Health Insurance

If you've been paying attention, I just had knee surgery. (I'm doing fine, thanks for asking.) After being off work for a little more than two weeks, I went back yesterday -- much to the surprise of my boss and co-workers who all thought I'd be back today. Yesterday, I received my explanation of benefits on how much the surgery cost and how much the insurance company will pay.
The doctor billed over $3200. The insurance company disallowed roughly $2200, leaving $1000. Since I had all ready made my deductible of $650 this year, my insurance company is going to pay 90%, leaving me a bill of $100.
Now, a lot of people say we don't need everyone covered by health insurance because I could just save that $1000 and put it in a pre-tax account and pay it out of my own pocket. But, here's the thing, if I didn't have insurance, I would've paid the full $3200 - not the negotiated $1000.
So, what we really need in this country is not so much health insurance, but a way that if you're not insured, you can still get this negotiated price. We need it for everything. Then, I'd sign on that we don't need health insurance.
But, I don't think the government is that good to do the negotiating and if we use a private company to do it for us, we're just going to end up right where we are now.
Anyone got any good suggestions?

God Bless

I feel goofy

For the last week, I've been recovering from knee surgery. Since Cheryl is up in Green Bay with Kim, I've been doing it alone. But, I'm not complaining, as I've had some friends (thanks Cindy, Don and Vicy) and my family (thanks to help me do things I can't do -- like clean the cat litter and take out the garbage.
You would think that being off work for an entire week would mean that I could sit here and play video games for a week, but I feel goofy. The pain pills make me a little goofy -- when I can stay awake. I end up feeling light headed, so video game playing is out.
Too bad. I probably will never get another chance to spend a quiet week at home alone. :-)

God Bless

The New Baby and Groceries

So, Cheryl is out of town because on Thursday the newest member of our family was born (pictures below). Unfortunately, even though I have a terrific boss who would've let me be off to be there, I'm not, and that is because of my knee surgery. This will haunt me for a long time that I missed the birth of my third grandson. Sending flowers to Kim and a teddy bear to Nicholas just doesn't cut it in my mind. Luckily for me, Cheryl didn't have to drive there by herself and she didn't have to miss the birth to watch the boys because Dad took her up to Green Bay. He stayed at the house, while Dustin and Cheryl accompanied Kim to the hospital.

But, if I can leave behind the joy of having little Nicholas enter the world (on the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, I might add) for just a moment and get back to the subject of me. I'd like to whine. While my knee hasn't been hurting too much since my surgery yesterday, but that could just be because of the pain killers they gave me at the hospital, I miss being able to do easy things. My leg is completely wrapped from mid-thigh to the bottom of my foot and I have instructions that I can't take this off. (I confirmed this with the on-call doctor last night.) My doctor likes to ensure the minimal of swelling as possible, so this wrap won't come off until Monday. This means I can't do anything. I can get to the bathroom and maybe cook something, but I didn't realize how helpless I would be.

Now, some of my friends have said take the wrap off -- I've had the same surgery and you don't need it. And, while I appreciate their advice, I don't really like ignoring my doctor -- mainly because I want to be able to return to work on Tuesday. And, because I don't want to have to go through this again. Now, I'm not taking the pain medication my doctor prescribed. I don't like the goofy feeling I get when taking it.

Then, when I awoke at five this morning, it dawned on me. We don't have any food in the house, so I need to go to the store. I can't shop on crutches and I can't get a shoe on my left foot. And, I hate to depend on other people. It kills me to have to do that! It is at a moment like this when I truly miss Cheryl! Or, perhaps, I should've been better prepared and gone shopping Thursday night! :0

Anyway, God Bless and enjoy the below pictures.

Cheryl and Danny.

Cheryl and Nicholas

Danny, Dustin, Alex and Nicholas.

Danny and Nicholas.

Grandpa and Nicholas.