02-12-2009, 05:22 AM
My own experience with health care here in Hawaii is very frustrating. My wife has a chronic lung infection and after getting a referral to a specialist twelve months ago we have yet been able to get the specialist to return a call and have also been waiting for twelve months for lab results. Meanwhile her condition is getting worse.
I went into the clinic the other day and told them I feel like we need to get a lawyer involved. Suddenly calls are being made. I can't predict what the results will be but we have health insurance and pay our bills on time.
The bottom line for me is that health care here in Hawaii sucks.
I have considered sending her to Cuba. I have a former client in Malibu who is a millionaire and travels to Cuba specifically because he prefers their health care system. Despite Cuba's terrible economy and decades of economic deprivation they have a system that works for them and works for visitors. I myself benefited from socialized medicine in Denmark years ago where I required surgery. The medicine was first class and the level of care I experienced was heartfelt and appreciated.
I do not try to make any case that communism is good and capitalism is bad. But in the case of health care we have a broken system here driven by greed and excess. Medical needs seem to be last on the list of priorities. It is a shame that things are this way. We are one of the wealthiest nations on earth and health insurance and care here is a joke.
While some want to cast this in political terms the fact remains for us that the system is failing us and I am faced with considering lawsuits to enforce a minimal level or care under the terms of our insurance. What a waste. What is most cost effective for me? Lawyers or a plane ticket to Cuba for my wife?
Politically I personally am able to make distinctions between a dictator like Fidel Castro and the Cuban people. It is a shame that millions have to suffer and because we don't like one man. In this year of 2009 it is time to realize that Cuba is not a threat to us and open the doors between our two peoples. The people of the U.S. and Cuba would benefit. The clock is ticking on the Castros and their days are numbered.
I don't think opening Cuba to travel and business will affect Hawaiian tourism in a measurable way and if it did it would not be sufficient justification to continue ineffective policies which cause harm to many and benefit few.
Punaweb moderator
I went into the clinic the other day and told them I feel like we need to get a lawyer involved. Suddenly calls are being made. I can't predict what the results will be but we have health insurance and pay our bills on time.
The bottom line for me is that health care here in Hawaii sucks.
I have considered sending her to Cuba. I have a former client in Malibu who is a millionaire and travels to Cuba specifically because he prefers their health care system. Despite Cuba's terrible economy and decades of economic deprivation they have a system that works for them and works for visitors. I myself benefited from socialized medicine in Denmark years ago where I required surgery. The medicine was first class and the level of care I experienced was heartfelt and appreciated.
I do not try to make any case that communism is good and capitalism is bad. But in the case of health care we have a broken system here driven by greed and excess. Medical needs seem to be last on the list of priorities. It is a shame that things are this way. We are one of the wealthiest nations on earth and health insurance and care here is a joke.
While some want to cast this in political terms the fact remains for us that the system is failing us and I am faced with considering lawsuits to enforce a minimal level or care under the terms of our insurance. What a waste. What is most cost effective for me? Lawyers or a plane ticket to Cuba for my wife?
Politically I personally am able to make distinctions between a dictator like Fidel Castro and the Cuban people. It is a shame that millions have to suffer and because we don't like one man. In this year of 2009 it is time to realize that Cuba is not a threat to us and open the doors between our two peoples. The people of the U.S. and Cuba would benefit. The clock is ticking on the Castros and their days are numbered.
I don't think opening Cuba to travel and business will affect Hawaiian tourism in a measurable way and if it did it would not be sufficient justification to continue ineffective policies which cause harm to many and benefit few.
Punaweb moderator
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
Punaweb moderator