Covers you, the insured members of your household and your passengers for bodily/persona injuries, damages, or death caused by an at-fault insured or hit-and-run driver. What if you are involved in an accident where the other driver is at fault but has no insurance? Your policy will cover your medical expenses up to the limit on your policy. Who benefits from buying uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage? The millions of people who currently have no health insurance. That is why it is important to choose the adequate limit of Uninsured Motorist coverage (UM), because anything above the limit chosen, you are personally responsible for paying the additional amount. Did you know that Florida is among the TOP 5 states of uninsured motorists? That is why CWI underwriters is passionate about making sure you are covered properly. Let us review your current insurance policy to see if we can better your coverages! Call us 888.636.6438 or visit us at www.cwiunderwriters.com

We all know the facts and the figures. About 46 to 47 million Americans are uninsured and with the economic recession not yet over, several more are expected to join the ranks.

The Congress is still debating over a national health care reform which no one knows will lead to what consequences. So, given the current state of affairs, the big question still looms – Who takes care of you when something major comes up? Or, worse yet, What happens if you are aging, start having health problems and no insurance wants to cover you even if you are willing to purchase the most expensive catastrophic policy?

NPR recently ran the story of a 58-year old uninsured American who landed himself into exactly this sort of a situation. Read on…

Fernando Arriola spends his days keeping track of four or five construction projects, and his nights praying for good health. The New Orleans home builder is one of the 46 million people in this country who don’t have health insurance.

Four years ago Arriola, 58, bought a friend’s contracting business, just as New Orleans was starting to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. He named it New Beginnings Enterprises.

“It was a new beginning for me; it was a new beginning for the city; it was a new beginning for a lot of people we were working with,” he says.

And business has been good. He does mostly residential work, like the quaint mother-in-law cottage in the Garden District where his crew is laying tile and putting on the finishing touches.

Making A Living, But Not Enough For Insurance

Arriola makes about $50,000 a year and says he enjoys working for himself. But what he’s missing is the comprehensive health coverage he had at his former job as a sales manager.

Ever since he’s been self-employed, Arriola has been on a health insurance roller coaster. Initially, he bought a standard policy with a $1,000 deductible to cover his family. Then, when business slowed down and money got tight, he decided to temporarily drop the coverage. When he tried to reinstate it, he could only afford a catastrophic plan.

“I was paying $900 a month for a $5,000 deductible that would cover nothing until I hit that $5,000. So I was paying in essence $15,000 before I had one penny covered. And that was too expensive,” Arriola says.

So he dropped that coverage, only to have second thoughts. And when he tried to get it back, he was denied even the expensive catastrophic policy. Arriola doesn’t know exactly why, but he acknowledges that he and his wife both have high blood pressure and are approaching 60.

“Insurance is nothing more than just a business. And they try to limit their liabilities. So where there’s an older person, they don’t want to cover it,” he says.

Aging Without Coverage

Maria Arriola doesn’t think it’s fair that after years of paying for coverage and not having many claims, now, when they are starting to have health problems, they can’t get insurance.

“There’s nothing you can do about that. As you get older things don’t work so well, so…” she says.

The Arriolas did buy a policy for their two daughters, ages 22 and 16. But Fernando and Maria are uninsured. They pay for doctor visits and prescriptions out of pocket.

If something major comes up, Arriola says he would leave the country for medical services. Arriola is a naturalized citizen and has lived in New Orleans since 1970. But last year, he traveled to his native Guatemala for arthroscopic knee surgery. It cost him less than $1,000.

“Over here [it] would cost me thousands. They have just as good of doctors as they have over here. Most of them graduated from here,” he says.

Not Waiting For Congress To Fix

As for the debate on Capitol Hill over health care reform, Arriola takes a businessman’s approach to the issue: Open up the marketplace, he says, and create a national playing field so consumers will have more options.

But he does not have faith that Congress will come up with a fix because of partisan politics. So, in the meantime, he’s working to do something locally as a member of the board of directors for the New Orleans Faith and Health Alliance. The group is trying to start a health clinic in unused classroom space at a midcity church. Patients would pay based on their income.

“The purpose is to be able to provide the working uninsured medical services. There is definitely a need. I’m a perfect example of it,” Arriola says.

The alliance hopes to start providing care this fall. Arriola plans to sign up. In the meantime, he prays that nothing serious happens. The way the system works now, he says, he’d have to experience a major calamity to get coverage.

“I would have to go into the hospital, I would have to lose my house, I will have to lose all my savings, lose everything for the government to be able to help me. So 40 years of work, 40 years of struggle has to come to nothing. I have to be totally destitute in order for me to be able to get some help.”

