Kupuna shouldn’t have
to worry medical costs
When I grew up, I was close with my grandparents, and I still care about kupuna very much.
According to Hawaii Population Characteristics 2019, in Hilo, our kupuna population has grown by 37.6% since April 1, 2010. According to “Sixty and Me,” 25.0% of the Hawaii population is aged 60 or over, with 10.7% of seniors 65 years old and older living alone.
Recently, two aunties, people I know, both who live alone, fell down at their homes in the middle of night. They are in their 80s.
One of them lacerated her head and called for help from her neighbor in the morning and went to the emergency room the next day. She was concerned about her neighbors and did not want to bother them. She was also worried about the cost of the ambulance service.
The other aunty broke her leg in her fall and was able to call 911. She recovered well from surgery. However, she wanted to go home as soon as possible after finishing rehabilitation, because she was worried about the increasing medical costs such as the ambulance service, as well as the hospital and the rehabilitation.
It is very sad to hear that kupuna must think and worry about bills and how, or if, they can afford necessary services such as emergency treatment like ambulances and other needed medical treatment. They struggle with decisions concerning their health and well-being despite it being for their own good.
Many kupuna also have a hard time just getting transportation to and from their errands and medical appointments.
In Japan, a universal health insurance system is a system under which all citizens are covered by medical insurance and provided with basic medical services. The cost for ambulance services are covered in most areas, as the cost is entirely funded by taxation and is free to everyone.
Sudden health problems are unpredictable to us. Therefore, health care should be people-friendly, especially for kupuna.
I hope that people can get medical care when needed and not worry about the cost, as their lives are at stake. I think public funds should be available to make people feel secure in accessing medical care and know that they are important.
Misaki Tanaka
Keaau
Keep the steroid users
out of the Hall of Fame
President Trump will pardon Pete Rose, baseball’s all-time leader in hits who was banned from MLB for gambling on baseball, but has no authority to remove him from the permanently ineligible list, since he is not the commissioner of MLB.
After he was found to be gambling on games during the time he played and managed for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1980s, Rose was placed on baseball’s permanently ineligible list in 1989. Not only did he bet on his team, but he bet against his own team.
In comparison to MLB players who used steroids during their playing careers, including Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, those eligible players have fallen short of the 75% of the votes needed for induction. Steroid users shouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame if they failed drug tests or admitted to using these drugs.
As for Rose, I feel that Commissioner Rob Manfred shall allow Rose to be reinstated into baseball and make him eligible for the Hall of Fame. However, chances of making it to the Hall of Fame would be hard for Rose to get in.
Now, I have this to address to all of the baseball writers of America who want to vote for Rose and other players who were using steroids during their playing careers:
Gabriel Wibberley
Pahoa
