What students think about health care reform
Sarah Rowland
Issue date: 12/2/09 Section: Campus News
Health care reform is an ongoing debate in Congress and among the people. Information about health care litters newspapers, radio and television. America is expecting health care reform and the Obama administration promises to deliver it.
But what do UTM students think about health care reform and do they care?
Kevin Goree, a freshman political science major and former Navy petty officer, and Kara Powell Matthews, a sophomore nursing major and future vice president of UTM's Student Nurses Association, were asked about their views on health care reform and how it pertains to the campus and students.
"There's not really a debate on if it needs to happen or not, just how to do it," Goree said.
"I think I like bits and pieces of it. I really would love for everyone to be able to have insurance and to have the opportunity to have insurance," said Matthews.
As a nursing major, Matthews expressed concern about nursing pay dropping because of future health care legislation. She also expressed concern that nursing staffs are short and with shortened nursing staffs and more people holding health insurance, hospitals may become overcrowded.
"I just think if that happened they won't get quality care. They might have care but they won't get quality care," said Matthews.
Goree responded to Matthews, saying legislation should provide more money for hospitals and increase medical staff. But Matthews still expressed concern that despite more money being put into medical programs, graduation rates may still remain the same since more people may begin in the programs but drop out.
"That's one big fear of mine is that if they're going to set money aside for schools and things like that, it's a good idea, but if they make the standard less so they can just graduate more. That's not a good idea at all," Goree said.
When asked if health care reform is an important topic Goree said, "Everybody should be concerned about it, really, because one day we're all going to get sick. Every one of us is going to get old and we're all going to die."
"I personally pay so much for health insurance a month and I don't even see where it's helping me. I have insurance now and pay more for medication than I did when I didn't have insurance," Matthews said.
Goree expressed concern about false information that is spread about health care reform and policies.
"That kind of stuff really creates a problem because if you don't know what you're talking about, then you get other people to listen to you and they don't know what they're talking about, it just kind of spreads. That's what I think has been the biggest problem with health care this far," he said.
Matthews said the information is in the news, on the internet and in the papers, but people need to take initiative to retrieve the information and be informed.
But what do UTM students think about health care reform and do they care?
Kevin Goree, a freshman political science major and former Navy petty officer, and Kara Powell Matthews, a sophomore nursing major and future vice president of UTM's Student Nurses Association, were asked about their views on health care reform and how it pertains to the campus and students.
"There's not really a debate on if it needs to happen or not, just how to do it," Goree said.
"I think I like bits and pieces of it. I really would love for everyone to be able to have insurance and to have the opportunity to have insurance," said Matthews.
As a nursing major, Matthews expressed concern about nursing pay dropping because of future health care legislation. She also expressed concern that nursing staffs are short and with shortened nursing staffs and more people holding health insurance, hospitals may become overcrowded.
"I just think if that happened they won't get quality care. They might have care but they won't get quality care," said Matthews.
Goree responded to Matthews, saying legislation should provide more money for hospitals and increase medical staff. But Matthews still expressed concern that despite more money being put into medical programs, graduation rates may still remain the same since more people may begin in the programs but drop out.
"That's one big fear of mine is that if they're going to set money aside for schools and things like that, it's a good idea, but if they make the standard less so they can just graduate more. That's not a good idea at all," Goree said.
When asked if health care reform is an important topic Goree said, "Everybody should be concerned about it, really, because one day we're all going to get sick. Every one of us is going to get old and we're all going to die."
"I personally pay so much for health insurance a month and I don't even see where it's helping me. I have insurance now and pay more for medication than I did when I didn't have insurance," Matthews said.
Goree expressed concern about false information that is spread about health care reform and policies.
"That kind of stuff really creates a problem because if you don't know what you're talking about, then you get other people to listen to you and they don't know what they're talking about, it just kind of spreads. That's what I think has been the biggest problem with health care this far," he said.
Matthews said the information is in the news, on the internet and in the papers, but people need to take initiative to retrieve the information and be informed.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 4
Jared
posted 12/05/09 @ 8:59 PM CST
With the government's first attempt at rationing care having been thwarted by the wise public, the main cause for concern is a bureaucracy that shouldn't exist. (Continued…)
Smoke Dog
posted 12/07/09 @ 7:00 PM CST
But Heidi, surely you can see that the government will soon be making decisions based on profit as well. It's either that or bankrupt the country.
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