To the Editor:
It’s always interesting reading the syndicated columns of Michele Malkin. Her column this week didn’t disappoint. Her outrage was directed at the “liberal” late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue on his newborn son. She said he failed to educate the public about coping with rare diseases, or to champion pediatric specialists. But that’s exactly what he did and she got it all wrong.
Prior to 2014, many conditions were specifically listed by insurance companies as pre-existing, including pregnancy. As she noted, any child would have been treated under a good medical insurance policy if the parents had one. If they didn’t, the baby would have received emergency treatment. What about its long term care though? What choices do uninsured parents face? Pay the large bill, or declare a medical bankruptcy? What are the future medical needs of a “pre-existing” condition baby? Jimmy’s point was that he had the resources and coverage to cope with this crisis. Too many Americans do not.
Per Ms. Malkin, “Sober observers know that national healthcare would undermine America’s superior access to cutting edge diagnoses, innovative treatment, top specialists, and surgeons, technology, and drugs’”
Well, we had that for 16 years in Germany while I was working for the U.S. Army. My wife’s EU citizenship and my son’s dual nationality allowed coverage under German universal healthcare. Of course, it wasn’t free or “make believe access” to high quality care. It was real, but less expensive and more efficient than here. My son was once referred to the dean of pediatrics at the University of Heidelberg, one of the oldest, finest medical schools in the world. I’d call that superior access.
She did feel Jimmy’s pain but didn’t need any lectures about having a heart. No lecture from me. I only suggest she find a heart and then she might sound saner, less mean spirited, and not so outraged all the time.
Thank you, Jimmy.
Tom McHugh
Village of Briar Meadow
