Here We Go Again

You’re paying HOW much for what?

On June 25th, 2012, Golden Rule Insurance sent my wife and I a letter that we received on June 29th via snail mail that said our insurance premiums that were once affordable would now be receiving a rate adjustment. This adjustment was NOT based on our individual claim costs but was a COMBINED cost of ALL company policyholders who are on our same plan in our state of Kentucky. Effective as of 8/1/12, our insurance premium DOUBLED in cost. It wasn’t a few bucks or a hundred bucks…it DOUBLED in cost. But in order to make me feel better, the letter was nice enough to state the following…

“We (Golden Rule) are working hard to provide our customers with quality insurance at an affordable cost. In spite of our efforts, medical costs continue to go up due to increased use and higher charges for health care products and services. New technology and procedures often improve the quality of care but also contribute to rising costs. BLAH BLAH BLAH…Pttttttttttttttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhh…WHATEVER!

Here’s the thing…and maybe I’m being a LITTLE pessimistic, but I’m curious to what they are really doing to keep rising costs down? I’m sure they have an entire FLEET of people working on looking for ways to cut costs out there right now, combing through mounds of paperwork with all the best intentions in the world, working so hard to keep my health care costs down. NOT! In truth, this company, and all the others like it, are just money-grubbing whores who are out to steal money out of my pocket. My family visits the doctor MAYBE 5 times a year. Usually it’s for colds or some other small issue that works itself out. But with the way our country has scared us into thinking we NEED health insurance, now I’m left trying to find a way to pay for a health insurance premium that really doesn’t DO anything unless something major goes down (knock on wood) and it’s putting me in a deeper hole than we already are money-wise.

Oddly enough, 3 days after this letter was sent, the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act was passed by the US Supreme Court. So…what does this mean? It means for another year and a half, the health insurance companies can steal money from us until 2014, I guess. Because honestly…that’s what this seems like to me. It seems like Golden Rule (and probably other companies) saw the opportunity to gauge me and my family for more money and took the opportunity before any kind of true regulation came into play. So now we are stuck. We either go searching for another form of insurance which, let’s be honest, they ALL suck these days. Or we go without health insurance, roll the dice and see where we land. It’s right up there with life insurance now. You’re probably never gonna need it but you better have it if some idiot drives through a red light and sidewinds your SUV and you end up in traction for 2 months.

Crap. Can you IMAGINE the bill? Let’s see…60 days in a hospital. In the hospital, not only do you have to pay the doctors and nurses and for the medicine and the care (which is all well & good. They have to make their money too! And they deserve it for going through 20 years of college…) but THEN you have to pay for every bed sheet, every towel, every chocolate milk and every straw you use. And those straws ain’t cheap, my friends! I don’t have a bill in front of me but I have to imagine the cost of a good straw these days must be well towards $10 or so. And if you have say 10 drinks of water a day and can’t tilt that glass back by yourself? That’s $100. Which is NOT paid for by your insurance because somewhere in the fine print a lawyer has gone through and explained in great detail on page 231, article 6, section 8B that straws are NOT covered by Golden Rule Insurance due to the fact that they do not want to be liable if you happen to suck one down your throat.

Which TOTALLY makes sense.

Ya know…Andy Griffith died today, one of the greatest television icons of MY time (I imagine my kids have no clue who he is so they are outta luck), and back when he was a part of one of the greatest shows ever made, times were a LOT different. I can only wonder what the Sheriff would say about these days. I’m sure he would be able to find someway to make me feel better with a show-ending bit of knowledge and a quick smile. That guy had it all down. These days, we don’t have it so lucky. These days, there is no Sheriff. Or IS there? With the Obamacare being passed, will the GOVERNMENT step up and be our new Andy? Will they do as they have said and make it all better? Or will this legal form of stealing continue? We shall see, my friends…we shall see.

