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Medical Costs
There has been much discussion this year about health care and the associated costs.
Before I get started let me say that I have nothing but the highest praise and respect for the health professionals that cared for me during my hospital stay.
Above is a copy of the bill I received from the hospital last week.
I’d like to talk about it a little bit.
First, notice there is no detail. I have called the billing office and requested details which they say they will mail to me.
Next, $2436 for 3 days. That’s $812 per day. Now I suppose when you factor in 24 hour care from the staff that’s not too outrageous but it is a lot of money.
The prosthetic device is a curved socket attached to my hip and a pin with a ball on the top inserted into my femur. It is made of stainless steel and is no doubt a finely machined object but $28,000?!?!?
The one that really made me laugh is $1701.43 for prescription drugs (how’d they come up with the 43 cents?).
These same drugs taken at home for 3 days cost me less than $1.00. It might be closer to $2.00 if insurance didn’t pick up a little of the costs. I forgot, I was on an intravenous saline drip and had antibiotics the first day.
I bet the hospital gets the drugs at wholesale prices as well. What do you think?
Some of the other stuff on there I just don’t know what it is.
Pulmonary Services? I had a little plastic device that I used myself to make sure fluids weren’t in my lungs.
Non-prescription drugs for $34.95? I don’t know, maybe they gave me some aspirin.
I’m not mad at the hospital and not accusing anyone of dishonesty or trying to rip me off but how in the world did these costs get to be so high?
It’s no wonder the US has the highest health care costs of in industrialized nation but with little or no difference in death or recovery rates.
Now imagine what will happen to all of this when the government who famously pays hundreds of dollars for hammers and toilet seats gets more deeply involved than they already are.
I’m not smart enough to say exactly how this can be fixed.
The system we have now is out of control in dozens of different ways.
We are so fearful of a government bureaucrat telling us how to manage our health but have no problem with some insurance company clerk doing the same thing.
The insurance company picked up most of the cost above but not all.
I have been informed that I may require further surgery but I don’t think I can afford it.
What in the world do the working poor do?
There’s not much point to all of this except to just give my friends something to think about.
Posted in Insurance, Personal | Tags: Common Sense, Health "reform", Insurance ripoffs
Being in the hospital
Before my recent hip surgery I had not been a patient in a hospital since 1969.
A lot has changed since then.
The staff was great. They were not dictatorial and genuinely cared about my comfort and well-being.
The nurses were running errands that aides would normally do. Amazing.
I was at Trinity Mother Francis in Tyler, Texas. If you are in East Texas and need to be in the hospital I highly recommend this facility.
Everything was first class, even the food was great.
Thank you all for your prayers and support.
Posted in Personal
New parts for Robbie
In the morning, extremely early (Why do these things take place so early? It’s like an execution.) I will be having a total hip replacement.
I hope for 2 outcomes:
1. To be able to walk without pain.
2. To be more like Steve Earle. Think about it.
BTW: NO ONE CALLS ME ROBBIE EXCEPT FOR MY MOTHER AND MY AUNT BARBARA. PERIOD.
Oh, and because insurance is not transportable and I will be changing carriers in the middle of my treatment I will be forced to meet 2 deductibles.
Anyone who thinks healthcare is not controlled and rationed by little people behind desks who are not doctors or nurses has not had any dealings with the health prevention, sorry I mean health care industry.
Posted in Cool, General Thoughts, Insurance
What Really Needs Reformation
Let’s get real here.
In the current debate about medical reform blah, blah, blah etc., etc. we rarely talk about the real culprits.
The bloated, fat and unwilling to bend insurance industry.
Insurance, especially state mandated insurance (currently cars, boats, house) is really a shakedown racket that is a conspiracy between the crooks in congress and the crooks in the insurance scheme.
We are on the cusp of adding health insurance to lining the pockets of the robber barons who run insurance companies.
It never made the front page but you can see it here.
Obama and his cohorts, the Republicans, are scheming to fine people without health insurance on a sliding scale. Of course the Democrats don’t even make a pretense of supporting or helping the middle class.
