Foreshadowing of Obamacare... After my ski injury I received a foreboding envelope in the mail from the State of Oregon's Department of Human Services--loads of information on health insurance. OK. Good to know. But a couple disturbing things: 1) "If you are not a U.S. citizen you may still qualify. The following proof is only required if you are a U.S. citizen." 2) Sinister coversheet, informing me that: "You must choose a health plan if you live in this county...You must choose a dental plan if you live in this county." [all emphasis theirs] Well fuck you very much.
Well here's a fairly simple problem: Bob comes into the emergency room. Bob states that he doesn't have health insurance but provides his billing address so he can be billed for treatment. The logical thing to do is: 1) Send a bill to Bob's billing address. 2) Send an insurance form to Bob's billing address. When I agreed to have a doctor look at me, I agreed to pay him for his services and any costs incurred. I didn't agree to apply for health insurance. I did dutifully start reading through the materials, but I had to take a break to get out my Mossberg 590 Military, fix the bayonet, and lovingly caress it. The revolution isn't here yet, but on a clear day if you squint just right you can see it coming. Where's Marso? I need to find out if the Compound is ready yet.
That's what you get for living in the glorious People's Republic. I'm still surprised that you haven't gotten the letter informing you that you must own a bicycle. And use it! Seriously though, that just fucked up. Who gave OHS permission to mandate health and dental insurance? There's got to be a statute quoted in there somewhere or they're just bluffing.
I plan to ignore it. I don't like TriCare and haven't been impressed enough with it to get it. I suspect I could get health insurance from USAA at a comparable cost that would be much less painful to use.
Note to WF's veterans: As of 11 November(?) USAA membership is now open to all veterans, regardless of when you served.
Tell you what, the day the government makes it so all I hear from veterans (and old people) about their health care is good I will gladly sign up for National Health Care. lol Like that is going to happen without V. Until put the care in our hands and make health savings accounts more accessible.
Hell, it's Oregon. Shrug and say "jIH ta'be' yaj 'oH" and watch them scramble to find someone to pay to translate Klingon.
