I had an annual exam earlier today. I never look forward to seeing this physician. You know, just one of those things we have to do to maintain our health. I brought along my Wall Street Journal to read while I waited. The doctor entered the exam room while I was reading Dick Armey’s column Washington Could Use Less Keynes and More Hayek. (I wholeheartedly agree.)
The doctor asked me if there was any good news as he took the paper out of my hands. I said “No, it’s all pretty bad.” He asked if I thought President Obama would fix the “health care mess” and I said “no.” He asked me what I do for a living and I mentioned it’s related to the insurance industry. This is when he became agitated. I’ve gone to him for years and he’s usually very mild mannered. He even remained cool and collected when I shouted expletives while giving birth to my first son. So I was taken aback by this new demeanor.
Unfortunately, he didn’t want to drop the subject. During the exam he was ranting about how much money executives at insurance companies make when they could use that money to cover the uninsured. “And how can they keep raising insurance rates!?! They even deny breast MRI’s! We need a hybrid government/business sponsored health plan!” To say I wanted to disappear is an understatement.
While I was delighted to get the heck out of there I was stomping mad. Who is this guy, starting a debate with a defenseless individual at his mercy? Why didn’t he wait until after the exam to rant and rave when I was wearing more than a paper sheet? Had he done that I would have brought up the following points:
1-I don’t have anything to do with health insurance companies, other than being a paying customer.
2-Barack Obama may add a few more million Americans to government health insurance (as I write this he’s announcing that he just did) but what good will that do when our country is bankrupt?
3-If he took the time to find out what the Democrats have in store for us he’d find out that breast MRI’s will be the least of our troubles. The government is going to decide who is worthy of treatment and who isn’t. What does he think about that?
4-I know where the doctor lives, it’s a very nice neighborhood. Is he willing to sell his fancy home and move into a trailer so he can afford to provide medical care for free? If not, why does he expect people like me and my husband to work our tails off to pay taxes to fund free health insurance for everyone else?
5-Business/government hybrid healthcare?! Has he seen what’s in the so-called stimulus plan? If so, he should understand there will be far fewer businesses left to employ workers and provide health insurance. And has he ever heard of Medicare and Medicaid? He won’t be able to afford that house of his if they start setting his rates.
6-What about people who can afford health insurance but decide not to purchase it? I know some of them. They have pools, big flat screen TV’s, cell phones and iPods. Should I pay my own premiums and also pay for theirs through higher taxes? Maybe we should call these folks “self-insured” rather than un-insured. If we change the terminology people may realize that their own health is their own responsibility.
7-Can anyone recommend a new physician?
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