The Republican hypocrisy is astounding.
So, once again, the rich don’t care. They can afford anything.
The poor don’t care they are exempt.
The middle class wage earners get screwed again.
Hooray for the unholy alliance of capitalism and socialism that we live under today.
Under current proposals, supported by both the president and his lackeys in congress and the Republicans who never met a middle class taxpayer they didn’t want to fleece you could have to pay up to $3800 a year in fines for being uninsured because presumable the government (taxpayers) would be forced to pick up the tab.
Sounds like a bargain to me.
Excluding dental, vision and something on my pay stub call Supp-NonFlx which I can only assume is a a penalty I pay for not supporting the extremely inefficient cafeteria plan I still pay $833.50 monthly for me and my wife (no other dependents on the plan).
In addition we have various co pays and a $2000 per person yearly deductible.
So, we will easily be out of pocket $14,000 + every year for coverage.
I could use a break from the government.
OK as far as the objections.
1. Bureaucrats making medical decisions.
Anonymous clerks at the insurance company decide what I can and cannot have now.
2. Not getting to pick your own health care providers.
What planet do you live on? Unless you are wealthy the insurance company tells you now who you can and cannot use and what mediceines are acdptable, how long you may recieve care. Shall I go on?
3. Inefficiency
Have you dealt with any hospital or insurance company lately?
4. Tort “reform”
Total myth made up by the insurance giants and the politicians who are all in their back pocket. Lawyers work on contingency fees. That means they don’t get paid unless you win the suit. Period. Lawyers will not tak a clearly unwinnable suit. Go ahead and make the law that peanlizes suits that are filed and not won. It won’t change much of anything.
Show me examples of so called “frivolous” suits and I will bet you that most of them are legitimate claims that have been demonized by the insurance pigs. Why else would the hyper-wealthy and lawyer heavy greed monsters pay?
Insurance companies have buildings full of lawyers and claim specialists whose only purpose in life is to make sure that you don’t get your claim or that it is a s small as possible.
Now.
Am I ready to turn my health and well-being over to Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi?
Hell no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But, I agree with the president that the system we have is bad and must change. I just don’t want his version of the change or anyone elxe currently in office inclunding the ggon sho spoke for the Republicans after Obama’s dance with idiocy in the joint session.
I widh the guy that called out “Liar” would run for presidnet after denoncing the Republicans and the Democrats.
It must change quickly as millions of baby-boomers move into late middle age.
I don’t care at all what the wealthy Glenn Becks, Al Franken’s, Sean Hannity’s, Hillary Clinton’s or any of the welfare pimps like Jesse Jackson, Charles Rangel and others have to say. Their only stake in the matter is their own wealth.
I have no respect for any of them. They are showmen and liars for ther own benefit.
They are well taken car of and only say what they do to garner ratings or hand on to there financial base.
What is your experience?
What matters to you?
Posted in America Haters, Business, Culture, Economy, Idiotic, Insurance, Politics, Rants | Tags: Business, Common Sense, congress, Conservatives, Democrats, Health "reform", Idiotic, Insurance ripoffs, Liberals, My Money, Obama, Republicans, Socialism, taxes, The President, Tort reform
Words of Wisdom from Warren Zevon
I really like Warren Zevon.
He passed away in in 2003 and left a great body of work behind him.
Caution!: He could be vulgar and direct but he was always honest and had something to say.
Most people only know him from the song “Werewovles In London” which while good is not his best.
In light of some of the recent discussion here I would like to post the lyrics to his great song “Don’t Let Us Get Sick” from the CD “Life’ll Kill Ya” from 2000.
Don’t let us get sick
Don’t let us get old
Don’t let us get stupid, all right?
Just make us be brave
And make us play nice
And let us be together tonight
The sky was on fire
When I walked to the mill
To take up the slack in the line
I thought of my friends
And the troubles they’ve had
To keep me from thinking of mine
Don’t let us get sick
Don’t let us get old
Don’t let us get stupid, all right?
