No Insurance, Poor Health

I am not "highly" educated. I got my GED in 1984, went back to get my HS Diploma in 1986 and have SOME college, but I have NEVER had a hard time finding employment, or even MAKING employment if there were no jobs.

 

Well, if you know anything about the Maritime provinces in Canada, there weren't a lot of jobs to be had in the '80s and those that were out there didn't pay very well. There still are a huge amount of jobs out there for those with a high education and those with no education and not a lot in between. We're known as the poorest provinces in Canada with a reason.

You've also never lived, I'd say, where the population is so low so there just AREN'T that many opportunities for jobs. A ton of people here leave every year to go to Toronto or out West where there's more people, more jobs and higher wages. That's just the way it is here. I've always managed but some times were very lean.

 

Even if you have insurance that is no guarantee that you will get treatment. Insurance companies are in business to make money, not spend it. They can and will deny you at any chance that they can get. I know, I worked at Cigna for years as a claims processor.

In America, insurance is a false sense of security! I do not believe that anyone should make money off of the sick. Our system is a very troubled one and the saddest that I have ever seen.

 

Our current system is troubled, and definitely in need of reform. However, this country was founded on the principles of earning money. That's what keeps an economy based on capitalism running. It's like a complex machine that runs on many different parts. If one part breaks then the machine fails to run properly if at all. It's not "making money off the sick" as you put it. It's keeping a business afloat.

The insurance companies are not the only ones to blame in this mess. While they're not without their problems, there are some doctors and medical care providers that over charge. There are also hundreds of thousands of people who file fraudulent claims. Not all of those who commit insurance fraud are caught either.

 

Hi, I am new to the forum and my main reason for being here. I have a son that drives truck for a living. His eating habits have become so unhealthy while being on the road..no good food choices, sedatary lifestyle (of course you do a lot of sitting while driving) and now drinking tons of unhealthy energy drinks while trying to get his loads delivered. This is causing me alot of concern for all truckers and I want to be of help to anyone looking for a way to improve there health while driving truck..I am a nurse and also a health advisor...and you really can find ways to get healthier and make better choices...in doing some studies on the truck driving industry I am amazed at the high rate of diabetes and high blood pressure that alot of truckers have

 

I was not aware of this fact until last month when I went to Newfoundland. The lady at the ticket desk said that her 3 sons and her husband had all left to go to Alberta for jobs. She had 1 daughter left and she was pregnant and lived local. She had 25 years in with the ferry and could not afford to change jobs. Kids and husband are out for 6 months at a time.

She said there were no jobs in the area and the industry had dried up.

 

Yup. Been like that here for 30 years or so. A bit of a break in the '80s and tons of bottom of the line and top of the line jobs but very little here for people in between, like me and Mike.

It sucks but the only choice is to move and we are doing all right so we're staying. Most young people leave. Now that they've closed the mines and the fishing industry is drying up as well as many other local industries and the competition from so many foreigners in "our" waters, it's just not good here for earning a living as a blue collar worker.

 

It is one of the things I like about my job. I get to meet many different people and see and sometimes discuss things. It sheds new light on the way I able to live compared to others.

 

I really enjoyed being OTR with Mike but there just isn't enough money in it to support everything right now. The big money making companies are out west - they pay upwards of 40 cents a mile even for newbies. I know a ton of people who have gone out there and are earning great money. If I wanted to move, it would be a consideration but I don't so, for now, we're not OTR. Maybe again some day - we'll see. Mike's still driving highway and, around here, that's considered OTR experience so he shouldn't encounter that "you've only been driving local" problem if he goes to move jobs some day. This company does OTR as well, too, so who knows what'll happen in a few years? For now, I need to be home for me and for my son...

 

I am sorry that I have to disagree with you on that one. The insurance companies sure are making money off of the sick. That is plain and simple and I am sorry if you can not see that.

I am all for capitalism. However, not at the cost of our citizens. There comes a time when the ol' mighty dollar is not what life is all about.