This is what it's like under status quo
Marsha Zabarsky, Jamaica Plain, Boston Globe, February 1, 2010

When I cast my vote for Barack Obama, I believed that universal health care would become a reality. Furthermore, I believed that the Democratic Party would settle for nothing less. Yet here we are again, playing that tiresome us versus them game - they being the folks who seem to think that illness and disability happen to other people, that the middle class remains middle class, no matter what. As a former member of the middle class, let me assure you that nothing changes your tax bracket as swiftly as a serious medical condition. Multiple sclerosis made it difficult, and eventually impossible, for me to retain full-time employment. Today, I am in the zero tax bracket. Yes, there is such a dishonor. And to add insult to injury, I recently had to spend three days fighting my Medicare Part D insurer over a prior authorization that my neurologist had already submitted. This was for a medication I need to keep my MS relatively stable. Three days later, after hours on hold with what is politely called “customer care,’’ and after incalculable fear and worry that without the drug, my health would deteriorate, some anonymous bean counter deemed my prior authorization acceptable. But here’s the punch line: As I was writing my tale of woe, my insurer called to inform me that it is still debating my case. This was nearly an hour after the prescription had been filled. Apparently, none of the geniuses who work there, deciding what will happen to other people’s lives, bother to update their files. The best part of this ordeal was the insurer’s consumer satisfaction survey. I was more than happy to give them my opinion. © Copyright 2010 The New York Times Company

On the wrong side of our future history
Jeff Waters, Roslindale, Boston Globe, February 1, 2010

The Senate race was not about Scott Brown or Martha Coakley, but about whether the people of Massachusetts really believe that health care is a right for all people or just a privilege of those who can afford it. Although Brown and his supporters won, people who voted for Coakley can take comfort in this: Twenty-five years from now, when everyone recognizes that health care is a fundamental right for all people, they can tell their grandchildren that they fought for health care during this Senate race. They will be able to stand proudly with other Americans who also fought for fundamental rights, such as the right to education, equal treatment under the law, and the right to vote. So congratulations to Scott Brown and his supporters for a well-fought race. Their legacy will be that they fought on the wrong side of the issue. © Copyright 2010 The New York Times Company