Arriola says he doesn’t want anybody to give him anything. He just wants to be able to afford health insurance.

“There has to be a way,” he says.
Source: NPR

For low cost high quality surgery abroad or discount medical services in the United States, call Healthbase at 1-617-418-3436.

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This is an older post of mine, and having read Mom Trend’s post, she incited me to bring it back.

When you have a working family, often times you don’t qualify for any sort of state/government help. (A hand UP) And lets be honest with ourselves, times are tough. Now if you are stricken with an illness … brace yourself. Because it’s not an easy walk.

If you are fortunate enough to find a Dr. to see you without insurance, it’s going to likely cost around $100 for JUST an “office visit/call”. That isn’t counting any other tests, or prescriptions they may give you. If you are REALLY lucky you might find a Dr. in your area that will see you on a sliding fee scale, based on what your income is. This is where I got lucky. But I was still stuck with the fact that the Dr. had just written me SEVEN new prescriptions. Holy cow. And even with a sliding scale, I don’t feel like I get adequate medical care.

One alone for 3 months is $800.
And the others are very comparable in cost. No way could my family afford this, yet on the other hand, my family can’t afford to lose me either. Talk about being between a rock a hard place.

Here is a few things about prescriptions that I discovered, and have helped me / my family out tremendously. I hope these few things can help your family out as well.

How to get help with your prescriptions.

There are MANY programs that will assist you in making sure you qualify, which level you qualify at, and getting the applications sent in. This is often referred to as Patient Assist. Many drug manufacturers have this, a few that I know of are:

~ Pfizer They have more than one patient assist level. So be sure to ask about the others.

~ Astra Zeneca ships medications via fedex or usps.

~ Ely Lily You often pick these up at the Dr.’s office.

These are literally just a FEW of the MANY drug manufacturers that have programs to help patients.

If it’s a drug / pharmaceutical company and manufactures medicines, CHECK ON PATIENT ASSIST!

And don’t forget the $4 prescriptions at Wal-Mart.

New and transferred prescriptions at K-Mart will land you a $10 gift card. And I think they have a $5 medications list. Do this while they are doubling coupons to $2, and you could walk out of there with the mother load!

Another note for Wal-Mart and K-Mart, ASK your Dr. for a 3 month supply if you are sure you may be taking a certain medicine for that long, it’s $9 for a 3 month supply.

Having been diagnosed with lyme disease and rocky mountain spotted fever in Sept. of 2008, I have found these programs a blessing. Sure it’s sometimes a pain to take care of the paper work, but when a single medication for just a 3 months supply is $900, you easily choose the hassle of paper work.

Schnucks gives free anti-biotics, THIS is AWESOME.

Are there other places that I haven’t mentioned here that help with prescription medications, or offers a perk for new/transferred prescriptions?

Click to visit NetWorkingWitches.com For Other Tips,Tricks, And Cost Cutting Measures!

As those of you who’ve kept up with this blog are aware, My Beloved One’s son now lives with us.  He’s taken to molesting the cat with stifling attention as he was once taught to do with a service-dog at Parry Center.  Only, our cat is not a dog, and he doesn’t seem to have the slightest interest in being a service-cat.  So, while the boy cradles the cat, the cat stretches his claws, contorts his back and tail into strange shapes, and goes a wee bit cross-eyed, wondering what on earth he did to have the life hugged out of him.

“Don’t torture the cat” we say.
“It’s a coping skill!” the boy points out.

It’s difficult to find an argument for that.  Will the boy feel the same about coping skills when the cat copes with the violation of overzealous affection, and sticks a claw in the boy’s eye?

“The cat flippin’ scratched me!” I imagine the boy shouting, as he kicks the cat.
“It’s his coping skill!” we could say, defending the cat, but then the boy might kick us.

Our coping skill for this situation has been to keep the cat shut away in the bedroom, safe and sleeping, during the boy’s hyper.  It was yesterday morning, during this sort of ‘keep them separated’ moment, that I—still foggy from waking only seconds before—tried the three step method: 1. open the bedroom door quickly, 2. walk through it very quickly, and 3. shut it behind me quickly so that the cat doesn’t get out.  Thus, I would have done my duty of keeping the cat away from the boy, and the boy away from the cat.  All would be well; the cat would still have a tail, the boy would still have two eyes, and I would be staggering on my way to the kitchen for my morning meeting with the coffee pot.

Alas, I failed the three step method.  As I opened the door to shoot myself out, I shot my foot into the door frame instead of into the living room.  Of all the petty annoyances to put up with first thing in the morning!  I’ve simply got bad luck with feet, in general.  When I was Nine I jumped off of the monkey-bars and broke my foot.  When I get a new pare of shoes—as walking is my means of transportation—they last about two months, then I’ve walked a hole into one or both of the soles.  Thumb tacks, nails, and metal coat hangers have all taken turns lodging in one foot or the other, and I stub my toes curiously frequently.  But I could tell—even before the sound of my foot meeting the door frame registered—that something was somehow out of order.

