I posted recently about contacting my state senator regarding legislation proposed in Missouri that would require insurance companies to cover very expensive therapies to treat children diagnosed with autism spectrum.
My question was simple: "Why do Republicans like yourself strongly support legislation like this but then oppose health care reform that simply requires companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions?"
Senator Schmitt's chief of staff, Sean Furey, had the courtesy to call me today to discuss the matter. He pointed out that his boss felt that this problem had reached such a proportion that it was a legitimate function of government to compel private insurers to extend this coverage. I happen to agree with this position and support the legislation.
But Mr. Furey really didn't go into detail on the question of broader health care reform. For one thing, as he pointed out, it's not a state issue right now. He seemed to understand the argument I presented, but never committed his boss to a position that would promote this particular type of government activism.
I'm glad that the senator reached out to me as a constituent and didn't dodge the question. But he also didn't address the unspoken truth here: the autism lobby is well financed and powerful, in part because when autism strikes the affluent, they want help just like anyone else.
The uninsured are not so powerful. They are diffuse, dispersed, victims of a bizarre Russian roulette that we play in this culture with people's lives. It's easy as a culture to let a fluctuating underclass like this to exist. It's easy to ignore, to sweep under the rug--especially if you are privileged and insulated.
When you're privileged and insulated but also suddenly afflicted, the story changes. I just want to see us as a political society admit that and decide that it's time we do something about it.
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