On My Pyramid, Again!

Ok. So, nobody wants to be without health insurance.... more than I do. But, I am fully aware of the hazard that my reckless abandon could present in this country. In other words, I'm not willing to risk life or limb for a few extra bucks. That being said, I'm not ready to accept the idea that we don't have choices. We must! Or else this will become a blog about me denouncing the country and it's leaders for their communism(and I might disappear). Since I don't think that will happen, I'll lay out my plan.

It just so happens that I received a mailer from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the other day. It advertises coverage of hospitalization, surgery, etc and that doctor's visits must be paid by the patience. Oh! And check-ups are free. So, as long as the premiums are reasonable and Doctor's

visits aren't ridiculous, it may be an option for us. I really want to know what it takes to pay for appointments outright. What if we pocketed our $400 a month(or put it in a holding account) and paid for all of our services directly. Let's face it, the insurance company is just a middle person. Why can't we cut them out? I don't think it's fair to pay someone $48,000 a year to file paperwork. Do you? What would happen if we all just canceled our insurance????? WHAT THEN?

I have a little less than 50 weeks before those ass munching premium increasers come back and beg my husband for his signature and money. What I want to find out between this time and that is: A) Do you really get fined if you don't have health insurance in this country?? I'm assuming that's just a vicious rumor, but it's something I want to look into. B) Will doctors and hospitals REALLY turn you away if you don't have a little laminated card?? I mean really? Doesn't that go against their code of ethics? C) What are some of the national healthcare providers and how do their prices match up? What does Blue Cross and Blue Shield have to say? D) If I don't like any of my other options, how hard would it be to start my own Insurance Company and provide coverage to only the President, Vice President and the two youngest shareholders in the history of said company? We'll pay ourselves to file paperwork and approve procedures. We wouldn't need a 1-800 number and we could demand more information from the doctors sending us overtly vague itemized bills. If we ever had to

sue our insurance company we'd be sure to win and personal service would be an understatement. My goal is to drastically reduce the $400 a month that is ripped from our possession, never to be seen again. I don't mind that amount coming out of our paycheck... as long as it's going back into our pockets somewhere down the road. Next year, at this time, I want to be out of the business of employing middle-people. Sorry claim adjusters, you cost too damn much!