URGENT
Question:
Hi this is Jeanne Valencia from the Illinois Chapter. We’ve just been notified by the National office that the Kassebaum-Kennedy health care reform bill is in danger of not being passed by the House. The Senate has already approved the two major points of the bill which will affect every family with Tourette’s syndrome. 1) Americans would no longer be denied health insurance because they have a pre-existing condition, such as TS. 2) Americans would be able to keep their health insurance when they change jobs (portability). If you agree with these 2 major points, this is what we need you to do BEFORE 8/1/96: Call your local senator(s) In Illinois (sorry I don’t have listings for other states!) 1) Call Senator Carol Moseley-Braun: in Washington….. 202/224-2854 or in Chicago……….. 312/353-5420 2) Senator Paul Simon: in Washington…..202/224-2152 or in Chicago…………312/353-4952 Sample message: I am calling to find out how Senator _______ is working to pass the Kassebaum-Kennedy Health Reform Bill. I can’t understand why it hasn’t passed yet, given the fact that the Senate passed the bill 100 to 0! I support the bill’s basic protections for people with pre-existing conditions and coverage for those who can change jobs. I would like to know if the Senator is working to break the current gridlock and partisan bickering about secondary issues. Please tell me where Senator __________ stands on this bill today. I’d appreciate a written response. Here are my name and address………
Response:
>To tell you the truth, Im not so sure I see what the big deal is about >the KK bill. We already have portability…it’s called COBRA, and, >like the KK bill, you have to pay for your own health insurance if you >lose your job.
COBRA is temporary…lasts 18 months (somewhat longer for some, I think), after which you have to fight like Hell to find insurance anywhere else. In some cases, one doesn’t. I’m one of those cases who is fortunate enuf to live in a state where "high risk" insurance is required availability. So, here I am, healthy as a horse, paying $5,000/year for minimal coverage insurance. If the KK bill will grant portability that LASTS…I’m for it. I’m gonna’ have to go to the internet data base to find this out, unless anyone already knows this. I thought it did, but your post makes me want to verify it. Agreed, that the bill may be a small consolation for the failed health care initiative. But, if it will guarantee coverage, ad infinitum, then it’s worth something. Getting the cost of insurance down is a whole ‘nother bill. Shoot, that’s a whole ‘nother CONGRESS. But, ya’ gotta’ start somewhere. KAT in CT
Response:
jvale…@sprynet.com wrote:
2) Americans would be able to keep their health insurance when they > change jobs (portability). >If you agree with these 2 major points, this is what we need you to do > BEFORE 8/1/96:
To tell you the truth, Im not so sure I see what the big deal is about the KK bill. We already have portability…it’s called COBRA, and, like the KK bill, you have to pay for your own health insurance if you lose your job. Quite frankly, I think this bill is a masquerade for the conservative congress’s murder of true health care reform several years ago. I think they’re trying to throw us a sop so they can say they "did something" about health care. Denial due to pre existing conditions is a step in the right direction, but if you lose your job can you afford $500-1000/month to cover yourself and your family?
Response:
BWHM…@prodigy.com (Kathryn Taubert) wrote: >If the KK bill will grant portability that LASTS…I’m for it. I’m gonna’ >have to go to the internet data base to find this out, unless anyone >already knows this. I thought it did, but your post makes me want to >verify it.
The good news is that the KKK bill requires that, when you run out of coverage due to a job change, the insurance company will continue to offer you a policy option. However, it says nothing about what the insurance company may choose to CHARGE for that coverage. But at least it is a start – IF it passes. Vicki
Response:
On Jun 12, 1996 12:53:08 in article <URGENT>, ‘BWHM…@prodigy.com (Kathryn Taubert)’ wrote: >Developing a more matter of fact acceptance and attitude can help >everyone. That doesn’t mean that we ignore a child’s suffering (or our >own) — >we support the child and support the family, but we don’t make it more >than >it >has to be. Just some thoughts to keep in mind for the future from a >mother >who’s been through the mill with her son’s symptoms.
