In the richest country on the planet . . .
My once solidly middle class friend called to tell me she's going naked.
She doesn't want to "go naked", she's got no choice. She left me a message, she knows writing about our healthcare catastrophe has become my almost full-time job. Her voice was quiet, she sadly referred to me as "Nice Eve."
She said, "Nice Eve, you're not going to like this. I'm going naked, I've got no choice, they're raising my rates--again. I Just don't have the scratch. I'm gonna take my chances. I know we'll elect a Democrat. This can't go on."
I called her back and left a message. We haven't connected yet.
"To go naked." You know what it means now, right? It's when a supposedly insured American, has to dump their health insurance coverage because the premium costs are simply unsustainable. It's called "going naked."
I relate to that. I'm paying $7557.96 a year.
When oil hits $150.00 a barrel and an individual health insurance policy hits $1000.00 a month, maybe someone will get serious.
Put another way, it's been said that fully 25% of the population has to be uninsured in order for the political class to respond.
Well dear friends ants, we're well on our way.
The implosion of the U.S. healthcare system is barreling ahead at lightening speed. It's going from bad, to worse, to Biblical.
Yes, Biblical. When it's the family of your neighbor, it's downright scary. When the collapse hits you and your family, the catastrophe becomes intensely personal. It morphs into a crisis of epic and Biblical proportions.
"To go naked" is so 2008. It's such a mortifying sign of the ghastly times we find ourselves living in. It's become the nomenclature of the day.
Next year, even an 8% increase will bring me to over $8000 a year. This is impossible.
But even after paying these staggering premiums, I want to tell you a story.
My friend's was not the only message of consequence.
There was another message on the answering machine. It was from the pharmacy benefits manager of my $7557.96 a year health insurance plan.
I called back and spoke to, I kid you not, a "patient care advocate." In the Orwellian society called the United States, these predatory, Murder By Spreadsheet companies place deceptive titles on the little people who do their dirty work. The peon I spoke to happened to be a lovely and compassionate human being. No doubt a young single mom, just trying to support herself and her kid.
She told me my prescription couldn't be filled--my health plan wouldn't authorize it. Huh? I pay these criminals $7557.96 a year. She needed to reach my doctor and get authorization to substitute a cheap $10.00 (for 90 pills) alternative. As you might imagine, I engaged her in a conversation which, I suppose after a long day, she was happy to have.
She told me she goes home depleted and sad. She spends her day telling people that their prescriptions "are not a covered expense, not in the formulary, and therefore will cost a prohibitive amount." She said mine would cost $328.00, I told her thanks, but no thanks.
Then she said, "you're so nice, I shouldn't suggest this, but I'm pretty sure you can get this in Mexico or Canada for a fraction of the price. I think this is what's lots of Americans are doing."
Yes, sweet patient care advocate, I think you're correct.
Then she said, "please don't take it personally, the health plans turn down lots."
I was kind of at my wits end. I said, "we need a new president." She chuckled and said, "we've needed a new president for eight years."
I asked her which plans are the worst. There was a pause. "Oh gosh they're all impossible, someone should investigate." Then I laughed.
I said, "do you think George Bush is asked to make medication substutions." This lovely girl didn't miss a beat. "Oh gosh no, George Bush is a Brand Name kind of guy."
"And your Senators?" I asked.
"They're also Brand Name people."
You get where I'm going with this.