Politics | 10/30/2008 3:30 pm

Women Celebrities: Ask Candidates Tough Questions on Health Care, Chronic Disease (Video)

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Celebrity women have come together to launch a national TV advertising campaign urging voters to "vote like your health depends on it," and do your homework on health-care issues before going to the polls on November 4.

The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) debuted its new national television and online advertising campaign, urging women to get answers from the candidates about health care, specifically how each candidate plans to prevent chronic diseases. The 30-second TV spot, and 45-second online spot, features Hollywood celebrities such as Mary-Louise Parker, Lauren Bacall, Katey Sagal and Phylicia Rashad, along with everyday women.

Women voters could make or break this year’s vitally important presidential election. And they’re often the ones that make health-care choices in their households.

They need to ask important questions, get details about John McCain and Barack Obama’s health-care plans and demand action not only because chronic disease is one of the most threatening health concerns to women, but because, the group says, it jeopardizes the affordability of health care in the United States.

PFCD says treating patients with chronic diseases — including arthritis, cancer, asthma, cardiovascular disease, depression and diabetes — accounts for 75 percent of all health-care spending, money that would be much better spent on prevention. Currently, about 130 million people in this country suffer from chronic disease, and it accounts for seven out of every 10 deaths, costing the U.S. economy approximately $1 trillion a year in lost productivity.

"This ad speaks to the heart of women voters who are deeply concerned with the existing health-care system and expect the next president to make health reform a top priority," said Ken Thorpe, executive director of the PFCD. "As November 4th nears, voters are making a conscious decision to vote on matters that hit close to home, and nothing is more personal than one’s own health.”

Thorpe added: “We are calling on leaders from both sides of the aisle to start a discussion around a point of consensus: the need to fight chronic illnesses that are bankrupting individuals and our country, and making us sick and less productive.”

35 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Excellent message (although I had to watch twice just to absorb what was being said! Too distracted by experiencing MULTIPLE JOYGASM over the crazy amount of Diva present in this video!)… I can’t imagine how anyone who suffers from chronic disease (or has a loved one who has been enslaved by Big Pharma to take prescribes medications on a Life or Death basis, etc)…could, in all consciousness, NOT vote for Obama. I have asthma (a horrifying, rampant disease that the FDA, EPA, and other government agencies blatantly do NOT care to take seriously enough), which can easily be triggered by my anxiety (that is often times debilitating), which is triggered by the of all the allergens I am inexplicably overly sensitive to (and cannot escape WITH OR WITHOUT drugging myself with pharmaceuticals which contain side effects that are WORSE than the illness), which usually flares up my eczema just enough to make me look like a lobster every few months, rendering me susceptible to staph infections, ET.CETERA, ET.CETERA.! This vicious cycle of physical ailments is NO PICNIC, and I know I am NOT the only one. Due to the disgraceful costs of doctors visits, lab work, AND medications, it has been financially impossible for me to get to the root of all these problems. Why should I be forced to stay home from the doctor just because I don’t work the type of 8-5 bullsh!t desk job that gives people medical insurance? It is absurd that I am currently having to SLOWLY save up small portions of my paychecks because I’m trying to achieve the costly goal of getting testing done on my THYROID. Which, by the way, is only a theory I chose to pursue ON MY OWN because doctors are now preferring to waste our time masking symptoms with all those drugs they get PAID to hand out like candy…instead of putting forth any thought and effort in ruling out more serious underlying causes. Hey, Mr. Businessman In a White Coat AKA @$$hole, I am paying for this office visit OUT OF POCKET, WITHOUT CHARGING UP SOME NONEXISTENT LINE OF CREDIT — make these 15 minutes of your precious pill-pushing time WORTH MY HARD-EARNED MONEY! I expect my government to treat its TAX-PAYING, WORKING-CLASS citizens like they MATTER. And yet, somehow this makes me some kind of scary commie-socialist who would prefer to steal handouts. Whatever. To quote the bumper sticker on my car, “ENLIGHTEN UP!” This Ron-Paul-lovin’ registered Independent is making it official: Obama ‘08, baby!

