many as 20,000 people die because of lack of insurance annually, according to studies.

Additionally, while people like George W. Bush speak of America's health care saying (in 2007): "The immediate goal is to make sure there are more people on private insurance plans. I mean, people have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room," that is utter claptrap. After all, one of the talking points against Universal Health Care is "the wait;" has anyone looked an an ER waiting room?

ERs? Why do you think our life expectancy is so low compared to other industrialized nations, all of which have Universal Health Care in one form or another? Because when you enact such a system, you have to concentrate on Wellness, proactive health care that keeps people healthy from square one rather than reacting to type 2 diabetes and the like.

Watch the exchange between Parker and Kingston: