Letter to Congressman Olsen

Congressman Olsen,

I received this survey in the mail and thought I would answer it a little more in depth than the options you provided. You may see the questions and my responses at the bottom of this message. But first, let me tell you a little about myself so that you may understand where my answers are coming from.

Six years ago, I was diagnosed with endometriosis, a non-life threatening disease that creates immense pain and infertility. When diagnosed, I had insurance through my parents as I was a college student. However, I aged out of the system and found myself still in college, working multiple jobs/internships with little options. My school offered insurance, but because I was treated for the endometriosis in the past year, it was ruled a pre-existing condition and I was denied treatment. I looked at private insurance companies to get a policy, but they wanted over $600 a month and as a young woman putting myself through college, that was my rent money. Nobody should have to choose between medical treatment and being homeless In the next two years it took to get my degree, I went without treatment because when I did have an opportunity to be insured I did not want it ruled pre-existing.

By the time I graduated and landed a good job with insurance, my disease was eating me alive from the inside. If you can imagine the internal organs held in your abdominal cavity and take a huge wad of gum and wrap each organ and connect it to whatever is nearby, may it be your abdominal wall or another organ. Except that gum was really scar tissue and lesions. It took the surgeon six hours to clean everything up and remove my appendix because it was too damaged. In addition to having issues with my reproductive organs, I also have damage on both intestines, stomach and bladder. What hurts the most is not the pain that I feel almost everyday from my damaged organs, it is not knowing if I will ever be a mother due to the fertility issues Endo causes.

I'm not speculating that had I received treatment my condition would have been better. I don't know. But I would imagine that assistance with hormone therapy and other treatments could not have hurt. I also know that there are parts of the health care bill that could be improved. But instead of improving those areas with thoughtful ideas and bi-partisan team work, some republicans have opted to create lies of death panels and other republican boogy men to scare the American people out of supporting the bill. Like the President said in his speech, let's work together to get something done for the American people. So I ask, as your constituent, that you be constructive in your work. Rather than sending surveys with loaded questions like the one I answered below, send one and ask the American people what they want and what they need.

On the pamphlet, you mentioned that this was paid for by me, the tax payer. I would like to know how much it cost to prepare, publish and mail these pamphlets? I am also aware of a similar campaign via phone, what are those costs? It seems that the loaded questions are fishing for the responses that back up your position, rather than questions that would lead to ideas that would improve the health care bill.


Your Survey
Do you support a plan to increase taxes on American high income filers and small business in order to finance a government run health care program that according to the CBO would still leave millions of Americans uninsured?

My response: I do support a government backed healthcare program even if it does force taxes to rise for upper middle class and "high income earners." I would continue to support such a program even if it increased taxes for lower-middle class because I care about my fellow American and have been uninsured with a medical condition. Have you, Congressman Olson, ever been uninsured with a medical condition?

Do you support or oppose limiting access to health care by placing a government bureaucrat between you and your doctor?

My response: I support it if it means the 30 million plus Americans receive the care that they are entitled to. In the current system, there is already a gate keeper that creates a buffer between you and your doctor, the nurse. Just this year my former doctor suspected thyroid issues and ordered an ultrasound. I called twice within three weeks to get my results. As it turned out, the nurse never gave my doctor the results and if it were not for my persistence, I would not be aware of this that I have cysts on my thyroid that need to be watched.

Do you support or oppose a plan that would pursue free market reforms to foster competition in the health care market to lower costs?

My response: Of Course! That's why President Obama would like a public option, to increase competition, which would in turn lower healthcare costs overall. There would not be a monopoly of insurance companies that have obviously agreed to keep prices high. And it is that An option. So Americans are not forced to choose going without healthcare or going into the poor house. Most choose going without, even if they pay the consequences down the line, like severe medical conditions or death.

Are you satisfied with your current health coverage?

My response: I am satisfied to have health coverage. Yes, at times I can become very frustrated getting claims pushed through and having certain necessary treatments covered. I do believe, as the President said in his address to Congress and the Senate, that more competition will force insurance companies to be more customer oriented. They would know that they are not your only option and might be more inclined to keep you as a customer by providing better service and becoming more affordable.