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Teaching Suggestions:
Nickel
and Dimed contains several references to health care- or the
lack of health care- for many minimum wage workers. The topic of
health care in America creates passionate views. There are many
group that have a stake in the health care system doctors,
hospitals, insurance companies, employers, employees, unions,
health care associations, pharmaceutical companies. Many people
without health - or with poor health care benefits- care use
hospital emergency rooms as a primary care facility. This puts
an undue burden on hospitals who loose millions of dollars each
year serving the uninsured. In Nickel and Dimed there is
67 year old Pauline with a back problems who can no longer
vacuum. Given that she is working as a maid this creates bad
feelings between herself and Ted her supervisor who pays her
less because she cannot vacuum. The documentary Sicko
(2007) produced by Michael Moore is one view of the health
care system and its lack of responsiveness for people who
have health care.
There are
many examples in the book relating low paying jobs to one's
physical health and eating patterns/habits. During her stint as
a waitress in Florida the author learns that higher tips are
related to foods with higher fat content e.g., if you give a
customer a bigger piece of cake you will get a bigger tip. There
are other sections related to caloric intake and work
habits/energy. The author also highlights the physical and
mental strain workers experience in minimum wage jobs. What
follows are resources you can use that fall under the umbrella
of health sciences/health care.
For starters
view these three U tube video clips regarding health care
coverage. Keep in mind that these three people have health care
and work in the health care system. From a different perspective
take a look at the American Medical Associations newsletter on
how to insure the uninsured and the Nightlight web site that
highlights some of the problems in countries that have national
health care.
Film Clips of
Health Care Denials
Here are
folks with health insurance - two of which work in the health
care industry- and struggle with their insurance companies for
coverage.
Health care
worker denied health care when diagnosed with skin cancer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYedy10iUyQ&NR=1
Mother
(nurse) and daughter (former teacher) discuss heath care plan
not covering a particular procedure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh0mgiwXzGM
Nurse
with aggressive cancer and husband trying to get coverage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2peGqRrjXek&NR=1
American
Medical Association and Nightlight Articles
American
Medical Association newsletter on how to insure the uninsured.
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/453/2007may.pdf
An article
that highlights problems with the universal health care systems
in Canada and France. Other interesting health care links
follow.
http://nightlight.typepad.com/nightlight/healthcare/index.html
Presidential
Candidate John Edwards Speaks About Universal Health Care
Presidential
candidate John Edwards talks about universal health care. Health
care speech begins 3:30 into the video clip. Just move the
button and stop at the 3:30 mark and press play. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs_GJrovHSs
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