There is a Health Coverage Tax Credit program that will pay 80% of health insurance premiums for workers that are receiving Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) benefits or receiving pension payments from Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) and over the age of 55.

The IRS is holding an education session to assist eligible individuals through the process.

Crowne Plaza
401 W. Summit Hill Drive
Knoxville, TN
9 AM to 3 PM

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is a benefit for individuals who have lost their jobs because of trade with foreign countries. Employers and unions file a petition with the Department of Labor (DOL) to have their employees TAA certified.

Area companies that are Trade Adjustment Assistance certified include:
Alcoa, Inc., Alcoa, TN
Newell Rubbermaid, Maryville, TN
Ceramaspeed, Inc., Maryville, TN
Key Safety Restraint Systems, Knoxville, TN
Panasonic Electronic Devices Corp. of America, Knoxville, TN
DeRoyal Industries, Inc., Powell, TN
La-Z-Boy, Dayton, TN
Bos Automotive, Morristown, TN
Berkline/BenchCraft, LLC, Morristown, TN
The Mazer Corporation, Johnson City, TN

Use the US Dept. of Labor web-site to search for TAA certified companies.

According to the Maryville Daily Times,

A Health Care Reform discussion forum will be held at the Blount County Library on January 26th at 6:30PM.

The event is sponsored by the Center for Strong Communities at Maryville College, the Blount County Ecumenical Action Council and the nonpartisan Tennessee Health Care Campaign.

The groups "advocate for health care reform as a moral imperative regardless of the current national political debate."

Previous events by the groups were held in September, 2009, and January 3, 2010.

Very scary!

From the Maryville Daily Times:

"For some inexplicable reason, on Sept. 23, no vital signs were recorded after 7 p.m." the suit alleged. "...
...
"Additionally the staff admitted that they had insufficient staff to observe and care for (Boone)," the suit said. "They explained their shortness of staff and called the family to help them, which the family did."

But at some point before Boone's family arrived at the hospital, he died, and his wife was the one who found him unresponsive in his room and alerted the staff, the suit claims.

It is hard to fathom what this family is experiencing.

Note to family and caregivers of hospitalized patients:
If it is at all possible, have someone with the patient every possible moment. Many patients get scared, cranky, antagonistic, hard to deal with. Being in the hospital can be quite unsettling. Most patients don't know what is going on around them. Many of them are so drugged up they can't communicate effectively. The majority of hospital employees probably do a good job and provide good care. Though, they do not know your family member, friend, loved one and sometimes things fall through the cracks. Again, if at all possible, try to have someone there with the patient to communicate with hospital staff, to comfort the patient, and to (as best you can) ensure the patient gets the best care possible.

Forty-one percent of working-age adults, or 72 million people, reported a problem paying their medical bills or had accrued medical debt, up from 34 percent, or 58 million, in 2005.

Do you know that health insurance provided by an employer in the State of Tennesse on the average costs nearly $4,000 a year for an individual?

Do you know that over half of small businesses in TN do not offer health insurance?

Do you know that the less you earn the less likely you will be offered health insurance through your employer?

Do you know that over half of construction industry businesses do not offer health insurance?

Do you know that many people can't/won't change jobs because they need the employer provide health insurance?

Have you ever had private health insurance?

Have you or anyone in your family been on TennCare, CoverTN, Medicaid or other form of government provided heath insurance?

Have you ever been without health insurance?

On average, health care costs will go up by an estimated 5.7 percent next year for both workers and their employers, the study found. That repeats this year's 5.7 percent hike and a 6.1 percent jump in 2007.
...
Between 2003 and 2007, the average deductible for an individual grew from $250 to $400. For a family, it rose from $1,000 to $1,500, according to Mercer.

If you are not invincible, you will at some time in your life need decent health care. This does not just apply to senior citizens. Do you know how much it costs to ride in an ambulance? Do you know how much it costs to correctly fix a broken arm or broken leg?

The Democratic Party wants everyone to have accessible and reasonably priced health care. The Democratic Party wants to include those who earn the least as beneficiaries of health insurance. Why would you support any other platform?

(Sources: TN Dept of Commerce and Insurance and Health Insurance 2008

Interview with Ron Brewer, Director of Tennessee Operations for Remote Area Medical, at KnoxViews...

Remote Area Medical is holding a free clinic expedition at Heritage Middle High School on July 12th and 13th. Free medical, dental, and vision services will be provided. Turnout is heavy for these events, which start around 6AM. Some people arrive the night before and camp out.

For more information about Remote Area Medical, visit their website.

See also: KnoxViews discussion re. RAM, a 60 Minutes feature about a January RAM expedition in Knoxville, and the "Third World emergency." This is a national disgrace, but Remote Area Medical is doing what they can.

The Business of Being Born is a documentary film that takes an unflinching look at birth in America today and asks the question: Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potentially catastrophic medical emergency?

There will be a benefit screening of the film on Thursday, February 21 at 6:30 pm in the Sharon Lawson Room at the Blount County Library. A minimum $5 donation is requested, with net proceeds to benefit Lisa Ross Birth and Women's Center. Contact Marva at 379-1955 or marvasolt@yahoo.com, or go to TheBusinessofBeingBorn.com for more info.

The Mrs. was at the drug store picking up a prescription for me yesterday (thanks!) and there was a woman in front of her with six prescriptions to fill. The clerk was going over the cost of each prescription with her, so she could decide which ones she would have filled. She couldn't afford to pay for having them all filled.

It is immoral and just plain wrong that anyone in America has to make decisions like this. Yet millions do every day.

I just wanted to note that anecdote, but it also reminded me of the BlountRX program.

For more information call 865-524-3074. Remember to leave 56 days between donations.

For more information call 865-524-3074. Remember to leave 56 days between donations.

A roundup at TennViews...

It is the holidays and Medic says they are short of blood. They usually become short this time of year.
I gave yesterday (Dec 17) when I stumbled into the bloodmobile here in Maryville.

Here is the link to the Bloodmobile schedule:
http://medicblood.com/img/schedule.pdf
It appears they update it every few weeks.

Forrest (Holiday Giving, the gift of life) Erickson