Just make us be brave
And make us play nice
And let us be together tonight
The moon has a face
And it smiles on the lake
And causes the ripples in Time
I’m lucky to be here
With someone I like
Who maketh my spirit to shine
Don’t let us get sick
Don’t let us get old
Don’t let us get stupid, all right?
Just make us be brave
And make us play nice
And let us be together tonight
Despicable? No, charming.
Let’s All Calm Down
Why is everyone so excited and upset?
Everyone should realize that the talking heads on TV and radio are entertainers.
They should never be confused with serious journalists (although it could certainly be argued that there are few if any serious journalists in the vein of Edward R. Murrow around today).
These highly paid commentators from whichever lean they come from say the most outrageous things possible because that is what makes them entertaining.
Hyperbole is a common tool (a hammer) that is used to emphasize some point that is probably taken out of context to begin with. I too am guilty of this.
President Obama, of whom I am certainly no fan, is not the devil.
Ronald Reagan, of whom I am a fan, was not the Messiah.
Because they can’t get far enough to the right the extremists on the right are vilifying George W. Incredible!
The left is doing plenty to vilify the ex-president without any help, thank you.
Let’s say that something has been said or done by someone in congress. It doesn’t matter which side. These people will take whatever it is, find the worst possible spin to fit their agenda and audience and then present it as what might be or is.
Listen carefully to how things are said.
It is almost always innuendo and what might happen. Rarely stated as fact.
Most of the time it never turns out to be as extreme as the commentators let on.
Jon Stewart at least makes no pretense of being serious. His show and commentary is comedy on Comedy Central.
All of these folks could be on Comedy Central.
They are not to be taken seriously by serious people.
We should all be informed and understand the issues of the day but we cannot have as our only sources of information what these very biased and paid to be so commentators say as absolute truth.
If you are reading all of the right wing political books slip in one by the left occasionally for a little balance.
If you are reading everything by the left (which includes most major newspapers) then try a little Limbaugh or Beck.
Read something that is not political at all. You might like it.
There have always been pedantic demagogues in American politics and media. If you read newspaper articles from earlier times you will see outrageous nonsense that passed for commentary and as is the norm had nothing ever to do with what actually occurred.
Fanaticism and extremism are the cause of most of the world’s problems not the solution.
Chill out.
It’s all going to be OK because we the American people will make it so.
Have some faith in your neighbors.
We all want what is is good and right (well most of us anyway) and we will make it so.
God Bless America! All of it and all of us.
Posted in Culture, General Thoughts, Politics, Rants | Tags: Commentary, Common Sense, Democrats, Entertainment, Republicans
Arrogance
I was at one time in my life about as left wing as you could be.
I hated our government but not the country (not sure that has changed).
More than anything else though looking back on those years I am embarrassed by my own arrogance.
That is why I know these people and how they think.
Representative Jackson ignoring a woman’s question to take a cell phone call in the middle of one of the infamous town hall meetings.
Barbara Boxer admonishing a general about the way he addressed her highness.
Nancy Pelosi calling average citizens mobs.
I could go on and on.
Who do these people think they are?
What gives them the right?
I’ll tell you.
They think they are smarter than the rest of us and know what is best for all of us.
They think this because they are rarely if ever challenged in this misguided belief.
I’m not talking about the radio pundits or Fox news but the everyday media. Just listen to any press conference with President Obama and the softball questions.
So, when average citizens openly question the policies of our lords and ladies we are labled as nuts or fringe or fanatics. The sad thing is this is not a cynical belief it is truly held by these “enlightened” souls.
I am picking on Democrats here but the Republicans aren’t much better.
We must find a way to take our country back from the professional politicians who answer only to themselves, the money behind them and the lobbyists.
We must be vocal.
Write your local newspaper.
Write to your congressman or woman.
Let them know that we are sick of this and will not take it anymore.
Let them know that until they declare martial law (and I’m not kidding about that) we have a voice.
God save America.
