Guaranteed Healthcare

Middle America: 49 year old father of 3 boys, ages 17, 13, 10. Married twenty-five years. Self-Employed. Over $100K per year. Living the American Dream. Carving out a living for my family and doing it my way. The self-paid way. The American Dream. Being what I want to be. Living the dream.

 As long as my dream includes paying 20% of my gross income in health care in a single year. And the five of us are pretty healthy. Okay - I have a son with mental illness - none of it covered by my insurance that is $1,200 per month. No catastrophic or chronic illnesses besides that. The typical bumps, bruises and tonsillectomies, but, knock on wood, nothing major.

But everything that any of us have ever had before 8 years ago - is pre-existing and ridered out. Oh, and dental? All self-paid. Deductible? $1,000 per person. College tuition? The health care industry is enjoying 100% of what I had hoped to stick away for education for my boys. Honestly though - I don't mind paying $500-$600/mo for health insurance for my family and then it actually paying for the health care, but here I am.

Six figures per year - wife working for a mental illness non-profit in order to give back and be first in line for decent mental care & resources. It doesn't go far.

I can't do it anymore. Business is slow. Times are tough. I am going to have to drop someone. I live in fear that one of the kids will wake up one morning with cancer or I will have a heart attack from stress. Speaking of which - I need to have my triglycerides checked, BUT - the blood work is about $500 and I haven't met my deductible. So - I don't go - although I am out of the meds. Doctor won't refill unless I go see him and spend the $500. So much for preventative medicine. I ain't got $500 for that right now - especially when I feel okay.

I hate where this is going. I hate the fact that I have NO choices. I am forced to make life decisions based on health care.

I have been screwed by so many health insurance companies over the years. And the paperwork! My God. My wife and I are both college educated and do project management for a living and the EOB stuff, etc. duplicate billing, disorganization from the providers - my wife and I often say - "I wonder what the hell stupid people do!" No way can we ever figure the stuff out - its a miracle that anyone gets paid. We just err on our side and hope for the best.

God forbid anyone has to go to have a "procedure." You adopt a new hobby every time someone has to have something done. This infuriates me. I don't know what the best answer is, but here is the deal. Is it right that my government - the government of freedom and democracy, the richest most powerful and innovative country in the world - has been sitting back watching this HC system rape me of choice, future for my kids and a chance to live my American dream?