Religion is a little bit ridiculous.
That's not meant to insult religion or the people who hold it close to the heart. I just think that sometimes people get a little bit crazy when it comes to God and the bible.
I've heard the golden rule a million times!
"Do unto others..."
We tread ultimately close to the real issue when we talk about Christ, God and the crazy meaning of the bible.
I have had the opportunity to hear the Hate of people who quote/unquote believe in God. People who will kill a dude who is "Pro-Life" or who doesn't believe in the death penalty.
Lets talk about Israel–Pakistan relations! The ultimate religious debate! It's nuts! These people who believe wholly in this book! Who believe they should KILL for justice and peace! It's un-fucking-believable!
If people would just believe (for a second) that we should be GOOD to one another, wouldn't we be better off? A mission in real faith? Because what religion do you want to believe in? One who judges people (for things that don't ultimately matter?) Or a new religion who says, "Love your neighbor."
Love him/her unconditionally.
Religion is tricky, but loving people seems obvious. That's all I know. That's always been my religion.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Women: Edition One
Women: Can't live with them. Certainly can't live without them...
So obviously I have some personal bias from the beginning. I'm absolutely willing to admit that. Which is why I'm going to promise you double much with a cherry on top that I'm actually going to try and make sure I have the numbers and the research. I promise I won't see a headline and flop it into a post without checking the stats and the credits at the end. And if you see something fishy, let me know!
So onwards:
Health Care
I'm not even getting into discussing the national debate. Let's talk about health care for women for a minute.
The latest headline I read was "Insurance Company Tells Rape Victim Her Assault Would be a Pre-Existing Condition"
That seems pretty fantastic to me. A little unbelievable. But I did some research and this is what I found.
An interesting story I found was one of a rape survivor Chris Turner. She was an Insurance agent raped on a business trip. She like many rape victims, went through a series of issues following her terrible experience, including, PTSD, fear of HIV/AIDS, agoraphobia and other symptoms.
She was put on medication to deal with the trauma (personally I think probably some anti-anxiety or depression medication) and preventative anti-HIV medication.
So she goes to find new insurance and because she know that getting turned down from coverage (obviously first hand info) will almost make it almost positive that she won't receive coverage from anywhere else, so she poses as a "hypothetical applicant". Again and again these insurance agents say that this "hypothetical applicant" has to have at least one to two years of counseling and be HIV-negative.
So my question first is: Are they saying that rape is a preexisting condition?
It's a valid question so let's find out.
The definition of preexisting condition is pretty straightforward: Any health condition or illness that you have had before your first day of coverage on a new plan.
(Another link about the definition, and another link about the definition...)
Is rape considered a health condition? Or an illness? I'm not sure. All of the sites that I went on have stated pretty clearly what it means. The problem is the effects from the rape (and domestic violence btw) include symptoms like PTSD, anxiety, depression, ect. plus another hundred nuances that are never reported because most rape victims are afraid to come forward and tell their story.
Let me quote this directly because I feel that me trying to summarize will detract from the story:
"A 38-year-old woman in Ithaca, N.Y., said she was raped last year and then penalized by insurers because in giving her medical history she mentioned an assault she suffered in college 17 years earlier. The woman, Kimberly Fallon, told a nurse about the previous attack and months later, her doctor’s office sent her a bill for treatment. She said she was informed by a nurse and, later, the hospital’s billing department that her health insurance company, Blue Cross Blue Shield, not only had declined payment for the rape exam, but also would not pay for therapy or medication for trauma because she “had been raped before.”"
Those are pretty harsh words from Blue Cross Blue Shield. Yikes.
So my next question is, 'Is Rape an actual preexisting condition?'
I have probably a hundred links on the subject and I think one thing made up my mind about it and its these quotes:
So obviously I have some personal bias from the beginning. I'm absolutely willing to admit that. Which is why I'm going to promise you double much with a cherry on top that I'm actually going to try and make sure I have the numbers and the research. I promise I won't see a headline and flop it into a post without checking the stats and the credits at the end. And if you see something fishy, let me know!
So onwards:
Health Care
I'm not even getting into discussing the national debate. Let's talk about health care for women for a minute.
The latest headline I read was "Insurance Company Tells Rape Victim Her Assault Would be a Pre-Existing Condition"
That seems pretty fantastic to me. A little unbelievable. But I did some research and this is what I found.
An interesting story I found was one of a rape survivor Chris Turner. She was an Insurance agent raped on a business trip. She like many rape victims, went through a series of issues following her terrible experience, including, PTSD, fear of HIV/AIDS, agoraphobia and other symptoms.
She was put on medication to deal with the trauma (personally I think probably some anti-anxiety or depression medication) and preventative anti-HIV medication.
So she goes to find new insurance and because she know that getting turned down from coverage (obviously first hand info) will almost make it almost positive that she won't receive coverage from anywhere else, so she poses as a "hypothetical applicant". Again and again these insurance agents say that this "hypothetical applicant" has to have at least one to two years of counseling and be HIV-negative.
So my question first is: Are they saying that rape is a preexisting condition?
It's a valid question so let's find out.
The definition of preexisting condition is pretty straightforward: Any health condition or illness that you have had before your first day of coverage on a new plan.
(Another link about the definition, and another link about the definition...)
