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I'm supposed to be a "Middle Class" United State's" consumer, so why is it that I can guarantee that I'm a step below that and that last step is a doozy. I don't know why, on my side of the family, that I seem to be the only one on top of the health issues in the United States. So I email my mother about how she is handling the "donut hole," in her drug cabinet."I've never heard of a donut hole involving medications. What are you talking about?!" She's defensive over HER president.
Even a discussion about it leaves her in disbelief. At least, she doesn't have enough drugs to worry about it. With me, ... it's a different situation. Right now, I am still with my insurance company that I had when I retired. My drug usage is outrageous, with my out of pocket expenses hitting 200 dollars a month. What's it going to be like when my insurance company throws me out into Part X of the government prescription program.
This brain-child of Bush's health care program has taken front page on every newspaper I take and in every magazine I read. On the Internet, ... now that is the best place to keep up with it and I do. But drug costs are minor compared to what is killing our finances, right now; it's my teeth.
"Hill, you got the strongest roots I've ever seen. It would take dynamite to get those out of there!" my old dentist used to say, and it is true. Even when I had my wisdom teeth taken out, the surgeon felt better if I had it done in the hospital, and he was right. It took me 2 days in the hospital to recover. So, ... now that I am older, my strong roots are paying off handsomely, ... for my dentists.
When we were raised, my parents could only afford to take us to the dentist once a year, and I always had the dubious honor of winning the "Most Cavities Award." Now, ... with that award, I am experiencing, astronomical dental bills.
My dental plan pays the first 1,500 dollars spent and then after that, ... nothing. That's a donut hole from hell designed for 2 million dollar salaried football coaches. So, as of yesterday, I no longer have any lower front teeth. Hint, ... never say yes if your dentist says, "So, ... would it be okay if our new dentist pulls those teeth?" Not good.
When we have a tooth taken out, it is called "pulling."
"So, did you get your teeth pulled?" is the proper way to address dental-lost-teeth. Right? The new dentist had been trained in the art of "wiggling" teeth out. How about an hour and a half of wiggling before the real dentist finished it? This means my lower 4 front teeth are gone.
"We can implant two and then make a bridge," explained the dentist." Sounded good.
"How much would that cost?"
"$2,000 per implant and then we can talk about the bridge after we get the implants," he finished.
Can I afford that? Not hardly. One implant a year and then a bridge I guess, before I can eat
corn-on-the-cob. Our country is screwed up when it comes to health care. My hygienist says I need to have my periodontal disease worked on. That spells out another $1500. Can we afford all of this? A joke! So, ... I'm prepared. Plenty of Romain Noodles, Cup of Soups, and Campbells and baby food for the next 3 years, ... I suppose. Do we deserve a better health plan that includes good dental care?
