My brother recently passed away 6 months after being diagnosed with multiple myloma (blood marrow cancer). He didnt have health insurance because he was self employed and the costs were too much. He took a gamble, yes partly because he had no health issues and because he was single and only 44 years old.

Once he started having symptoms he did not go to a doctor because he didnt want to pay the costs for a visit. His Dr was the family's Doctor and would charge $100 a visit if you had no insurance. My parents would go and get charged $30.00 a visit (Medicare actually paid). Why is it that the Dr can accept $30 from Medicare and not accept the same from someone who is un-insured?

My brother ended up in the hospital for about 3 weeks where he was immobile and had to go to re-hab (nursing home) to recover. At the nursing home the director of the Home did not want to accept him because he was Medicaid-pending. I questioned the costs because the hospital was threating to discharge him and there was no place for him to go. The director told me that they had to have a cetain % of Medicaid beds at each facility. Medicaid would pay $200 a day for the care. If you had insurance - Blue Cross/Blue Shield they would pay $350/day. IF you have Blue Cross/Blue Shield through General Motors - $380 a day and if you had Medicare $400/day. (This is in MI - no wonder General Motors is bankrupt) Why is it that General Motors and the USA (Medicare) have to pay more per bed per night than any other insurance? I know there are contracts written/negotiated but this is the problem - not having a standard and why Medicare is spending so much. Why is it that BC/BS pays less for a bed/care than Medicare? or GM? I asked if his Medicaid did not go through could our family chip in and pay the $200/day (Medicaid rate)and was told "no" it would be billed at the $400 (going) rate.

Un-insured and under-insured really put a drain on the hospitals and health care systems BUT THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE. We need to make sure every tax paying citizen is covered, somehow. My brother paid taxes, paid into Social Security (double as a employee and a employer). All tax paying citizens should have a means to get low-cost insurance and decent treatment.

His life ended sooner that it should have been due to the lack of a universal healthcare system for tax paying citizens. He never got to have a family that he wanted and missed out on so many things in life. I truly believe that he would be here today (and still contributing to the fund) if there were some insurance reform and universal healthcare.

I miss you little brother.