By Kryssi K on 10/30/2008 4:30 pm

e-mail alert

Hey Krisy ! i know I sound like a tape recorder ..but I paid $7,500 a yr @ 17 yrs and I only used this BCBS one time ..and they made me feel like I did something wrong .I was made feel like I was stupid ..I guess I was I went to a MAN OBGYN …I kept telling him I was hurting very bad and how I could take lots of pain ..but this was more than pain ..They looked at me and treated me like I was nuts …then this SOB gave me VIOXX and I didnt know about any kind of meds ..I didnt even take asprin ..I took 16 tablets in less than 24 hours ..I thought I was getting something for pain ..Then I went back and he gave me Narcotics …then Liquid Narcotics ..It took my husband calling him @ home at 9:30 PM and telling him next time I wake him up the Doctor would get me in his front yard so he could hear me cry .Thats how bad the pain was ..Then He said come in and a little 20 yr old gave me a Ultra Sound and it broke off inside of me ! She went running down the hall and I could hear the doctor mad and saying get me a appointment for out patient surgery .I was asking for a DNC the first time and When they went INN they saw I had VULVA CANCER …I have OCD and I use Pure Vinegar to wash with in the shower …And anyway it turned my cancer white and He saw it …took it off …I felt much better …but when I went back for my after surgery check up …The RUDE SOB ask me was I going to LIVE !!!! If I had my time to go over I would of PUNCHED him for a COURT HEARING ..I have never went back to any OBGYN …since then …I am afraid and Now I have no insurance .I am 46 and very afraid ..I have called several times since to ask HOW MUCH $ and they ask about your past medical …and I cant afford any kind ..I am seriously thinking of moving to France for years …I keep reading about moving and what I have to do …Thats how afraid I am .And when I went to the Health Dept they told me to get state care I need a KID ! And I could get State Care ! If only they knew how that made me feel …I am 46 yrs old I cant have KIDS …and if I am sick what kind of person or mother could I ever be ? I have found otu I am not alone they tell all women this …and its sad …Even those GOV workers make you feel like its your fault ..Everyone puts the GUILT TRIP on us WOMEN …And now if I have to go and I dont have insurance …They treat me like I am totally invisable .I want to VIDEO what happens to women like me who have no insurance and what happens …ONCE They left me in a ROOM from 1:30 PM to closing time in the dark …It was daylight when I was sitting waiting in a room …then it got dark …The Doctor came in and said he was sorry …and in 5 seconds the VISIT was over …And I got nothing but a BILL $$$ ..and the run around …Micheal MOORE needs to follow some women around on tape and see what the world is like UNINSURED ! We are INVISABLE …and that OBGYN SOB ??? I saw several months back on MSNBC the company MERRIK paid those Doctors Vacations and Bonuses for giving out VIOXX ….Ya know in Canada they paid $6 a gallon for MILK and I said at the time in 1980 why so much ? They said Oh Our Health Care is included …ya know what I am paying $3 for a half a gallon and I get jack !

By Eliza Dodd on 10/31/2008 9:21 am

e-mail alert

Lily- Thank you my Canadian friend! I love it when you throw your hat in the ring!!!!!!!

By Josie Sullivan on 11/01/2008 1:44 am

e-mail alert

Thanks Lily, I appreciate you and Amelie and the other women who post on this site that are from Canada and some that have experience with Euro health care. I feel like we are always fed Kool Aid about how awful it would be to have health care for all. I am sad for our country and the children in our country as well as all of us who live without healthcare because we are independent contractors or work for companies that do not offer it. Our system profits the insurance companies but does nothing to help almost 50 million Americans. I love the commercial. Health care should be a right not a privilege. Our seniors should not have to choose between their meds and their rent or food, it is BS, Wake up America what we have now is rationed care and it sucks for many of us and our families. Look at unemployment going up, what will happen to all of them who had health care, what about everyone in Detroit who may lose their jobs. If you want to know what it feels like to be a second class citizen in this country lose a job where you had health insurance and then see how the medical industry treats you as you try to pay off your debt.

By g c on 11/02/2008 9:23 am

e-mail alert

Lily ……. I have just now gotten back to my routine of reading posts ………. this one really caught my attention! You are concise, acute and wonderful in your assessment! A great read!

