The birth of a baby and health care needs

My nephew Bryce was born on Sunday night, five days early. He is the first grandson in the family, joining his cousin Maria Loraine (who is approaching her first birthday), in the family's "next" generation. Young Bryce has already experienced some health issues and has been in the NICU for the past day or so. As I think about this, I don't worry so much about Bryce's health or the care he is getting at the hospital, or even how concerned my brother and his wife must be right now. What keeps rolling around in my mind is how expensive all of this must be and how much better off Bryce and his parents would be right now if we had universal health care.

The media is always spreading stories about how horrid life in the U.S. would be if we had universal health insurance. They find the one story out of thousands about a bad experience someone had with health care in a country that has such a health care system, and treat it as if it is the norm. I never see articles written about Americans who have lived abroad in or emigrated from countries with universal health care describing their experiences with these systems. Why? Because the overwhelming experience of these Americans is positive and it's not popular to spread a message in support of a public plan.

Will someone please give all the wealthy people in this country who are moaning about a public option muzzles. Universal health care isn't for the wealthy. It's for the rest of us. The wealthy will still pay for private insurance and go to doctors and hospitals of their choices that provide for them on demand.

But universal health insurance makes it possible for the majority of people in a country to not have to worry about how they will provide health care for themselves and their families. It also separates health care from employment. Would someone please tell me what employment has to do with health care? Until we answer this question with some intelligence and thoughtfulness, we are never going to reform our health care system.

While my nephew sits in NICU healing I should be able to focus on his progress and the family's well-being. Unfortunately, we don't have universal health care, so I keep wondering and worrying...what is this going to cost and will the insurance cover it?