Jessica Bednark: fighter without health insurance is an American tragedy
Over the weekend after a training session, 24 yo MMA athlete, Jessica Bednark, ruptured an artery in her brain necessitating emergency surgery. Reports indicate that she is currently in a Minneapolis area ICU in a drug induced coma, which is standard procedure after this type of surgery.
My prayers go up for Jessica and her family.
Apparently, Jessica like millions of Americans has no or inadequate health insurance. Contrary to some of the comments that I have read, the mere fact that Jessica happened to be a female and/or MMA athlete has very little, if any bearing (in my mind) to the scope and magnitude of the primary issue. If she would have suffered from acute appendicitis while shopping at the grocery store, the critical issue would remain.
Millions of Americans do not have adequate health coverage.
Does MMA (like many other contact and non-contact sports) have inherent risks both physical and mental? Absolutely. Do the inherent potential physical and mental risks associated with sports participation pale in comparison to the ongoing national crisis of uninsured and under-insured US citizens? Without question.
All American citizens (not just MMA athletes) need adequate, affordable, basic health coverage.
The question is how do you pay for it.
If you would like to help one of our own with a donation.
A paypal account has been set up for this purpose:
helpforjessica@twincities.mn
My prayers go up for Jessica and her family.
Apparently, Jessica like millions of Americans has no or inadequate health insurance. Contrary to some of the comments that I have read, the mere fact that Jessica happened to be a female and/or MMA athlete has very little, if any bearing (in my mind) to the scope and magnitude of the primary issue. If she would have suffered from acute appendicitis while shopping at the grocery store, the critical issue would remain.
Millions of Americans do not have adequate health coverage.
Does MMA (like many other contact and non-contact sports) have inherent risks both physical and mental? Absolutely. Do the inherent potential physical and mental risks associated with sports participation pale in comparison to the ongoing national crisis of uninsured and under-insured US citizens? Without question.
All American citizens (not just MMA athletes) need adequate, affordable, basic health coverage.
The question is how do you pay for it.
If you would like to help one of our own with a donation.
A paypal account has been set up for this purpose:
helpforjessica@twincities.mn
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