Are we there yet?  To a point where we need to consider this?

I looked into private health insurance recently.  They will not insure me.  Because I'm a diabetic, I'm too much of a risk.  Even though I probably cost my current insurance company less than any other employee (we calculated), private insurance companies are betting that I will go on an ice cream binge and they will have to pay for dialysis, transplants, amputations, etc.  Great.  So much for working for myself as I'd been considering. 

I've always spoken against nationalized health care, believing a free market system is best.  But, I don't really think we have one of those these days. 

Nearly everyone I know is having some problem...everything from their insurance companies suddenly deciding they will no longer cover their particular prescribed medications to finding it impossible to see a specialist because of labyrinthine referral systems.  Something needs to change.

I realize I am seeing this personally rather than objectively, but I can't help remembering David Sedaris's positive observations of the French health care system.  Could it be time?

 

I feel you Leah. It does seem like only healthy people need insurance. A free market system is best, but something is broken here and everybody knows it, but nobody knows what to do about it. There is no a single healthcare system on the planet that is not flawed. I wish somebody came up with a solution instead of wasting time on arguing about which country's healthcare plan is not going to fit our style. It's like a catch 22 and it's getting worse with every day passing.

free market system is a myth ! it doesn't exist, period.

same as it's supposed benefits. 

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- Независимость - это когда в 20-й раз наступаешь на одни и те же грабли, а русские уже ни при чем....

Leah, here is a free advice for you - my good deed for the day.

 go back to school. i remember you once said you wanted to do that. go back to school and get education in something really useful, science maybe, or business, or whatever is in demand. not interior design, not art, not sh*t like that.

then, when you are around 45, move to europe. you have to understand that this country, by its very nature, is for healthy people. only those can afford to live here. if you are already having trouble getting insurance, you are pretty much doomed. health costs will suck any life out of you later on. you do not want to age in this country.

take my advice.

might save your life one day.

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Don't listen to Pom, Leah! We will find you a nice, healthy russian husband with a stable 9 to 5 right here, in the US of A. He'll take care of your insurance needs.

pomidorchik:

Leah, here is a free advice for you - my good deed for the day.

 go back to school. i remember you once said you wanted to do that. go back to school and get education in something really useful, science maybe, or business, or whatever is in demand. not interior design, not art, not sh*t like that.

then, when you are around 45, move to europe. you have to understand that this country, by its very nature, is for healthy people. only those can afford to live here. if you are already having trouble getting insurance, you are pretty much doomed. health costs will suck any life out of you later on. you do not want to age in this country.

take my advice.

might save your life one day.

I am healthy.  I just have to be more careful than most people are in order to stay that way.  :)  As long as I'm on an employers health insurance, I'm fine...open enrollment and all that. 

Nevertheless, it isn't bad advice.  I've heard you can buy wine from street vendors while roaming the streets of Prague...

It will have to be science, I guess.  I hate business stuff.

Muidugi:

Don't listen to Pom, Leah! We will find you a nice, healthy russian husband with a stable 9 to 5 right here, in the US of A. He'll take care of your insurance needs.

lol... that may be a better plan that Pom's.  Do you have a list of potential candidates or should we take applications?  I should probably disclose that I can be a little difficult at times.

Leah:

Muidugi:

Don't listen to Pom, Leah! We will find you a nice, healthy russian husband with a stable 9 to 5 right here, in the US of A. He'll take care of your insurance needs.

lol... that may be a better plan that Pom's.  Do you have a list of potential candidates or should we take applications?  I should probably disclose that I can be a little difficult at times.

Just a little? Surely you can be a real pain.

As long as you cook HIM good meaty diner you'll be all right.

:-)...right...and then Leah will have...."a platonic relationship ..... between husband and wife"

anyway, it's so darn sexy when a woman can take care of her financial needs on her own,....

and safer too..:-)

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Muidugi:

Just a little? Surely you can be a real pain.

Only if we have previously established a safeword.  ;)

Muidugi:

As long as you cook HIM good meaty diner you'll be all right.

I may be in trouble then.  He will have to handle his own meat needs.

Leah:

I may be in trouble then.  He will have to handle his own meat needs.

 We might find a nice vegetarian russian man, but I doubt he would be healthy.

pomidorchik:

 

and safer too..:-)

So very true.  Or did you mean safer for the men?

By the way, how would a PhD in Anthropology or Archaeology fit into your advice?  I'm guessing still not commercial enough.  The English Lit studies of my youth certainly haven't been.

Muidugi:

Leah:

I may be in trouble then.  He will have to handle his own meat needs.

 We might find a nice vegetarian russian man, but I doubt he would be healthy.

Does such a thing exist?  Why wouldn't he be healthy?

Anyway, I don't require other people to adhere to my beliefs.  He can eat meat if he wants.  He just can't expect me to cook it (and he can't try to eat my cats).  I really wasn't planning to do ALL the cooking anyway. 

I'm still waiting for that list.  ;)

Does such a thing exist?  Why wouldn't he be healthy?

I meant his mental health.

Leah:

 He just can't expect me to cook it

Well then, this is limiting you to american men only.