Guaranteed Healthcare

I'm a 62 year old female with a 61 year old husband. We are self-employed, and have been without health insurance for thirteen years. We are helping a son with disabilities get through school, and have other family expenses we are dealing with. Buying health insurance at its highly inflated price is not an option for us.

We are committed to a healthy life-style. We eat well, exercise, have low weight, low blood pressure, etc. We also work hard physically. When we do get ill, herbal medicine has gotten us through it. We figure we're on on own, so try to live as healthy as possible. In that way, not having insurance is a plus. My only health issue is mild asthma brought on by working in dust. Unfortunately, some things can't be fixed on our own.

My husband is a Viet Nam veteran, so could possibly go to a veterans hospital in a real emergency. I have no options. Because of this, we never have medical tests, not even the free ones. What's the point? If we got cancer, heart attack or any other serious disease, we could not have treatment. That's a given. So we don't even worry about serious disorders. We worry more about the common problems, like breaking a leg, having an infection, an accident, or ending up in an ambulance.

About three weeks ago I got the flu. I haven't had flu for at least twelve years (never had a flu shot). Apparently this is the H1N1 swine flu, extremely prevalent in my area at this time. I became extremely sick, possibly made worse by my asthma. It went into my lungs, making me the sickest I ever remember being. Last week I called an Insta-Care and was told: 'With the doctor visit, x-rays, blood tests, etc. it would cost me about $500.00 to get my hands on a simple antibiotic. Oh, and bring cash or we won't see you'. Sorry, I can't afford all those tests. Then I got worse, coughing up yellow stuff, high fever, delirium. My friends & family became concerned. Finally one of my insured friends showed up at my house with an antibiotic. I am now getting better, although I'm still weak and wobbly.

The point of this story: It would really be helpful if the uninsured had some options for the common ailments. If you could go to a doctor for small things without being force-fed test after test. I understand this is how some doctors and hospitals make their profit. I would gladly pay a reasonable amount for a reasonable service. For years this was the norm. Now the medical/insurance groups have you by the throat - pay our exorbitant prices, often for unneeded procedures, or you're toast!