Top 10 Things That Are Making Me Go Prematurely Grey

Obviously in need of a vacation…

I know I’m 42, but it seems like these days there are more & more reasons for my hair to start changing colors and it ain’t the seasons that’s doing it to me. No…it’s THESE little things that make my stomach ache and cause me undo stress. How can I handle all the responsibilities of being a parent/husband when I have to not only deal with so many things PLUS these 10 irritations? Help me out here…will ya? And these are in no discernible order. They ALL stress me out to some degree…

10. Violence & sex in videogames
Not that my son plays them a lot but the violence in “Call of Duty” (which ALL of his friends play) and “Grand Theft Auto” (which was recently shown to him by one of his buddies) has me in a quandary.  How much do I let him play? Should I let him play them at all? Is it TOO violent? And why are is there sex in videogames at all? I mean…I understand the buxom beauties in some games such as “Mortal Kombat” or those wrestling games but actual sex in a game? WTH??? So now that the Supreme Court has ruled that my 9-year old can buy his own games without my approval, I have to WATCH every game he decides to play? Great. ‘Cause there’s nothing I’d rather do with my day than sit over my kids’ shoulders while they play the latest edition of “Gran Prix VII: Bikini Beach Raceway.”

9. My weight
Although I’m not huge, I am definitely bigger than I was last year and it seems like no matter how many salads I eat or how many times I drink water with my turnips I can’t seem to shake it. With age comes a few extra pounds but when my wife bus me a large pair of swim trunks and they’re fitting a little TOO snug for comfort? That worries me a little. Gotta get back to the gym more often, I suppose.

8. Health Insurance
Received in the mail yesterday: “At (health company), our objective is to provide high-quality health insurance coverage at a competitive price. New medicines and treatments (which I don’t use) are necessary for the quality of care we expect today. The trade-off for these breakthrough procedures is the rising cost in health care. We continue to look for and implement ways to reduce these costs while providing you with quality coverage.”

Really? You, the health care coverage company, are LOOKING for ways to REDUCE my costs? And then it goes on to say that my premiums have just gone up by $140.43 a quarter?

Bite me, health care coverage company. You guys ALL suck. And there has never once, in all my years, been a time when my health care premium has gone down. You guys are so full of shit that it makes me laugh. The only way insurance is of any benefit to me or my family is if someone gets really, really, really, really sick and then even that’s not guaranteed. These smarmy companies will find a way to get out of helping us, even if it means a death in the family. I hate paying for  health care. A majority of the time it just seems like such a waste of money. I just hope when it’s my time a piano falls on my head because if I have to use my health care coverage, I’ll probably die after 3 months in a coma and I’ll leave my family in bankruptcy. Stupid AND irritating.

7. Today’s “Pop” Music
All my life I have loved pop music and I truly believe it’s a parents job to censor what their kids hear or don’t hear but for crying out loud…today’s music has NO innuendo at all! When I was younger, did music have sexual overtones? Of course it did! But today’s music just puts it out there. EVERY popular song today references sex and my kids are singing about S&M, menage a trois and having great sex. There’s NOTHING left to the imagination! *sigh*

Here’s a post from my music site. Check it out if you agree with me…

6. Little League drama
I admit, I try to stay out of this one as much as possible however there are times when it becomes a little overwhelming. When I was young, we didn’t have all of these leagues that were so competitive. We had A (singular) league and we all played in it and it didn’t matter whether we were better athletically than the other kid, we all got to play. Nowadays there are rec leagues and Knothole leagues and youth leagues and All-Star leagues and who knows how many there are and they are RECRUITING players?!? Uh…the kids are 9. Let’s not get carried away, okay? All this crap about these kids are better than those kids and my kid is better than your kid and so & so did this and that? It is exhausting. I want MY kids to play sports because they ENJOY playing sports. You know what the odds are that they will make it to play professional sports someday? infinitesimal. It’s probably not gonna happen. But…maybe it will happen for your kid. Good luck with that.

