A round of binge surgeries for the house, barkeep.
Of course I jest. But former Republican Presidential candidate (and Minnesota Governor) Tim Pawlenty wasn't kidding when he compared healthcare to an open bar. When healthcare, like booze, is free, you imbibe more, Pawlenty says.
My health insurance, which will be provided through MinnesotaCare, isn't free. It costs $59 a month. Currently I am uninsured and pay $50 a month for a maintenance prescription. So to pay nine bucks more a month and have health coverage, has me positively giddy. No binge surgeries are planned, but I'm meeting the dentist and optometrist for Happy Hour.
Children under 18 are covered under MA, but their parents aren't. When health coverage is provided to parents, they are able to better care for their children, but that's just my opinion.
The $10,000 Doughnut Hole
Qualifying for MinnesotaCare came as a total surprise because Mike and I had applied twice when we lived in Pine County. The median income for a family in Pine County is $44,058. In Dodge County, it's $54,261. Our family was in the $10,000 doughnut hole.
Though health insurance wasn't the reason for our move from Pine County to Dodge County, it's an unintended benefit: our entire family is now covered. A popular meme that's being disputed is people move to Minnesota for the benefits. I guess having health insurance puts our family in that category. We moved from Point A to Point B, and now have a benefit that we didn't have in Point A.
In a me-first society, I move to better myself and my family. Everyone else moves to sponge off others. In a me-first society, I get benefits. Everyone else gets entitlements. Benefits for me, entitlements for thee.
I'm thrilled that our family will have health insurance. But I won't be satisfied until healthcare is available to all — without having to move from Point A to Point B.
This post was written by Susan Maricle and originally posted on Poultry and Prose. Follow Susan on Twitter: @poultryprose.
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