Poor Thing

Over the last few months we've had a complete shift in philosophy where I work. I'm not sure if my job is stable, and in this economy we all need to plan, think, execute when necessary and like the Boy Scouts -- Be Prepared.

Congress is playing around with health care benefits, health care insurance, basically health care in general and we don't know how that's going to play out. It is with those two situations I decided to stop procrastinating about some conditions I've developed through the years and get a complete detailing. Oh, it's going to cost me up to $3000 out of pocket but insurance is picking up 80%. That is a blessing and an outstanding benefit of my job.

I had bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed years ago, and over the last year have had both knees diagnosed with torn menisci. (Then there's the turbinate reduction that didn't work last year so I've got to have that again.) Most of the rehab for these things is to keep moving, otherwise I'm prone to blowing off therapy... "non-compliant" is the term. I'm doing a lot of running around and relaxing while I'm off from work but I'm getting these things done!

Well, yesterday I got a call from the dentist's office that said it's a new year, I can start out with a cleaning! Okey dokey, I got lots of free time so here I go.

I get there and the receptionist is a girl I've become acquainted with since finding their office when I moved to the neighborhood 8 years ago. We've helped each other with projects outside of the office and have a decent relationship apart from the dental chair.

"How're you doing?" she asked me in that heavily Iranian-influenced accent.

"Good, recuperating from a little surgery"

"Oh? What did you have done?"

"Carpal tunnel."

"I have that, too! Does your hand still get numb?"

"Nope" and I held up my hand to show the endoscopic incision of 3/8". She was surprised it was that little and went on to say, "I can't get mine fixed; I can't afford insurance, and there's the deductible."

I told her I thought she definitely could afford insurance. But, if she got insurance, she couldn't drive the BMW that I parked beside. She probably wouldn't have been wearing the new outfit she had on, or she probably wouldn't be living in a condo in Calabasas.

And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a pretty good example of what we're dealing with regarding health care insurance. Personally, I don't want to pay her insurance -- but I do like her outfit.