A professor questioned his class, “Do you have any idea about what’s going on with our country today concerning the Democrat and Republican Party, elections or healthcare?”

There were many blank stares around the room, and only a few bold students gradually raised their hands.

There is one member of the Iona College community, who wished to remain anonymous, who is affected by the lack of health care provided in this country.

This story highlights the debate over health care in the U.S. and how it should be provided. While it is confusing and at times tedious to learn about, it is critically important to understand the dynamics of the health care system.

The professor questioned the knowledge of his freshman class about what is going on around the world today. As young adults the older generation looks upon us to be the future leaders of the world, but they are very disappointed when they see how absorbed we are with our hand held devises.

The newest generation of students to walk through the campus and buildings of Iona College has grown up digitally and are attached to their phones. There is a flood of texting and technology that colleges and high schools, and perhaps even middle and elementary schools, may be fighting to keep students focused.

It is also important to keep students focused on what is happening nationally and internationally. 

The person whose story relates to the health care debate may have a friendly, inviting face in the cafeteria that greets you with kind eyes. But these eyes are becoming increasingly weaker and the person’s vision is failing.

This person has glaucoma,  a disease which causes nerve damage in the eyes. Medication is available but the worker cannot afford it. What about health care insurance?

According to President Barack Obama’s plan to lower health care, “Lack of affordable health care is compounded by serious flaws in our health care delivery system. About 100,000 Americans die from medical errors in hospitals every year. One-quarter of all medical spending goes to administrative and overhead costs, and reliance on antiquated paper-based record and information systems needlessly increases these costs.”

Healthcare costs are skyrocketing, making it harder and harder for people to afford it. Healthcare costs are considerably harder to afford for retired people and the older generation. Due to the economy, some people may have been forced to get minimum wage jobs again because they may not be able to afford to keep their homes.

The struggle for affordable, as well as adequate, health care is affecting millions of people around the United States. Some families may not even be insured because they do not have an opportunity to receive healthcare or a job that provides them with healthcare insurance.

The hard working middle to low class workers may have healthcare but a major problem rising is that insurance companies are very particular about which medications they will and will not provide for patients. Some patients desperately need particular medication whether it be for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or high cholesterol, just to name a few.

Insurance companies are supposed to provide benefits for people they are responsible forand supposed to protect. However, it seems insurance companies are more interested in increasing the prices of medications.

The demand for medication is high; however, the number of people able to afford it is declining.  This is affecting grandparents, retirees, veterans, minimum wage workers and even seemingly healthy people students encounter every day.

The professor shouted to his classroom, “It’s time to wake up people!” It’s time for us react to what is deeply affecting our country and how we can start to change things for the better.