But what I find interesting about Frederick's story is that KMAN,
Michael, and BCITORGB don't know what it is like being denied
insurance
coverage because of diabetes or cholesterol issues. We have no
idea
about the trauma or stress one might feel as the insurance
companies
jack up the premiums or outright deny coverage.

Frederick states that "health insurance is our single most
expensive
monthly expense, and that doesn't count the co-pays and
deductibles". I
don't have the figures at hand; perhaps the taxes I pay in Canada,
and
the portion thereof that goes to healthcare, are equal to or
greater
than Frederick's monthly premiums (somehow I doubt it). However, I
do
know that I'll always have that coverage.


I could lose my health insurance at any time. If I were to change
jobs, any potential new employer would have to weigh the added
burden
of putting a diabetic on their insurance policy. Thus, my job
options
become much more limited. My present employer could decide to drop
insurance coverage (this happened to my wife). As I said before,
most
insurance companies would deny me coverage. (Cherry-picking is the
vernacular for this common practice.) I would be **** out of luck,
not
to mention the burden placed on a family where dad has serious
medical
issues and can't get insurance. The threat of loss of insurance is
a
constant and pervasive source of worry for me, despite the sizable
contributions I have paid into it over the years.

That was your first mistake. Instead of paying for insurance, which
is
pretty much like throwing money down the sewer, you should have been
taking
that money and investing it, or saving it under your mattress for
that
matter, for a "rainy day" medical emergency, and paying for minor
stuff out
of pocket. You'd be way ahead of the game if you had done so. Health
insurance is a mug's game. It's a massive fraud perpetrated on the
people
and the only thing is does is make the insurance companies and their
investors rich.

Figure out some time how much you've paid in premiums over time
versus how
much medical care you've actually *needed* (not the "convenience
healthcare"
where you go in because you've got the flu just so the doctor can
tell you
to go home and tough it out) and figure out exactly how much you
*really*
paid for your essential health care. It's way too much, I guarantee
it.

Some employers don't give you the option of not paying for health
insurance, in the US. When I lived in the US, my two employers
provided health insurance, but you had to participate in their plans,
if you were a full tiime employee. It wasn't an option. Most big
employers
get the rates that they have from the insurance companies by promising
them a certain amount of revenue in premiums.



What's more, if you are an average working Joe, it's a complete waste
of
money because if you get *really* ill, and require emergency
life-saving
care in the US, you will get it. You can't be turned down by any
federally-funded hospital if it's a matter of life and death.

And you could lose your entire savings and your home when they send
you the $150,000 bill for your emergency life saving care.

Of course, piles aren't a life or death matter, so you may have to
stick
with Preparation H rather than getting surgery, but that's your
problem, not
mine or the rest of society's.

And lest you think I'm being callous, I'm in *exactly* the same
position you
are. I don't have, and can't get health insurance. But I don't whine
about
it, I just figure out how to pay for it myself while not expecting
others to
pay my bills for me. Personal responsibility is a very liberating
thing.

Quit worrying and get to work figuring out how to cut expenses and
start
putting money aside for emergencies. Try a catastrophic health care
plan
that excludes anything related to diabetes and has a high deductible.
Such
plans are available at very reasonable costs. Of course, it does mean
you
don't get to run to the doctor every time you or your kids get the
sniffles.
But that's a good thing. It forces you to work hard at staying
healthy (like
teaching your kids to wash their hands and keep their fingers out of
their
noses) and it encourages you to save money.

Or, suck it up and die if necessary. It happens to all of us
eventually
anyway, and you'll be making room for somebody else with better
genetics.

" If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the
surplus population." - Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol"