Eating or health care?

Here in Asheville, we have an incredible wealth of traditional healers, yet because of health-care constraints most of us cannot even afford to have what should be seen as “well-being care.” Insurance will not cover anything outside the box. And that affects all of us.

We can't get health care nationally because it has been cited as too expensive — but dying is not. Cutting off a breast is always covered. But trying to find a way to stay out of the surgical unit is seen as not profitable?

What is wrong with this picture? What is wrong with our culture that being ill is coveted? Our fear-based nation is pervasive — fear of being well and fear of being not covered. Imagine the options that can truly be realized by being covered by integrative offerings that make us wholly well, vs. medical insurance that uses Western medicine that only treats the symptom?

We know all the arguments, but it really comes down to the powerful lobbying of the American Medical Association. If the lobby arbitrarily decides a plan cannot make a cent, it's deemed unnecessary or inaccessible.

Doesn't this make for an angry populace? If we cannot have the option to get the kind of health care that causes us — picture this — to thrive, do we truly have to sit back and watch death and disease? Is this what we want for the future?

Why are we allowing these powerful lobbyists to tell us what choices we have?

How can we resolve this here in Asheville, or for that matter nationally?

I, for one, want the option to see alternative practitioners, but at this point, since it would have to be out of pocket, I would then also decide not to eat or pay rent or electricity.

Not a choice. Not an option. Why aren't we in the street?

— Ariel Harris
Candler

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Webmaster
Mountain Xpress Webmaster Follow me @MXWebTeam

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

One thought on “Eating or health care?

  1. travelah

    Most “alternative” medicine is crackpot. It kills people. In almost all cases of cancer i.e. cutting off the breast, surgery, chemotherapy or radiation is going to be necessary to live. The time wasted with “holistic” cures is just more time for cancers to metastasize. Now if you have been diagnosed with a slow growth cancer such as prostate cancer, you very well might have some time to explore options but with something such as breast, skin or primary organ cancers, it is imperative you act quickly and not kill yourself with a quack.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.