It has been really eye-opening to have the cost of healthcare be such an issue. Like, I now know to ask if there are options for similar drugs that come in generics, because even some of my meds that do come in generics, they were $70 for 2 months. I have taken them for years and never paid more than the basic co-pay of $10 or $20, but now, one generic is covered at the low-cost, but not the main one. it's all crazy. Like I want to shop around procedures, but that is crazy, right?

And the point is that no one should be ashamed -- healthcare is out of control expensive and complicated when it should be available to everyone.

The number of fucked up choices we end up making because health care decisions can mean putting your entire financial security at risk is just unconscionable.

I know when I was uninsured (or when I was on a shoestring and had a high-deductible plan) I made some really shitty decisions. I coughed up blood once and decided to wait and see for a few days because I was so scared that what if it was something? How would I pay for that? My sister right now I'm really concerned about - I (and my many medical degrees) see a lot of diabetes symptoms with her. And I've mentioned my concern, but I haven't pushed, because what if she gets diagnosed while she's uninsured? She had a (falsely) alarming test result from an exam at PP recently too and as scared as she was about what it might be, the fact of being unemployed and uninsured was almost paralyzing.

Cumulative. So even if it's a bug here and months later a bug there, you go over seven and you need a doctor's note for every absence. OR you get reported, and then you have social worker looking into it.

Yuck, that mostly seems to be encouragement to send the kids to school sick.

Sorry, DJ -- it's one of my few buttons. It's got a big red "shame" label on it, too. I jumped a little quick there.

It's ok. I could see how it could be read that way.

And the point is that no one should be ashamed -- healthcare is out of control expensive and complicated when it should be available to everyone.

Exactly this.

That is ridiculous. I don't take my kids to the doctor for most of the things I keep them home from school for - tummy bugs, colds, etc. I mean, 7 days in a row I'd go to the doctor, but 7 days over a year is not that many sick days.

Timelies all!

Had an attack of the sleepies this afternoon. Dunno why.

I know exactly what you mean, brenda. I'm lucky that the two drugs I take daily are available for $4 a month, even though I take one of them only because it's that low, and I switched to it from one I liked better because I didn't have insurance anymore.

When Jake broke his nose a couple of years ago? We're *still* paying off that bill.

Like I want to shop around procedures, but that is crazy, right?

I don't know that the procedures would vary as much, cost-wise, but it doesn't hurt to check.

Also, I love PP and they deserve uber support right now. But they called her a few weeks after she'd been in and left a message on her VM that there was something concerning in her test results and she should call them back right away OMG eleventy.

And when she called back 15 minutes later they didn't answer. Because it was 4 pm. On a Friday. On a holiday long weekend. And then she checked the mail that day and had from them a brochure about irregular pap smears and cervical cancer.

Not on, PP.

If I was more used to this stuff, I would not have just taken the cats in, and I would not have agreed to start mac on a new drug with no generics and I probably would not have gone and seen this GI Dr. ANd I am not gonna be relieved when it is nothing, I am gonna be pissed that I spent over $1000.