HEALTH CARE IS DEAD!

Today we mourn the loss of health care, accessibility, affordable insurance with adequate coverage, the days when the DOCTOR AND PATIENT decided on the course of care - not A GUM-CHEWING INSURANCE CLERK!

I just got notified that our employer is switching our coverage from BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD (YUP - THE FAMOUS "BLUES") because the insurance company fat-cats and stock-holders are increasing our premiums by a whopping 32%!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That puts even the high-co-pay services we had out of reach for everyone. Our employer has absorbed at least 2 increases over the past 2 years and has not passed on the increase to us. But this is ridiculous.

So, to BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD, a message: THHPPPPTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!

TO CONGRESS: DOUBLE-SHAME!!!!!! YOU TRY PAYING THESE PREMIUMS AND CO-PAYS ON MY SALARY. BET YOU'D CLEAN UP THE MESS YOU MADE YEARS AGO WITH ONE STROKE OF THE PEN.

Yes, Mr. Health Care is dead and gone. The entire system is simply going to have to self-destruct so we can re-build and go back to fee-for-service, pay as you go care, and doctors who are allowed to discount fees and set up payment plans.

Oh - and MERRY F**ING XMAS TO YOU TOO, BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD!