This old conservative isn't above giving credit where it's due.

The general manager at my airport operation is a great guy, age 62.  He's single and has had a very slight heart murmur since he was in his 20s.  It's nothing - he still passes an annual commercial pilot physical exam, although he goes thru some exotic testing that people normally don't have to endure.

All of our other employees have health insurance thru spouses' coverage, so the GM has been refused coverage since we haven't had  a "group" for him to join.

At lunch yesterday he informed me that the health insurance agent  with whom we had been trying to get him covered called last week and told him that with the new Federal health insurance law, he can now get basic coverage.  I told him then, and again this morning, to call the guy and get covered, pronto.  Of course, the company will pay the premium, as we always do.

So, here's to those who campaigned to change the insurance system, something I was always favoring.  The gov't isn't paying for this - our company is, and gladly so.

Why shouldn't they? After all, they mandated the change to digital TV, pretty much forcing you to buy a new TV. Even better, lots of places make you PAY to get rid of the old one, because we can't have all the lead in the old TV sets polluting our landfills.

It doesn't take Government, either. Look at the history of computer operating system "upgrades." Look at the new hardware you need to stay online. Look at the new software you need - which often makes it impossible to use the old data you so painstakingly backed up.

Angie, I agree with you. I usually do not comment on politics, not because it is controversial but because I know that stating my opinion is unlikely to change the mind of anyone else. I will withhold comment about political and religious discussion being outside the (ignored) guidelines of this forum. But I will say that, were I to desire to get into a political or religious discussion, I would find a forum dedicated to the topic.

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then! LoL

Jerry Eichenberger wrote on 07/07/10 at 07:45:44:

It was a nice, and gracious original statement...
I'm happy for your friend...
Hoping to see more good from this legislation...

The system as it is, is broken,... even for those with insurance...
I just spent 4 1/2 hrs yesterday with my mother,... making three trips to one doctor, and one to another, with two pharmacies and an HMO office visit in between,... and now I have to get her back the the same doc and back to one of the pharmacies today...
... in the hope that this pharmacy can get permission from the HMO to give the necessary drug that she needs...
Won't know 'till some time next week... until then, she is in agony and can't sleep for the pain...
We are referred to some other doctor now,... and must go back to the second one after meeting this one... and her primary doctor is joining into a boutique medical practice that will now require a $1500.00 per year retainer for service on top of usual fees and not covered by insurance...

I think I might kick his ass for him... ...

I'm not sure I'd want healthcare from this current system, if it was offered to me for free...  It only works for people that are relatively healthy to start with...
It needs fixed...

Serowbot -

My suggestion - take control of this situation.  An example:

6 years ago I had 2 stents put in my left anterior descending coronary artery.  My family doc diagnosed the problem without even a stress test - I had all of the classical symptoms.  He sent me to the hospital after arranging the angiogram first.  I reported to the hospital at 1 PM, was off of the table and fixed by 5 PM, stayed overnight as the usual precaution, and was home the next morning.

About 2 years later the cardiologist went nuts at one follow up appointment when my blood pressure read 160/95.  Had I been more forceful in telling him that I've had "white coat hypertension" since my 30s, perhaps I'd have saved some grief.

The cardiologist changed the beta blocker I was on to some new, very powerful drug, to cure a problem with blood pressure that didn't really exist.

One of the side effects of any beta blocker is that it can make you feel tired at times.  Well, on this new one, I was literally falling asleep at my desk.  I went back to my family doc and he saw that the cardiologist had not only given me a powerful drug, but also the maximum dosage of it.  The family doc put me right back on my old drug - no problems since, and I take my own BP most evenings - it's around 110/75.  Perfect.

My point in all of this is don't just be a sheep led around from one medical office to another.  Find a good primary care doc you like, and who has common sense.  They can do a lot, short of surgery.  I haven't returned to the cardiologist now for 4 years, and don't plan to.  Dr. Joe takes care of me just fine.  The cardiologist's office calls each year, saying how I need to get in for a check-up.  I ask why, and tell them I'm in charge, not they, and that I'm doing fine.

Medicine isn't they only profession where people get led around like sheep - if you were closer, we'd have a pop or three some evening and I'd tell you about law clients who have had similar experiences elsewhere.
Good luck.

15 years ago,.. I was in an assisted medical plan for working poor...
You could walk in, without an appointment, see a doctor within an hour,... get blood tests and x-rays if needed in the same building at the same time, the doc would read the results, and if you needed medication, stitches, a cast, or minor surgery, it was taken car of, and the pharmacy was in the the building too...
$25.00 for a visit... at $250 a visit, it would still be a bargain...
.. but the point is,... it was fast, efficient, and economical, quality care...  
The way the system is setup now,... it is designed to cost a lot and create waste and redundancy...
An efficient system could cost a fraction, and be much better than the snake and ladder system we have now...  
This system is designed to make profit, not render care...

Whew!,... Thanks for the rant...  ...


PS,... Jerry, thank you for your advice and concern,... I'm in the process of changing her primary,... she has quite a few medical problems and has 3 other regular doctors...  
It just shouldn't be like this... I don't handle BS bureaucracy very well...

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 07/07/10 at 11:27:07:


That was my main point.  Not that there aren't problems with this country, but that instead of just complaining that you should work to make it better.