American Health Care Versus the American Economy

I was in Oakland ,California ,near Kaiser-Permanente Hospital. And I saw a sight there that is kind of a horror to behold.


The New Kaiser Blgd.

Kaiser-Permanente HMO in Oakland is obviously doing real well.. Though I cannot, and alot of other people cannot afford to get care there. I used to be on a "Kaiser" Plan when I was young, under my Father insurance plan. The last time I checked to enroll in Kaiser, I think I was looking at paying 150.00 a month (in 1999), now I think it is $200.00 300.00 a month to enroll in a Kaiser plan. I probably couldn't get in because I been an Asthmatic all my life and now I am diagnosed with Type "2", Diabetes. Overall Kaiser I think is a pretty good health provider to have if you can afford them, however some people have some complaints.

Old Kaiser Hospital in Oakland is a big area, this is part of a seven-story bldg, with more in the back.

Part of the "New Kaiser Hospital just across the street in Oakland. They just finished building this.

Yet Kaiser seems to be doing real well in Oakland, they just finished building a ( Kaiser) new building, yet the Shopping mall across the street from Kaiser is slated for demolition.

Another view of the M/B Mall, includeing the multi-story office buildings, all slated for demolition I presume.

This Mall is also very large also, but small compared to other malls. There were lots of businesses here here, restaurants, with rooftop parking and multi-story business offices, decades ago. Just across the street from the "Old" Kaiser.




A Sordid tale as I just to Shop in that Mall years ago. It was fulled with lots of restaurants when business was bad, finally they just had a few clothes shops. Now it is slated for demolition...I think Kaiser Hospital is buying the space.

Part of that Mall, Kaiser brought some office space there.

How is it that Kaiser-Permanante HMO, is doing so well, which such high rates, and yet Average Business owners and shops are closing down. In this case , shouldn't be the other way around, Individual businesses thriving, but health care centers closing down, because they can't afford to stay open? Its part of the Economic puzzle that the Obama Administration as to figure out, they can't blame it on the "War on Terrorism."

Just a Block down the street, I think Kaiser owns or rents office space there too,

Below here are some facts and Pictures about health Care In America.

• In 2006, the U.S. census reported that 46 million Americans (recently revised downward to 45 million) have no health insurance.

• “Over a third (36%) of families living below the poverty line are uninsured. Hispanic Americans (34%) are more than twice as likely to be uninsured as white Americans,(13%) while 21% of black Americans have no health insurance.”

More of the Old Oakland Kaiser Hospital.

• More than 9 million children lack health insurance in America.

• Eighteen thousand people die each year because they are uninsured.

• According to the UN Human Development Report, “The uninsured are less likely to have regular outpatient care, so they are more likely to be hospitalized for avoidable health problems. Once in hospital, they receive fewer services and are more likely to die in the hospital than are insured patients. They also receive less preventive care. Over 40% of the uninsured do not have a regular place to go when they are sick and over a third of the uninsured say that they or someone in their family went without needed care, including recommended treatments or prescription drugs in the last year, because of cost.”

• Half of all bankruptcies are caused by medical bills. Three-quarters of those filings are from people with health insurance.

An Aerial View of the M/B Mall.