To: Governor Ralph Northam
Discrimination in the Healthcare system
My name is Cassondra Head. I am writing today to make awareness and hopefully real change within our Healthcare system for medicaid recipients and those with insurance. The people who are experiencing problems within this system are ultimately black or lower classed citizens. I am writing to hold hospitals accountable and doctors accountable for mishandling patients by insurance discrimination. Often people who receive medicaid or are under a certain tax bracket do not get the help or treatment needed because we are stereotyped based on our insurance. The same way a woman on medicaid cannot seek help for infertility but yet another woman with better insurance can. Basically , as long as you can afford it, hospitals and doctors are more than willing to help. I have an identified problem in my body severe pain that I've went multiple times for. Every time they say there's nothing they can do. They send me home with a strong Tylenol and no explanation nor proper treatment. Patients rights states that anyone has the right to be TREATED. Meaning as long as your better than you were when you came in then we don't have to do anything further for that person. THAT IS WRONG. I am aware that it is a money thing. Medicaid doesn't put out much so doctors and institutions are only going to give you basic help. In a time where we cannot trust anything medical I feel it is time to stand up to the people who make money off the ailments of American citizens. The people who ignore underlying issues based on the type of medical coverage a person has. This is how the poor stay poor and the rich get richer. By feeding off the lower classes. I am asking for millions of Americans including myself, that we stop medical discrimination based on classism and race. I normally would give statistics but honestly this isn't something you have to look very hard for to see it. Its hapoening everyday. Everyday medical institutions make money off of our ailments and keeping us sick so we always are a returning patient. Stop capitalism in medical field.
Why is this important?
So many of us spend hundreds and thousands into good care for ourselves and our family. To be well is a human right. And those who have to depend on medicaid should have the same rights and the same good care that someone of high class or tax bracket should get. If this woman over here can get help with fertility then the next tax paying citizen should be able to have that option as well. If this man over here needs insulin and gets it based off good insurance. Then so should the man suffering with the same problem next to him. Call around and ask for yourself you tell me how many GOOD doctors or specialists accept medicaid. You will see exactly what I am trying to say. We the people keep the American machine running. We the people are america. We the people have the right and the obligation and responsibility to fight injustice.