Michigan Today — Home And Health Care

Today, I went out for breakfast. While eating my eggs-over-easy and
sipping orange juice, I was reading the Detroit News
and ran across an article about all of the service problems Medicare
Clients are experiencing.

This conjured up a picture of me having to stand in line and
trying to talk to an administrator behind a glass window about
my health situation. Thinking about this is driving me bonkers or even worse
having to leave a message via the phone praying that some governmental agent
will call me back about my health problem is driving me crazy.

That’s exactly what happens when you are in the Medicare system trying
to get food stamps or assistance. Eventually, you do get to stand and talk to a
caseworker and if you are lucky you may get a home visit.

In Michigan, when one needs government help you apply by
submitting paperwork. Currently, the system especially in Detroit is
swamped with people needing financial assistance. The government
caseworkers went from about 300 client assignments to over 700
client assignments.

Consequently, this has overloaded the workers
and the computer program. Applications and phone calls are being
dropped from the computers due to overload. Also, since the government workers
are unable to process the paperwork in a timely fashion, old applications
are automatically dropped from the computer. So guess what? The
applicants, after waiting with no response, learn that Medicare has no record
of any communication and must resubmit their paperwork due
to no fault of theirs — it’s all just a computer glitch. The nightmare starts again.

The State of Michigan has been trying to fix the problem since last July,
2009 and now its April, 2010. So my question is how and the heck is the
government going to handle every American’s healthcare needs and issues
when they can’t even handle Medicare? You will probably die first even though
most caseworkers are very nice. Admittedly, they are terribly overworked like
everyone else these days. However, due to cost cutting measures and
rationing the Government is doing their very best to serve the public with
the scare resources that they have. Now, if you are willing to pay higher taxes
then maybe more caseworkers can be hired. Still, take a number. 

VS 

Now I would like to direct you to an experience I had today with a
small private business. I had a plumbing situation. My computer tech and I
were helping a widow across the street from where I live with leaky faucets.
Every time she turned on the water to wash her clothes, water would squirt
out due to broken seals. I doubt if these faucet handles had ever been fixed
in the last 100 years or more.

The handles were caked with mineral deposits. With a pipe wrench we
took off the faucet handles and took them to Godwin Hardware and Plumbing on Division in
Grand Rapids, MI. We went up to the counter in the plumbing supply department and this
gentleman took the hardware and proceeded to take off the screws and then used a wire
brush machine to scour the handles and hardware.

Soon two more employees came up after helping other customers and proceeded
to work on the other faucet handle. They talked back and forth and said that our faucet
hardware were brass and antiques. They then put the handles into a solution to rid of the
remaining mineral deposits. After soaking, the handles, the brass fittings were polished and
now shone as if they were brand new. All the fittings and washers were replaced. There
was great conversation between us. It took about 45 minutes in all.

Personally, I thought we were just going to have to buy brand new handles and
hardware for about $30 or more, but no sir, just a wonderful experience with a surprising
outcome. The charge — $5.00 for 45 minutes of work.

Now, why would these guys do all of this for what I thought to be “ugly faucet
handles.” All of the employees were probably over the age of 50 and may have served
in the armed services, because their work ethic was impeccable, and they showed genuine
interest in our problem. Perhaps, they have been in business for themselves at some
point in time of their lives or just proud of their occupation or appreciative of having
a job and working in this economy. I don’t know, but I do know they answered all
in-coming calls and promptly set appointments. I, also, know that they want new
and repeat customers.

The store, in general, is well supplied, and if they don’t have it nobody does.
I know Godwin Hardware has been in business for a long time –at least the last
25 years that I have lived in Grand Rapids. Their service is professional, great,
and reliable and that explains why they have been in business for so long. Do you
think they would be in business if their computers were messed up for months on
end, and they did not have enough staff to service their community in a timely
fashion?

I ask you, when you have a plumbing problem where will you go? Will you
choose a private business or a governmental agency? I choose private! I just
hope Godwin’s Hardware is not put out of business due to the new governmental
regulations involving small businesses having to purchase health insurance for all
of their employees.

Dave Brigle, Managing Member
Foreclosure Prevention Institute, LLC
271 Viking Dr
Battle Creek, MI 49017

956 Innes St NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
1.800.826.1929

http://ForeclosurePreventionInstitute.com

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