Results: This survey is about former "America's Sweetheart" Mary Lou Retton and her recent medical ordeal. It is also about other US citizens with similar ordeals.
Published on 11/11/2023
Canadians who watch American TV programming are often appalled by scripts that show people robbing banks, embezzling funds, or going bankrupt simply because a family member got sick and they didn't have any or enough medical insurance. Even a relatively minor illness can cause financial ruin. The recent case of Olympic athlete Retton should shame America but probably won't.
QUESTIONS
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Comments
1.
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Mary Lou Retton is a retired US gymnast. At the 1984 Olympics in L A, she won a gold, two silver and two bronze medals. She scored a perfect 10 in her first vault, then delivered another 10 on her 2nd attempt. She won her 3rd straight American Cup title in 1985 but retired a year later to focus on her education. She subsequently led a good life with many successes including the birth of 4 daughters. Her 28 year marriage dissolved in 2018 leaving her without medical insurance. It is suggested that roughly 115,000 women lose health insurance annually following divorce. On October 10, 2023, Retton's daughter said that her mother was critically ill with pneumonia and, with no health insurance, had to turn to crowdfunding to raise money for medical expenses. She has now recovered enough to be sent home but should she have had to go through a financial crisis on top of her medical one?
The continuation of medical insurance coverage should be part of the divorce settlement.
24%
504 votes
When Mary Lou lost her coverage under her husband's benefits she should have purchased her own (if available)
31%
643 votes
There should be a basic level of medical coverage for all Americans and personal coverage should merely be a supplement to this.
32%
682 votes
In 1993, AP said Retton was tied for 1st place with fellow Olympian Dorothy Hamill as the most popular athlete in America. Nevertheless It is perfectly acceptable that someone who has represented her country in so many ways and has received honors from the President should resort to crowdfunding to cover medical bills.
8%
160 votes
All the above are acceptable if the alternative is the so called "socialist medicine" that is the norm in the likes of the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, Switzerland, France, Mexico, Russia and Spain.
9%
197 votes
According to the National Academy of Medicine and others, the United States is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not provide universal health care. I am OK with that.
6%
123 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
19 votes
Not Applicable
30%
630 votes
- Humanitarian issue
- A civil right issue
- unsure, leaves the taxpayers to pick up the bill.
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.34% | 8 | |
| Americans fund wars, not health care. | 0.04% | 1 |
| The United States should have single payer insurance | 0.04% | 1 |
| She is my dad's cousin, and that is not why she does not have insurance coverage. I am very sad for what she and the family are going through. She is a good person. | 0.04% | 1 |
| health assurance will replace this and solve the insurance issue | 0.04% | 1 |
| begging for money because you are ill is the fault of corporate elitist who sell our citizens a narrative so they alrgths unfair harmeong of Anerica6ns even or s\weetheats who gain s international fame | 0.04% | 1 |
| genuine need for health care for all | 0.04% | 1 |
| The richest country in the world needs to take better card of its citizens health. | 0.04% | 1 |
| Hospitals have charity applications and social workers to help | 0.04% | 1 |
| It's disgusting what pwoplw in the US go through for medical care, coverage and all the surprise bills. We should have universal health care! I get tired of looking for doctors in network, referrals, and all the extra costs. | 0.04% | 1 |
| From what I understand, she's a Republican was opposed to Affordable Care Act (ACA aka Obamacare) | 0.04% | 1 |
| Government already covers a significant number of the U.S. population with Medicare and Medicaid. If there were not so many problems with those programs I would have less difficulty with advocating for basic medical coverage for all. | 0.04% | 1 |
COMMENTS