I want what the ex's father got in Spain.

Massive heart attack. Heart kerblewie. (That was a horrible phone call to listen to one half of in panicky Spanish.) Heart transplant or die.

A donor organ was found in about 3 weeks. (Tragically, youngsters drive stupid-fast over there.)

The whole operation - including medical transport from the Canaries to Madrid and extended apartment rental for Alfredo's mother, who was going to be next to her husband OR ELSE - and all aftercare:

Free. State-controlled. That was 7 years ago, he's doing just fine thanks, and it has never, ever cost them anything except time (and considerable pain...well, and Senior Mendez hates being told "you may not drive - too stressful, you'll blow out your NEW heart"...so a fair bit of crank on his part.)

I want that.

I can't even begin to tell you how baffling I find this whole debate. I am so far to one side of this debate that I can only sit in the corner muttering, clutching my single payer health care close, and not even thinking about medical expenses.

I love my coverage, it plus Medicare means Hubby nearly never has to pay for anything, and he just had a CT of his head yesterday. All the surgeries, tests, stuff, and thingies, covered. God bless our doctors, 99% of them have been stellar.

May the insurance drones who decide not to give him his drugs and change their minds on whether a surgery is "elective" burn in hell.

Yeah, the fact that I can't tell you how much my surgery was because I never got a bill? Priceless.

Who were you working for and can you write me a reference?

I have fab insurance too, but I've switched employers enough (even without switching jobs) to know that it could end tomorrow.

I also have wonderful coverage. Paid for most of my IVF costs, which many people tell me is unheard of.

Texting is not for conversations

It's for writing several thousand words of drawerfic while you're bored and in transit.

...

Ask Cass. She knows.

I can't even begin to tell you how baffling I find this whole debate. I am so far to one side of this debate that I can only sit in the corner muttering, clutching my single payer health care close, and not even thinking about medical expenses.

You and most of Canada.

I am merely Legally Canadian, and I'm in a constant state of o.0 right now.

Huh. I didn't realize Sargent Shriver was still alive. Or that he was a Lieutenant.

Who were you working for and can you write me a reference?

NYU. Between the fact they are the biggest employer in NYC and exploit much of their teaching staff, I guess they have the resources for fabulous healthcare.

Not only did I not see a bill for that surgery, but they overcharged my sister when she went to pick up a prescription for me (I was still in the hospital) and (unasked!) recognized their error months later and refunded the difference.

I also have wonderful coverage. Paid for most of my IVF costs, which many people tell me is unheard of.

Is that one of the things mandated by California? I know when I worked for a MA-based company, a whole lot was covered that normally wouldn't be because of state law, including IVF. My sister knows someone who falsely claimed MA-residency for said coverage.