Is rape considered a health condition? Or an illness? I'm not sure. All of the sites that I went on have stated pretty clearly what it means. The problem is the effects from the rape (and domestic violence btw) include symptoms like PTSD, anxiety, depression, ect. plus another hundred nuances that are never reported because most rape victims are afraid to come forward and tell their story.
Let me quote this directly because I feel that me trying to summarize will detract from the story:
"A 38-year-old woman in Ithaca, N.Y., said she was raped last year and then penalized by insurers because in giving her medical history she mentioned an assault she suffered in college 17 years earlier. The woman, Kimberly Fallon, told a nurse about the previous attack and months later, her doctor’s office sent her a bill for treatment. She said she was informed by a nurse and, later, the hospital’s billing department that her health insurance company, Blue Cross Blue Shield, not only had declined payment for the rape exam, but also would not pay for therapy or medication for trauma because she “had been raped before.”"
Those are pretty harsh words from Blue Cross Blue Shield. Yikes.
So my next question is, 'Is Rape an actual preexisting condition?'
I have probably a hundred links on the subject and I think one thing made up my mind about it and its these quotes:
“I think it’s important to point out that health plans are not denying coverage based on the fact that someone was raped,” said Pisano of the insurance trade group. “But PTSD could be a factor in denied coverage.”
“The companies are peppering them with questions about their symptoms, and about their histories, and asking, ‘Well, are you sure you really need therapy?’” said Jeffrey Axelbank, a New Jersey psychologist. “For someone who has been traumatized, it can feel like another trauma, and it makes the therapy less effective.”
Uh. Okay. The first quote is like looking at legalese. You see the words but even if you read it twelve times it only touches on the edges of making sense. I get that he's trying to say that PTSD is a definite factor in health care.
I do, really.
BUT when most women develop some sort of PTSD after rape (about 94%) aren't you really saying that most rape victims will be denied coverage? PLUS add in the fact that most women are treated for HIV prevention. Which when they are, they're usually denied coverage?
It seems as silly to me as saying that cancer isn't a factor in denying coverage but chemotherapy is. It seems like the two go hand in hand.
If the majority of the symptoms of rape are usually reasons for denial, why not just say it? Because it's difficult and makes you seem like the bad guy. And if you have to stretch the truth to make yourself look good, or at least not bad...then fill in the blanks.
So my final thought on the subject is this:
Rape is not a preexisting condition, but most the fallout (most of the symptoms) are.
A + B = C
Which means that rape by proxy ends up becoming a preexisting condition. No matter how you spin it.
Hope and Health,
Amber
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Opposite of the End
Hello Everyone! (Or Anyone!)
I'm hoping this blog is going to be a little bit more...political, personal, and hopefully informational.
Out of all the things I don't want to do, is ostracize anyone. I'd like to hear from everyone, with any ideology, religion, food theory, favorite tv show, and ect ect. I'd honestly like to hear all opinions. Because you won't be the first to change my mind about something I've held near and dear to my heart.
I hope people call me out and make me a little bit uncomfortable. Or I hope that I find people with like minds who agree. Either way, I'm sure it'll be a learning experience.
Anyway about me:
I once asked my 8th grade CCD teacher, "If God exists, where does the universe end? Or how did everything begin?" But she kind of got insulted and threw, "Have faith!" in my face and called me a blasphemer.
I've never not asked "Why?" And I probably won't ever stop. Which is why I made this blog. I'm sick of not putting stuff in my facebook because I would clog people's inbox up. So this is it people.
Besides that, I have left ideologies with a moderate swing, but I try not to label myself as anything concrete, I love new recipes, especially ones with crazy ways to incorporate chickpeas in them, my favorite tv show is Supernatural, and I'm crazy about vegetarianism in theory but in practice...I suck.
But anyway, I hope to press some buttons!
So onwards and upwards (hopefully).
Hope and Health for everyone out there,
Ambs
Credit:
Heh...Evil Nuns with Guns
Veggie Picture
Evil Cheeseburger
I'm hoping this blog is going to be a little bit more...political, personal, and hopefully informational.
Out of all the things I don't want to do, is ostracize anyone. I'd like to hear from everyone, with any ideology, religion, food theory, favorite tv show, and ect ect. I'd honestly like to hear all opinions. Because you won't be the first to change my mind about something I've held near and dear to my heart.
I hope people call me out and make me a little bit uncomfortable. Or I hope that I find people with like minds who agree. Either way, I'm sure it'll be a learning experience.
Anyway about me:
I once asked my 8th grade CCD teacher, "If God exists, where does the universe end? Or how did everything begin?" But she kind of got insulted and threw, "Have faith!" in my face and called me a blasphemer.
I've never not asked "Why?" And I probably won't ever stop. Which is why I made this blog. I'm sick of not putting stuff in my facebook because I would clog people's inbox up. So this is it people.
Besides that, I have left ideologies with a moderate swing, but I try not to label myself as anything concrete, I love new recipes, especially ones with crazy ways to incorporate chickpeas in them, my favorite tv show is Supernatural, and I'm crazy about vegetarianism in theory but in practice...I suck.
But anyway, I hope to press some buttons!
So onwards and upwards (hopefully).
Hope and Health for everyone out there,
Ambs
Credit:
Heh...Evil Nuns with Guns
Veggie Picture
Evil Cheeseburger
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