esrosedotblog

Rx

I am part of the grass roots movement to improve/reform healthcare.

I have written about our situation for publication. It is not dire. I have written letters to congresspeople. I have signed a few petitions.

But at bottom, I am not seriously engaged with solution of the problem.

First, we are not in a bad situation. We have Medicare and can afford a pretty good supplemental. The prescription drugs thing (which was really a Republican invention) actually works for us.

It is all automatic. We do not have to fill out forms.

We have a good primary physician. We are careful about "doctoring". I see no specialists at all. John sees some.

We are healthy.

So there is no personal incentive to get irate, demand change, get on the bandwagon, generally.

Except for that sneaky feeling that "something could go wrong".

On the other hand, I see a lot of people who wring every single nickel that they can out of the system. If I am unfortunate enough to actually have to see a specialist, there they are. The codgers. Doctoring.

They love it. They know the staff. They banter. It is their social life for chrisake!

I have taken friends for "procedures" because they can't drive home and the waiting room is filled with people looking forward to their day in the system.

I know this because they talk very loudly. A lot of them know each other.

This is not going to stop. People demand more care than they need in my opinion.

That is why I am rather ambivalent about health reform.

I know I could get caught in the maw in a blink of an eye. But we haven't yet. We have never, ever been refused by an insurance company.

We have paid through the nose. The prices do rise.

I know that the insurance companies play around with people's lives sometimes. I read the papers.

On the other hand, if they fucked around too much they would not be in the business. It is still competitive.

So, I have to say that I am not feeling urgent about this. If they need time, take time. If they need more support, work for it. Why August?

I must say that I feel anxiety about any changes. The prescription drug thing drove me nuts until it was settled.

I am in that large proportion of people who don't want any changes. I like it the way it is.

And yet, I know that it is not good for many people especially the ones who don't have any insurance and those who are getting squeezed.

One final thing. About the present system. I had a friend who had no insurance. Foolish of him. He didn't put it at the top of his list. He could have had it and he spent it on other things. People do this.

He got serious cancer.

He had a hard time getting funded for the treatments he needed but he got it. He had to learn how to work the system. Some foundation gave him money.

He became a technical pauper, in a way, because they insist on that if you use Medicaid but he always had treatment.

I know this isn't right. But I also know that he made his insurance choices and that was him not them and yet he did OK most of the time. He still had his apartment, his car. A dog. He had a good quality of life. I was there. I saw it.

I know it all costs too much. But we forget that a lot of it is because we demand the "best" care. All the time. No reform is going to take away people's feeling of entitlement. Or doctors willingness to treat even those who really do not need it. Or overtest. Even when the patient demands it which is a lot of the time.

Is this a rant?

I don't know. I can't stop. But I will.

Points made.

I do know, my personal experience notwithstanding, that the medical system in this country is falling apart.

I know that an incredible number of people and more every day in this economy, do not have insurance at all. Not voluntarily like my friend. Involuntarily.

Should I sit back because I am in good shape? Today? No.

I will not. I will still work for the results but lets have some perspective here and realize that many people, like me, who have it pretty good, are vulnerable to the GOoPer talking points.

Labels: health, medicine