Bitching

Despite the name of this blog, I really don't do a lot of bitching. I will, however, do so today.

I am self employed and pay way too much for health care. It's my #1 largest expense in my company. And it's not all that good. Sure I have co-pays, but at $25 a pop they can add up in a hurry. I also have a deductible of $2000 for me, $2000 for J, and $2000 for M. Also, just like car insurance, if you use it, the next year you're going to get a huge raise. This year ours went up over 20% and it's been doing that consistently for the past couple of years.

Oh, and did you know that as soon as you have a birthday that ends with a 0 or a 5 they'll "adjust" your rate? J turned 40 and I will too, soon. His adjusted up by $63 a month and mine went down a whopping $5.

While in Nashville, I visited a local yarn store (Threaded Bliss) and this subject came up while I was sitting, chatting, and knitting there. I am not alone in my frustration at the high cost of health care.

The worst thing about going to Nashville, though, was listening to my in-laws talk about how the US has the best health care system around and that universal health care would be the death of it. (I'm paraphrasing here: "Just look at Canada and England. If you really want good health care, you will still need to buy supplemental health insurance.")

Meanwhile, my FIL has a hip that has been bothering him for over 5 years. He can't sleep lying down and travels with a reclining chair for hotel rooms. He is waiting until he turns 65 and qualifies for Medicare to get the hip replacement.

So, the folks who don't support universal health care for everyone have endured 5 years of pain in order to have the government fix it.

I just don't get it.