Jealous

Just a reminder about something not Epstein related, Congress not only fumbled the ball on ICE reform, but also healthcare subsidies. That Frontline documentary I re-watched last weekend caused me to remember all the crazy outrage over Obamacare when it was first proposed. I was baffled at how these people who claimed “death panels” were coming didn’t realize they were already here. What do they think happens when insurance companies repeatedly deny claims? Deaths may not happen to all of us right away, but that lack of care builds up over time.

My first full-time job with benefits started in the mid-90s, with so-called “managed care.” I didn’t have much to compare it to, so at first thought it was great, but gradually became more annoyed by denials and strange quirks like allowing me to receive allergy shots, but not letting my allergy office provide the shots. It was at times maddening, and I was lucky that I was young and relatively health.

During that time period, I remembered watching shows by Michael Moore, first on TV Nation and then the Awful Truth. Both shows had episodes on less-than-stellar care from U.S. health insurance companies. Thirty years later, and I’m fighting even more with my insurance company, once again contemplating either doing without medication or going outside insurance to get care because of the hassles. It should not be this expensive or complicated. And I don’t think this will make anything better.

While I’m generally not jealous of the elites, which I would place our federal politicians in that category, I am jealous of their healthcare plans.