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This is a series of what will be 100 paintings depicting a cross-section of Americans. The titles of the paintings designate the kind of health insurance coverage or lack of coverage the sitters have. The goal is to paint a picture of the American health care system in the faces of our country’s citizens from the very best health coverage to the most horrific of circumstances resulting from a person’s lack of coverage. Who are we when it comes to health care? Let’s not be afraid to look at real people and be touched by their experiences – from the best to the worst – as we navigate this very big issue. There is no agenda but to ask, “What’s your experience? What are your thoughts on the subject?”
Share your stories. Have an opinion? Let’s hear it.
Thank you, Sherry!
Dear Theresa,
Your portraits are getting better and better. Keep up the Good Work!!!
sincerely,
Sherry McVickar
I am lucky that I (and our son) get health benefits through my Partner’s plan. We are lucky that the Health Institution she works for recognizes Domestic Partners. We had to jump through relatively small hoops to get them. They do take up a pretty big chunk of the salary pie, but otherwise, we’d be paying almost 20K a year for them. I work for myself…and used to use Penns. Chamber of Commerce to get group health rates. It was the most basic insurance a single person could get…but it was all I could afford. It was a risk/benefit thing, and luckily, I was young and healthy enough that it got me by…I don’t know what I’d do now…..with a son to support if I was on my own again….move to Europe where healthcare is Nationalized????
I believe everyone should have health care. If you are a drug addict or poor you can get it through the state. If you are rich and have the money you can get it becaue you can afford it. Or others that get it through their jobs with great benefits. What about the middle man that doesn’t get it through their jobs? They aren’t poor enough to get it for free or they end up paying through the nose to have it. Also, I would like to see health care embracing alternative medicine. Why can’t people choose the route they want to go when it comes to there bodies? Healthcare only pays for main stream medicine and I think that’s a crime!
Interestingly, NY’s governor Paterson wants to address this issue of young uninsured adults who are not yet covered by health insurance in their jobs.
To all those who say “We can’t afford to pay for any more subsidized health care” realize that if we don’t pay for good health care on the front end (routine office visits and tests) you will pay on the back end in the ER. That’s where sick people go when they are desperate. Then the hospitals don’t get paid for the ER visit. And the government has to reimburse the hospital so they don’t close their doors. We pay the government in increased taxes. We are going to pay one way or another. Better to do it in an organized, planned fashion. Unless of course, we are willing to become a country that allows people to die alone behind their doors or on the street.