We are never so vulnerable in life than when we are ill or infirm. When sickness and all his friends visit you or a loved one, it can be a severe test of a person’s internal fortitude. We have arguably the most advanced medical system; however, it is a far cry from being the best. The Bitterest Pill!

Millions of Americans are uninsured, while others have paper-thin policies that give even less coverage. For those with insurance, skyrocketing premiums and bureaucratic ineptitude are equal sources of frustration for many. We are all one illness or catastrophic accident away from healthcare insecurity and potentially even financial ruin.

African Americans and other minorities do not fare well under the current system. High infant mortality and a large number of black women die from cancer are problems that continue to bedevil our communities.

Two recent personal experiences have opened my eyes to the vagaries of the medical establishment. First, one morning I woke up in exquisite agony, I could barely crawl let alone walk. It was the kind of pain that only the Marquis de Sade could love.

My pile of bones made it to my HMO, where I was treated by another cookie-cutter doctor, not of my choosing. He nonchalantly ignored my pain then sent me home with a low dosage of Motrin. Presumed, I was not deemed worthy enough for opioids - days later, I returned in even worse shape, whereby an x-ray revealed a severe strain of a hip flexor muscle. It took me eight weeks to recover.

My next example was a matter of life and death. A close relative diagnosed with a brain tumor. The news was devastating, worse still a feckless HMO, suggested hospice care and sent their patient home to die. As my relatives' health declined harrowing days and nights, I spent in filthy and crowded emergency rooms populated by the homeless and drug abusers. Fortunately, my family provided not only a strong support system and advocacy but also sought more medical opinions, which may very well have saved a life.

It galls me that 'bean' counters and HMO doctors so easily wrote off a life

We deserve better. Good healthcare should not be a province of only the wealthy it should be a fundamental right. The for-profit pyramid of drug and insurance companies are at the heart of what is rotten with our healthcare system.

In a pivotal election year before people vote, only hope that they remember certain salient facts - only one party wants to gut Obama Care, which includes protection for those with preexisting conditions.

Healthcare is a right that should not be the purview of the rich and powerful. My recent personal experiences have made me realize that we are all within a scintilla of a medical emergency, and we can only hope there is an adequate safety net to catch us if we fall.