Or why I hate feces

Healthcare is political as hell. Think Mean Girl Wednesday, and unless you’re in pink, you’re out of luck and don’t have a place to sit at lunch. Since it’s a popularity contest, a politician plays to groups of people to try and influence their vote. Think Regina George trying for the crown and Catty coming in last minute with her Hail Mary and taking the crown, or for the truly horrible outcomes, look to Carrie and the fallout after the pig’s blood cascades from the rafters. I have personal beliefs, believe me, but I’m not pandering to a base here. I’m going try to stay out of politics unless a politician opens their mouth and says something stupid, then it’s open season. However, many regulatory things come from political popularity pageant winners, and they need to be held accountable to their homecoming bloodbaths.

We can see this on both sides of the fence, it’s a bi-partisan issue, and we are the stakeholders here not them.

For those of you who don’t know, once a federal entity (Medicare, Medicaid, or VA) adopts guidelines, they are picked up by insurance companies as rules for their policies. While it can simplify matters, it may not be the most evidenced-based best practice. Remember, Insurance companies live on denying care. If they don’t, they lose money, and you know how money is, it helps people win popularity contests.

I don’t understand why everyone is happy the ACA was ruled unconstitutional. Some of you hate Obama, and I’m not sure why. Some of you hate the individual mandate, but I guess you like shelling out thousands of dollars from your pockets for healthcare. I mean yeah you are healthy right now, but what happens when you close this blog and go to the store, and bam, Karen broadsides you on the way to get calamine lotion for that rash she inflicted on her children. You end up in the ICU for 3 days and have your spleen removed. Guess what? You’re out 25k. Yeah and that’s a conservative estimate. I have seen short ICU stays cap 100k or more. Have ya got that lying around or hidden under your mattress? Oh, and you think Karen has insurance? Guess again. She, like you, thinks insurance is BS, so she doesn’t carry car insurance either…so you are stuck. By the way, if you do have an extra 100k lying around, I am sorry I called you names, and you could maybe send me some? I plan on running for homecoming queen soon and need a gown that matches the pig’s blood Igor plans on dumping during the crowning ceremony.

Your healthcare costs skyrocket when people are uninsured. Hospitals and clinics charge to cover their loss for the uninsured people, and you foot the bill (higher premiums and out of pocket). Yep, they charge you or your insurance. Guess what, based on lobbying the popularity contest winners, bankruptcy laws have changed. Even in relief, you will be required to pay some of that debt. But then thanks dude, because of you, guess what happened? My freaking healthcare costs went up. All because Karen won’t vaccinate her damn kids. No, seriously, the under-insured is a huge problem that healthy people don’t realize until it drops in their lap. Increasing the age, a child can stay on a parent’s insurance, pre-existing conditions, strengthening of privacy, and even the mandate. People have had to carry other types of insurance for a long time, so mandating health insurance just makes sense. Even if you don’t like it, it’s true.

I want my patients to heal and heal with the knowledge that they are not going to be overwhelmed by a huge bill that devastates lives more than an angry, telekinetic homecoming queen. I am not going to stop charging for my services because yours truly must pay Igor and have you seen what it costs to heat a castle these days…Oy gevalt…

So, take it how you will, I usually prefer drinks and ample lube first, unless a politician says something about healthcare that makes no sense, this blog is not going to tackle it