Posted in America Haters, Culture, Politics, Rants | Tags: Common Sense, Obama, Fascism, totalitarianism, Socialism, The President, Democrats
Are We So Shallow?
I accidentally ran across an article on the internets that described some kind of spat between Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogen.
There were at least 500 comments generally taking one side or the other.
Really?
Have we become so vacuous as a people that we care that much about what two actors are saying about one another?
I love movies and music and art and books but I don’t care about the petty feuds of the participants.
I guess this kind of shallow mindlessness is why “reality” TV is such a big deal now. Who watches this crap? It’s clearly scripted and so phony that it makes professional wrestling look like Shakespeare.
But I digress.
I’m really not a culture snob (ask anyone who knows me) but this obsession with celebrities and their lives is beyond foolish.
I’d be willing to bet that the average person could not tell you who their representatives to congress are but can tell you who Kim Kardashhian or Kobe Bryant are.
Hey! Wake up! Read a book and not one about Cher or Gwen Stefani.
Posted in Culture, Idiotic, Movies | Tags: Common Sense, Entertainment, Idiotic
I have recently been
having a conversation with a charming gentleman on a post from February.
See it here: Get Ready We’re Being Set Up.
I invite anyone who would like to comment to please do so but be warned. I will strictly moderate comments. there will be no name calling, no personal attacks on this gentleman who has been kind enough to read my blog and comment. Tthere will no profanity.
Public figures are fair game unless you’re afraid that the boogieman in Washington is monitoring your internet use.
Please see the post with it’s link and here is our conversation:
By: despicable on February 21, 2009
at 5:45 am
Everything everywhere from the beginning of time to the present day has a beginning and an ending, nothing lasts forever. Change is the only constant on our planet and in the universe. This being a proven fact of all that exists, I am persuaded to ask this question. …Why attempt to prevent necessary change from taking place? …Is it because of unscientific dogmatic bias? It is unscientific bias to hold onto that which no longer has relevance and has been rendered by the passage of time no longer useful, and consequently out of step with existing circumstances, situations and conditions. That which is no longer a positive influence inside the surroundings of our existence should be replaced by that which is a positive influence, … and it will always come to pass when the only change possible to take the place of that what exists, … is the diametric opposite of what already exists.
The diametric opposite of an economy that is market oriented and not planned is an economy that is planned, … and designed to profit not individual capitalists of our planet, …but rather.. profit equally, all of the people of our planet, without discrimination or prejudice.
What makes this economic change possible and necessary is the change in our means of producing goods and services. The technological revolution on our planet has made it possible to satisfy all of the needs of everyone everywhere on our planet. No one no longer needs to not have what is needed to live well and survive well because of our scientific and technological advances.
Those that are concerned about our tanking individual unplanned capitalist economy, should give some thought to the opposite view of an economy that is social and planned so as to profit the mass of people in the world without discrimination or prejudice.
By: Rob on February 21, 2009
at 8:51 am
The simple fact is collectivism has never worked anywhere at anytime and will not work here.
One of many reasons is that someone or a class of someones will make themselves the “leaders” and live above everyone else taking far more than their share.
It always has lead to dictatorship in the past and is leading there again at this time.
By: despicable on August 31, 2009
at 8:24 pm
Everything on the planet and in the universe evolves. It is a cause and effect process that is an objective manifestation that is independent of subjective notions of what should and shouldn’t be.
Political and social change is not the result of secret conspiracies by large national and international organizations.
All change is something that occurs because at a particular point in time, due to objective circumstances, situations and conditions, it becomes imperative and necesary that a particular change takes place, a change that is the only possible thing that can happen, because all other options had been exausted.
The “Global Economy” and the “New World Order,” evolved, … and is something that was predictable and was not the result of a world wide secret conspiracy of international bankers and liberal politicians. It evolved because the capitalist system could evolve in no other way.
“Capitalism” has outgrown Nationalism” and the only possible direction that the system of capitalism can move toward so that it could continue to grow, … is toward the system of “Globalism!”
http://blogdespicable.blogspot.com/
By: Rob on September 1, 2009
at 1:58 pm
Thank you for comments.