5. My House
Whoever sold me the bill of goods that owning a home is the American dream is full of crap. It’s more like MY American nightmare! Everything from weeds to repairs to buying more crap to make it look good. Everything about owning a home is nothing but a money pit. I wish I was more handy around the house but even if I were, I still wouldn’t be able to keep up with all the necessary repair. For my money…buy a condo. Let someone else worry about it. As for the whole “build your credit” theory? Well…my credit was shot years ago so THAT isn’t really a worry…

4. The NFL
This one is gonna date this post but for right now, one of my BIGGEST concerns is the NFL Lockout. A HUGE portion of my yearly salary comes from working NFL games for CBS and the NFL Network. Without those games I’m a fish out of water. It’s still only late June but there seems to be a contingent that feels that the season may be in peril. Of course there’s also those that think that the lockout could end as early as this coming weekend. Who is right? Who knows. But if the billionaire owners and the millionaire players can’t get their acts together, there are gonna be a lot of people in MANY industries that will be out on their butts. If there is one thing that being an independent contractor has taught me it’s that no matter how free I think I am working for myself, it’s all false. So in that way, I’m just like everyone else…except without benefits (see #8).

3. The Lack Of Time
Remember when you were young and everything seemed fresh & new? Well…I’m long past that. I’m not saying I’m thinking death is knocking on my door just yet but it’s there in the back of my mind and I have to wonder if I’ll see 84. Of course this isn’t at the TOP of my concerns…but it’s there. And I think about it. And I can’t help but wonder what God has in store for me in the next 42 years and I’m trying to be positive but who knows? I’ve been lucky so far but that can all change in a blink of an eye and then BAM!…and then…(See #8)

2. Zombies.
Because they’re out there. And they’re trying to eat my face off!

(Just seeing if you’re paying attention…)

1. Money
Not enough of it. Ever. And it’s ALWAYS a concern. And the bills are never ending…

So there you have it…10 (okay…really 9) of my top concerns as of right this second. I’m sure that as time passes a few of these will drop by the wayside but you can be damn sure that #8 will never change. Looking for ways to lower our premiums? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Ahhhh laughter. NOTHING slows the hair from greying like a good laugh. So I guess in that way, health insurance companies HAVE done me some good…

Health Insurance Is Giving Me Ulcers

Oh look…a happily insured family! Notice…MY family is NOWHERE to be seen!

A few months ago, I wrote about the fact that Anthem, our long-time insurance company, would not insure me any longer because of my back issues from last year. So my wife and I looked around and found an insurance agent who recommended United Healthcare. I figured that a different agency would look at my situation a little differently if they hadn’t paid off any of my previous bills for my sciatica. I mean, I haven’t had any problems with it since last January and have been working out and trying to eliminate the probability of it returning, so I’m thinking this should be an easy deal.  But noooooooo…no dice.

My wife and I had applied online, thinking it might speed up the process. A person from United called and asked about my back and if I had had any reoccurring problems. It seemed like a nice conversation and I figured I wouldn’t have any problems getting covered. But the paperwork came in the mail on Saturday. My kids and my wife can be covered. I, on the other hand, cannot. So now I’m back to square one and somewhat befuddled.

I have to admit, I really didn’t think this would be this difficult. I mean, I feel healthy. I look healthy. I always pay my insurance bills on time. So I don’t know what to do. I’m thinking about just setting up a medical savings account and having money transferred in every month and calling it a day. Because I don’t know what I can do if the insurance companies refuse to cover me. I guess I’m a liability. And that’s fine. Unfortunately, if I go down, my family comes with me, because I am the moneymaker in my household and without me, we’re screwed! So that makes me feel a little uneasy. Okay…it makes me MORE than a little uneasy…it’s enough of to give me ulcer!

So where do I go from here, dear friends? Do I set up a medical account, throw a couple hundred in there and start saving for a rainy day? Or do I continue filling out paperwork and (at some point) turn to lying about my past condition in order to get covered and then hope it never happens again? Looking for some opinions here, so get out your typing fingers and help me out…mmmmkay?

What The Heck…Anthem Health Insurance?

…Because they want YOUR money! And if you’re not completely 100% healthy…well…you’re screwed.

