PFT: When lockout started, one former player’s health care ended

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 14, 2011, 1:09 PM EDT

Bruce Schwager was the Chicago Cardinals’ 27th round draft pick in 1955, and although he never played in a regular-season game, he qualified for medical assistance from the charitable arm of the NFL Players’ Association. But on the first business day after the lockout started, Schwager’s family learned that assistance would end.

Alan Schwarz of the New York Times has a story out today examining how the players’ union voluntarily paid Schwager’s medical bills, which eventually topped $250,000 (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/sports/football/nfl-lockout-could-cost-former-lineman-care-at-dementia-facility.html?hp=&pagewanted=all), and how Schwager’s son got a call when the lockout started and was informed that medical care would cease immediately.

Read the rest: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/14/when-lockout-started-one-former-players-health-care-ended/

[The30YardSlant]

Life can be pretty unfortunate sometimes

[GimmeTheBall!]

Unfortunately, there are millions of stories like this.
At least he might get old-age assistance medicare type assistance.

But, more amazingly, in this country, there are 10s of millions of children with no medical care -- zilch. And now newspapers to tout their misfortune.

[The30YardSlant]

Unfortunately, there are millions of stories like this.
At least he might get old-age assistance medicare type assistance.

In this country, there are 10s of millions of children with no medical care -- zilch.

While it is an issue, the 45+ million uninsured Americans number is a vastly inflated stat that became second nature to Americans who listened to politicians throw it around during the healthcare debate. That number is counting illegal immigrants and people on temporary visas and it's intellectually dishonest of politicians to include them to try and bring about sympathy for their cause.

The reality is that the number of legal citizens lacking health insurance is closer to 20 million, with children making up about half of that. The bigger issue is the teans of millions of people with very marginal healthcare, not those lacking it entirely.