Is the lack of health insurance for almost 50,000,000 Americans a topic for religious concern, or not?

Question

Here's an article from USA today citing 2005 statistics. Indications are that the numbers of uninsured are still rising.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2006-08-29-health-insurance-coverage_x.htm

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How do you hope your religion addresses (or avoids addressing) the health insurance crisis in the USA?

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Answer 1

Yes, all human suffering is.
What do you recommend?
What are you doing about it? How about your family, your religion or group?

Answer 2

I can't speak for "my religion". One of the biggest problems is how the medical profession: doctors and medicine and insurance are all in "co-hoots" together and it forces every doctor to follow the crowd..., the government crowd and plan. The same with what happened when America did NOT want Gov't insurance or Gov't supplied medical care. What happened is that when you turn 65, no matter who you are, you are automatically signed up for medicare..., government insurance in another name and form. Then your private insurance became your secondary payer. IF you have to have very much care you will automatically be placed onto medicaid!! More gov't insurance. Your choices are less and less..., and your medical care is gov't controlled. We do NOT want automatic government healthcare. The nations who do, have very little care and have to wait for months for an app't. We, at least, can still choose our doctor.
You do know the entire PPO and HMO stuff was an agreement concocted by our gov't and the insurance companies.., and then gave the doctors very little choice either but to "play along".
Now, it used to be that doctors and their patients could negotiate some of their payments; how much and when paid. Now all test are standardized and done in the hospitals and requires you to be rich or VERY insured; then you have to have a lawyer to make the insurance company to pay..., you know?
Jesus never one time discussed this subject.., he just went around and "healed them ALL". Why not do it that way FIRST. I don't think God is against doctors and medicine, it just is out of His realm of action. God doesn't treat symptoms, He goes to the "root and source" and gets rid of the problem altogether.
Also, the so-called "universal healthcare" is a disaster in the countries who will tell you the truth. Canada is one whose doctors and healthcare is so limited in it's reaching those who need it, it's a failure. Those with any money RUN to America for specialized and serious medical attention.

Answer 3

I would hope it's a topic for concern. I can only give a personal response as I'm not really part of any organized religion. I find it alarming that people seem to ignore these types of statistics, until it affects them in some way. I'm also finding it very hard to ignore that many illegals get free health care, but a woman with 4 kids and a full time job can't afford it. We seem to take better care of others than we do our own. It's a shame.

Answer 4

The lack of health care in America should be considered a national disgrace.

Millions of people are concerned about this, some are Christian, some are Buddahists, Jew or whatever...

But it is not fair to lay this on the steps of any or all religions. This crisis was not created by religion........

Many churches do what they can to assist people, from feeding them, clothing them and cash donations., housing, transportation etc

I feel quite certain that if ANY organized religion were to involve themselves in this crisis within the political arena, the masses would shout "separation of church and state".....

This must be how God feels---shut Him out of our lives, scoff Him, and then holler "where is God", "why does God let this happen"......................

Answer 5

What does healthy insurance have to do with religion? I really don't see the connection. I do think the large number of uninsured Americans is a big problem, but it is a problem for business people, social scientists, economists, politicians and health professionals to solve.

Answer 6

Religious? No, but it's certainly not Christian, and the US makes itself out to be a Christian country.

It's a moral issue more than anything else.

The US is the richest country in the world, yet the only first world country without universal healthcare.

Guess what? African countries, even AFGHANISTAN, have universal healthcare for all their citizens. Their health quality obviously isn't the same, but at least they see the simple fact that EVERYONE has a right to healthcare.

Come to Canada! We have universal healthcare AND a great system and quality of care.

Canada rocks for so many reasons, plus one year long paid maternity is another!

Universal childcare is hopefully coming soon too.

Yay Canada! We respect everyone on the same level here, you get the same healthcare, and wait in the same lines, whether you're a homeless person or CEO of some big company. We respect humanity.

Answer 7

Yes, it is of religious concern. Any social problem which can be resolved by money is a religious concern, because it is a golden opportunity for churches to show how much they care about people by forming a non-profit organization to provide the insurance, or to provide health care directly in the form of charity hospitals and clinics.

Go to it, church activists!

Answer 8

That's a political job for the government.
People wanted separation of church and state.
You cannot ask the church to get concerned about the numbers. That is a job for elected officials.
Most churches are already involved in some type of community programs that the government has no say in.

Answer 9

It sounds like 50,000,000 Americans need to find another solution, because putting the federal government in charge of your health care would be a nightmare. Actually. you mean 40,000,000 Americans. There are 10,000,000 illegal immigrants sucking our system dry. The real solution would involve sending them back first. Oh yeah...um, because God said so.

Answer 10

Ha Ha America!
Cant even afford health care and yet spends more tax money per person on it than Canada does where everybody is covered.
Ha Ha America!

It would be funny if it was not so stinking sad.

What is even worse is that the leaders of the religious right are driving the crippling of the health care system. It already is a religious concern.

Answer 11

It certainly should be but very few religions are even attempting to address it.

I don't have a religion but if I did I would expect it to do everything possible to help humanity. How can people believe we are all god's creation and not do everything to help each other?