By Linda Clark on 11/03/2008 7:17 pm

e-mail alert

Impressive. I like this video. However, before we do anything about health care or global warming which to me is even more important, we need to stabilize the economy because if we don’t we can’t do anything. This is a mess. And then there’s the war––more accurately, the wars.

By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 10/30/2008 4:31 pm

e-mail alert

EXACTLY! The only way to ensure that we can AFFORD to fix the health care system in this country is by STAYING OUT OF DEBT-ACCUMULATING, ECONOMY-OBLITERATING WAR. Why the hell would anyone, after these past 5.5 years of such a fruitless and illegal war, vote for the candidate who is threatening to burden us with AT LEAST two or three more wars before we’ve even finished THIS one?! Conscientious, much???

By Kryssi K on 10/30/2008 4:40 pm

e-mail alert

http://www.johnmccain.com/content/default.aspx?guid=30eb2d8b-0777-4ce3-9…

By OMGIAMGOING NUTS on 10/30/2008 5:50 pm

e-mail alert

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, I saw only ONE mention of the word “preventive” in his plan, and it was extremely vague. McCain is refusing to recognize the inherent flaws/corruption WITHIN the medical, FDA, and pharma systems by yammering on and on about “coverage” and “premiums”. Well insurance and insurance companies do not apply to my situation. And the whole concept OF insurance should, ideally, be considered obsolete. Until this country takes care of its corrupt doctors and FDA being bought by the drug companies who insist on controlling EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY, I should be allowed to do whatever I can to take control of my own health, such as obtain safer drugs and supplements from other countries who offer them at more affordable prices. McCain mentions NOTHING about that.

By Kryssi K on 10/30/2008 6:20 pm

e-mail alert

Kryssi, If you did not see Bill Clinton speaking on behalf of Barack Obama yesterday, in Florida, you’ve got to watch it. Clinton lays it out - four reasons why we should vote for Barack. I hope I have this link right from YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lZWKgdmt_k If I messed up the link, go to YouTube and key in: Barack Obama & President Bill Clinton Together on Stump in Florida 10/29/08. McCain’s health care plan is: Don’t Get Sick. Best,

By N P on 10/30/2008 7:04 pm

e-mail alert

Conservative, George Will Op-Ed in Washington Post today: “Call Him John the Careless” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/29/AR200810…

By DeBúrca obj on 10/30/2008 8:28 pm

e-mail alert

Burca, Nahhhhhhhhhhh I just call him HUSSEIN the ………………….

By OMGIAMGOING NUTS on 10/30/2008 9:01 pm

e-mail alert

We have endured 8 years of Bush *&%^ and you are asking us to listen, to you about more of Republican’s bull? Listen lady, it do not make sense for us to continue to let our children, friends, and neighbors die for a Lie, Wall Street fall, and people take their lives, for what? Have we not put our goverment to shame enough? It was not all George’s mistakes, We played a part in this as well, when most of us voted, him in the 1 time and the 2 time, as if one term was not enough.

By Juanita Ward on 10/30/2008 9:15 pm

e-mail alert

Juanita, Look lady..let me say this. I do NOT just LOVE either choice for potus. However…the lessor of the two evils for me is MCCAIN. Period.

By OMGIAMGOING NUTS on 10/31/2008 7:20 am

e-mail alert

Kryssi, A Specific Plan of Action: Ensuring Care for Higher Risk Patients John McCain’s Plan Cares For The Traditionally Uninsurable. John McCain understands that those without prior group coverage and those with pre-existing conditions have the most difficulty on the individual market, and we need to make sure they get the high-quality coverage they need. John McCain Will Work With States To Establish A Guaranteed Access Plan. As President, John McCain will work with governors to develop a best practice model that states can follow - a Guaranteed Access Plan or GAP - that would reflect the best experience of the states to ensure these patients have access to health coverage. One approach would establish a nonprofit corporation that would contract with insurers to cover patients who have been denied insurance and could join with other state plans to enlarge pools and lower overhead costs. There would be reasonable limits on premiums, and assistance would be available for Americans below a certain income level. John McCain Will Promote Proper Incentives. John McCain will work with Congress, the governors, and industry to make sure this approach is funded adequately and has the right incentives to reduce costs such as disease management, individual case management, and health and wellness programs.

By OMGIAMGOING NUTS on 10/30/2008 6:45 pm