By: despicable on September 1, 2009
at 3:15 pm
The political and provincial “RIGHT WING” are fearful of moving forward, away from their tribal beginnings and their established customs. What is on the other side of the mountain is met with suspician and fear that translates into angry hate! “People that are not of the same clan, religion, nation” etc. according to the immoral Right Wing “should be killed.”
It is either us or them according to the bigoted torture approving genocidal fascist loving ignorant separatists that are the political right in every nation on the planet.
Those that say that the Political Left is precisely the same as the Political Right are politically ignorant of politics and are most likely are ignorant of most everything that exists on the planet.
Most Fundamentalists of all orthodox religions appear to have tendencies that would prefer to retrogress backward into the time that existed in our ignorant past. They have always opposed scientific and techonological progress.
The “Progressive Political LEFT Wing” are the forward looking political wing that is the opposite of the reactionary fearful and hateful political rightwing!
And what about the Political “Centrists?” …These fence sitting non commital opportunists will compromise the guts out of every proposal so as to keep everything at a standstill so that we do not move backward into the ways of the past, or forward into the ways that will be our future.
When the “Political Center,” becomes no longer relevant to the existing changing circumstances, situations, and conditions, the followers of the centrist position will move into the ranks of those that want to move backward into our no longer relevant past, and into the ranks of those that want to move forward into our not yet known future.
Without a Political Center to compromise the differences of the Right Wing and the Left Wing these extreme wings of the political spectrum will clash!
The clash between the “Future: and the “Past.” will eventually be compromised by a new “Relevant Center.” A CENTER that will come into being and replace the “Old Center,” that is dumped into the trash can of the no longer relevant and exisiing past.
http://despicable.wordpress.com/
By: Rob on September 1, 2009
at 5:14 pm
Sir,
Thank you again for your comments.
I feel, however, the need to address some of them.
It is in fact the “LEFT WING” that is extremely political and I don’t know if provincial applies to tight or left dogmatic and pedantic and arrogant absolutely apply to the “LEFT”.
The comments about tribalism, religion, nation, clan and bigotry leading to the conclusion that those who are different should be killed first is simply not true and if it is it is the left that has been more genocidal than any other group.
For example: Stalin, Pol Pot, Hitler. Mao.
I may be ignorant but I am striving not to be thus allowing your comments on this blog and listening respectfully to what you have to say. I will not attack you personally.
I would agree with you that fundamentalists of all stripes including the fundamentalists such as Christoper Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and President Obama are very dangerous in their orthodoxy and rigid belief systems. I do not exempt the right from these same tendencies.
The “Progressive Political LEFT Wing” are anything but. They have been throwing out the same old tired ideas for as long as I know of and the fact is they never work in real life however good intentioned they are. this does not imply that some government programs do not work well but one only has to look at the mess in New Orleans to see how a city and state that has been run by the progressive left for decades was completely incapable of taking care of its citizens and the citizens were incapable of taking care of themselves. To try and foist this off on the Federal response is idiotic and ignorant. The fact is it is the state’s responsibility and the loopy mayor and governor waited until the disaster was completely out of hand before reacting.
I agree with you as well that we should not be looking to the past. hence I no longer consider myself to be a liberal in the terms in which is defined today. The left has nothing much of value to offer as we move into the future.
There is no center.
There are people who don’t care or are willfully ignorant.
There are people who reject fanaticism and extremism as they are the single greatest cause of the world’s problems today. I fall into that group.
I don’t want to kill anyone except those who want to harm me, my family, friends or my country. Thus I am happy for American armed forces to be killing Al Qaeda, Taliban and others who would kill us and have. It has nothing to do with being different except from the fanatics on the other side. No talking will assuage these extremists.
I have enjoyed reading your comments and hope you keep up the agitation. It is good for America.
10 Comments
Posted in Culture, Politics | Tags: Commentary, Common Sense, Democrats, Fascism, Liberals, Republicans, Socialism, totalitarianism