Liberal Parenting

I've seen the comment that "You *choose* to have health insurance, so you shouldn't complain about it" in the context of the rising cost of premiums etc. I can't for the life of me understand this argument! Is there even a choice in this day and age? Either you have insurance, and pray it covers you and you can continue to afford it...or you do not have insurance, and you pray you don't get sick or hurt.

I don't see how paying out of pocket for medical care is a viable solution for 99.99% of the population.

Admittedly, if we ever went back to the way it was in the 'good old days' where you could barter with the doctor for payment, then that might work. Not to toot my own horn (toot toot) but I'm a heck of a baker. But, somehow I don't think my doctor will accept homemade desserts as payment for office visits.

Our doctor charges $80 for an office visit (we were without insurance at this time last year, and found out he discounts 20% if you pay in cash the day of service). The infant vaccines cost upwards of $400 for one visit worth (3 shots). These are just regular charges. My DS#3 had to get his hand X-rayed last year. The ER bill was $400. A few months later he slipped on the ice and broke his fall with his face, and needed 3 stitches on his lip. Cost: $450. Last year right after Thanksgiving DH had bronchitis...that cost us 3 office visits, 2 prescriptions, and an additional office visit for our DS#2 who also had bronchitis. And we are a HEALTHY family! I can't imagine having to pay out of pocket for all medical expenses, much less if there is an ongoing or acute health issue! We are still trying to pay off the ER bills (DH was out of work for 2 months earlier this year, ended up taking a job with a significant paycut since that was all that was/is available, and we are still trying to dig ourselves out)

Anyway, I'm not understanding the argument that since you choose to have insurance you cannot complain about it. Heck, I chose to have a large family...that doesn't mean I can't tell DH I need a break cause the kids are driving me nuts.

Um WOW! I hadn't heard this idiotic excuse for us to stick with a terrible health insurance system. Geeze it's broken but it was your "choice" so don't complain.

And exactly how was it MY choice. When I worked out of the home I had AWESOME health insurance (crappy job - but that's another story ;). Now we have health insurance under my husband's job and it is craptastic let me tell you! And we really don't have a choice. His job lets us choose from one health insurance company that has three different tiers of insurance plans. Even their BEST plan (which is completely out of our reach financially) doesn't come close to my previously AWESOME one.

And choosing no health insurance is unrealistic - and probably these same people would call me stupid if I did opt to have no health insurance for any reason.

THANK YOU FOR MY WONDERFUL SIGGY SOPHIE!!!

WHAT??? People have used that as an argument? That might be the dumbest thing I've heard yet in the health ins. debate - and believe me, I've heard some DUMB things!

You are right, insurance is a necessity. Period. Which is why I think it should be government provided - I think it is a basic human need. I think it is for everyone's benefit when EVERYONE has insurance - it helps all of us to have a healthier population.

And - health care costs are crazy expensive. When my MIL had cancer her bills were over a quarter of a million dollars. When my cousin had a preemie (after developing pre-eclampsia) her bills were well into the 6 figures. Both of these events - the cancer, the premature infant - were catastrophic events that were unforeseen. There is no way either family could've covered the debt.

My DH is a very healthy person too but developed pneumonia last year. Now we do have insurance but WITH our coverage his Rx's totalled over $100. Without insurance we could not have filled them. When he had a kidney stone those ER bills were thousands of dollars.

What gets me is when the other side argues that consumers need to better check out the cost of health care. Um, no one I know has EVER gone to the Dr / Urgent Care / ER because they just have a co-pay. No one. This doesn't happen. Sure, some people go to the ER for minor issues - but, if you are not a medical professional you don't always know that an event is minor. I've known people who went to the ER with chest pain thinking it was a heart attack only to find out it was a panic attack or indigestion - should they ignore shooting pains? No. I've also known a former co-worker who did not seek medical care for what he thought was a very bad cold - and he died from pneumonia.

Ugh. Sorry, Jessi, you got me started! Health insurance is such a hot topic with me lol!

Anyhow - that is an asinine POV - pay for health care out of pocket? If only it was that easy !!! Choosing something NEVER equals not being able to complain about it. Good grief! I chose to have a cat but I still complain when he sheds haha.