For the last 4 years or so, my wife’s employer has been the supplier of our health insurance. Basically, she has worked simply to pay for it. It isn’t like she’s being paid a boatload to work 3 or more days a week. She has been a great sport about it, but recently she decided that she might want to try being home more with the kids on odd school schedules and she wants to be home for them when they get out of school. I am behind her 100%. However Anthem Blue Cross isn’t. And here is our story…

Let’s begin with me. 2 years ago I had a back ailment. The general concession is that it is a bulging disk in my lower back. I underwent some physical therapy for about 2 months and had to endure 3 epidurals before I started feeling normal. Now I’ve developed a workout regimen that has me feeling healthier and I am working on my core muscles to aid in supporting my back. I watch what I do as far as lifting and extending myself and so far, it has been working! I have been feeling really good! (Knock on wood)

My wife, about 5 months ago, fell asleep in an odd position and woke up the next morning with a stiff neck. Not wanting to irritate it anymore, she went for 1 consultation with a local chiropractor. A few twists and turns later, she was fine and never thought anything of it. That, seemingly, was the end of it.

About 2 months ago, when Steph & I decided she should quit her job to become a “stay-at-home” mom (and I put that in quotes because my wife NEVER stays home), we re-applied to the SAME health insurance company (Anthem) that we are on now, only we wanted to take on the cost of the service. We figured it made sense since we are already in their database and have been using Anthem for some time.

Well…apparently this wasn’t the best idea. Soon after sending in our application where we were totally honest about our health issues, Stephanie received a phone call from the company repeatedly asking her about her “neck issues”. She couldn’t seem to get through to the representative that it was a one time deal and that it was now resolved. But the woman on the other end continued to ask her about it for 25 minutes! Over and over, Steph told her what happened and over and over the woman harrassed her about it. Needless to say, Steph was kinda upset over the whole thing. She was worried that they weren’t gonna cover us because of her. I told her not to worry about it because I couldn’t imagine what MY phone call would be like. But it never came.

Instead, an email from an Anthem rep came and said that Anthem would insure our 2 kids for a regular rate, but Stephanie would have to pay a “little extra” for her “neck issue” and I couldn’t be covered at all. Apparently I am a liability.

It’s interesting that this is happening to us right now, seeing as how we’ve all been hearing about what a mess the health insurance world is right now. The funny thing is, except for my back injury, I really have had a pretty healthy life! Unlike some folks who have serious health issues and crazy doctor bills!

 Steph & I recently rented “Sicko”, the last Michael Moore documentary about the health care system and how fucked up it is. This experience has definitely brought it more to our attention! So we’re gonna look into other health care companies. Hopefully we can find one that is honest and will understand that we’re just looking to survive out here, not take advantage of them. Personally, I can understand why Anthem wouldn’t want to insure me. I can see that and I am willing to go with it. But what they did to my wife is ridiculous and unforgivable. Before long, if you go to see a doctor because you have a cold, you might be considered to be a liability and you could be dropped from your health care plan!

It’s a sad state of affairs in which we find ourselves. These huge corporations basically run around, unregulated, making a shit ton of money off of us and we can’t even get a neck massage. For those who think that this is America and this stuff can’t happen…well…it does. And for those of you who don’t agree with regulation for these corporations then I have to say…you are insane. These companies don’t really care if you live or die. They just want your money. And they want it at a pretty high price.

So this week I’ll be shopping around, trying to find a company that will cover me and my family. I got a feeling it’s gonna be a difficult task. No one wants to insure me…a 39 year old caucasian male who has never smoked, never done drugs, drinks minimally and who has been physically active most of his life. I’ve never had major surgery, never had any heart problems, never required any high-priced drugs, never had a sexually transmitted disease and haven’t required any kind of in-home nursing care. In my 39 years, I HAVE had the 3 epidurals, 2 kidney stones and a few stitches and several trips to my local chiropractor. Obviously I’m a money-pit if ever there was one! So if I sound like a liability, where do YOU stand?