KAT, please relay to Leslie Packer that her urgent message for a grandparent whose grandson was hospitalized for severe tics is appropriate for all of us and I find her attitude particularly helpful; it helps when I memorize the words (e.g., "it’s just another tic; it will come and it will go," "it will pass," "don’t make it more than it has to be") and repeat it to myself, my husband, and anyone who interacts with Andy for whom his tics are disturbing. Judy Simon
Response:
———————————————————— Prodigy Mail: Personal Message 06/12/1996 ———————————————————— From: Leslie E. Packer, () Subject: (Fwd) Re: URGENT 11 y/o grandson…. Sent On: 06/11 01:23 PM PM ET Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 17:02:26 GMT From: Leslie E. Packer, PhD [lpac...@nyc.pipeline.com] Subject: (Fwd) Re: URGENT 11 y/o grandson…. >—– Forwarded message (lpac…@nyc.pipeline.com(Leslie E. Packer,
PhD)) —–< Hi, Jack– If your grandson is under the care of an MD associated with a TS chapter, you can feel confident that you’re dealing with someone who’s probably very aware and knowledgeable about current medication approaches. In reading your post, a couple of thoughts occurred to me, that I thought I would share with you: 1. I’m not sure that I really understand why your grandson is in the hospital. He’s not sick. And since his tic isn’t self-injurious like head-banging or violent against others, these types of things are usually handled on an out-patient basis. Perhaps the MD decided to admit him to give the family a rest from the loud vocalizations, but I think everyone needs to keep remembering that _your_grandson_is_not_sick_. I cannot stress that too highly, because it has several implications. 2. You do not say how knowledgeable your grandson is about TS. I hope that he has been educated by his physician and parents. If not, he needs to be. Right now, your grandson probably needs support for the following: a. Being in a hospital is stressful in and of itself. That increased stress may be working against some of the anti-tic medications. Is he in a private room or around other children where he’ll feel even more stressed out screaming out obscenities? b. Does _he_ understand that this is a tic, or does he harbor doubts that he’s just being bad and can’t control himself? c. Does he fear that it will get worse? The more anxiety and concern he picks up on from his parents and family, the more reason he has to feel that there’s something to worry about. Being in a hospital may only reinforce that anxiety. d. _Everyone_ involved, including him, needs to remember that a tic is just a tic. They come. They create havoc. They go. This, too, shall pass — even though it’s presently very uncomfortable. And your grandson needs to be reminded of that… that this WILL pass. Has your grandson been involved with any other kids who have TS and who have had troublesome tics? Sometimes talking to another kid who has been through that or something similar can be very helpful. If your grandson doesn’t have another kid to talk to about it, but would like to, please e-mail your grandson’s phone number at the hospital (and his first name), and tell him that my son, Justin will call him there. You can tell him that Justin, who is now 14, developed the cursing finger tic at age 10 and it made him crazy for a while, too. His good friend Jason also suffered from a loud barking tic that went on for over a month and left him with no voice… he was even barking in his sleep, barking in school, barking everywhere. But everyone understood and no one asked him to stop it, and sooner or later, it disappeared. Just like your grandson’s tic will. As stressful as this must be for your grandson, for your son and daughter-in-law, and for yourselves, try to step back and see down the road a bit. TS comes and goes…. if every time he develops a new tic and it’s severe, his family goes into a bit of a tailspin or he’s treated like he’s sick, he isn’t going to really learn to accept what he has and go on with his life. Developing a more matter of fact acceptance and attitude can help everyone. That doesn’t mean that we ignore a child’s suffering (or our own) — we support the child and support the family, but we don’t make it more than it has to be. Just some thoughts to keep in mind for the future from a mother who’s been through the mill with her son’s symptoms. Perhaps the neurologist could refer your son and daughter-in-law to a psychologist who can help them deal with some of these issues. It can be very difficult to accept, and there’s no stigma in needing some professional guidance. Although I’m a licensed psychologist myself, I consulted with (as the mother of the patient) another psychologist to help me get another perspective on what I was doing with my son and how better to help him. Best of luck…. Leslie ——– Leslie E. Packer, PhD — Leslie E. Packer, PhD ——– Original message header follows ——– From lpac…@pipeline.com Mon Jun 10 13:23:03 1996 [PIM 3.2-030.47] Received: from mailout1.h1.usa.pipeline.com (data1.h1.usa.pipeline.com [38.8.56.2]) by pimaia3w.prodigy.com (8.6.10/8.6.9) with ESMTP id NAA24540 for <BWHM…@prodigy.com>; Tue, 11 Jun 1996 13:03:00 -0400 Received: from pipe4.t2.usa.pipeline.com by mailout1.h1.usa.pipeline.com (8.6.9/2.1-PSINet/Pipeline) id RAA05169; Tue, 11 Jun 1996 17:02:29 GMT Received: by pipe4.t2.usa.pipeline.com (8.6.12/SMI-5.4-PSI) id RAA18585; Tue, 11 Jun 1996 17:02:26 GMT Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 17:02:26 GMT Message-Id: <199606111702.RAA18…@pipe4.t2.usa.pipeline.com> To: BWHM…@prodigy.com (MRS KATHRYN A TAUBERT) Subject: (Fwd) Re: URGENT 11 y/o grandson…. From: lpac…@nyc.pipeline.com (Leslie E. Packer, PhD) X-PipeUser: lpacker X-PipeHub: nyc.pipeline.com X-PipeGCOS: (Leslie E. Packer, PhD) X-Mailer: Pipeline v3.5.0 ————– End of message —————