“Good God that hurt!” I thought to myself.  Though, I’d already scrambled to the kitchen and made a cup of coffee when my Beloved One pointed out I’d broken my wee toe, and hopefully not part of the foot its attached to.  Ahah!  That made sense of the strange circumstances of my wee toe; why the bottom side was bleeding, and the top side was starting to swell and compete for prominence with the intendedly big toe at the other end of the line up.  That’s why it felt as though my foot was being beaten repeatedly by a sledge hammer I couldn’t see.  It explained—perfectly—the new, strange, and annoying pain from such a small part of the body.  Small part of the body, small pain, but a strange sort of pain that’s actually pissed me off a bit!

I spent yesterday split between to modes.  Half spent fussing over my wee toe, icing it and elevating it.  The other half spent ignoring it, grunting, and hobbling around to get things done, the logic of which I tried to explain to the boy as we walked to the store to get groceries for dinner…

“Is it broken?”  he asked, sweetly.
“So it seems,” I confessed.
“Does it hurt?”
“Yes.”
“But you’re still walking!”
“There are things that need to be done.  Life doesn’t stop because of owies.”

I was hoping he’d say something sage-like (for a boy), such as “I think I get it”, or even “that sucks!” but such a response never came.

This morning the swelling seems to have gone down a wee bit.  That is to say, whilst it is still swollen, it no longer looks like a glow worm finger puppet.  What’s new this morning is some spectacular polka-dotted bruising.  One purple stripe down the wee toe, and a blue smudge near the toe next to it.  My Beloved one keeps urging me to go to the Doctor, but as I have no insurance, I don’t see the productivity of doing that.  It’d be one thing if I’d accidentally cut off half a leg with a chainsaw, but with something like this, what’s the point?  Why go to confirm that something is wrong, without actually being given anything to improve it.  I’m sure they might wrap it to the toe next to it, and give a prescription for a crutch or a cane to help the wobbles, but a prescription doesn’t really help me.  No insurance, and not enough to fill the scrip, let alone pay the overstuffed doctor’s bill in the post a month from now.

Who knows what the day shall bring.  The question of dinner for tonight has already raised its ugly head.

At least I had already arranged for both yesterday and today off.  It’s back to work tomorrow, and the five days following.

©  Jeffrey Puukka, 2009.

By Michael MacLeod

A YOB branded “Scotland’s worst teenager” has been ordered to go to boot camp.
Gavin Inkster, 19, got an ASBO banning him from the whole of Midlothian after terrorising his neighbours by breaking into houses and stealing cars.

But less than a week after getting Scotland’s first ever county-wide ban, Inkster was caught driving his mum’s car while disqualified and uninsured.

Today (Wed) in court he also admitted breaking bail orders having strayed into Dalkeith, Midlothian, on at least two occasions after picking up the ASBO.

His own lawyer described him as “very foolish”, while Sheriff Kathrine Mackie blasted him as “someone totally out of control.”

He will now be sent to an intensive three-week residential course at Venture Trust in Ross-shire, where young offenders are urged to change their ways.

Inkster, a former binman who has been living with his girlfriend after being booted out of his family home, will be heading to the Highland offenders camp having broken his 8am to 8pm curfew.

The Midlothian-wide ban was imposed at the start of August.

In trouble again

But it took just a matter of days for Inkster to land himself in trouble again, Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard.

Police visited his Musselburgh home on August 18 but could not find him.

They returned the following day, but again he was nowhere to be found.

In fact, Inkster had been out driving his mother’s car – despite being banned from the roads.

His defence agent Carol Gowans said: “He committed road traffic offences on August 19.

“These were very foolish actions, assisted by his mother. It was she who allowed him to drive.

“He was in his mum’s car and she was a passenger. She has had an operation on her leg last year and it was sore so she asked him to drive her somewhere.

“She knew that he didn’t have any insurance or a licence to drive.”

Sullen expression

An “absolutely astonished” Sheriff Mackie then criticised Inkster’s “passive” attitude to the justice system.

She said: “His mother must have known her son was disqualified from driving and at the very least known he wasn’t insured.

“I find that situation absolutely astonishing for a mum.

“Currently Mr Inkster doesn’t display any emotion to this in court – he is very passive.

“He shows a sullen expression.”

Referring to Midlothian Council’s failed attempt to ban Inkster from the county, Sheriff Mackie said a psychological report would now be needed to solve his problems.

She said: “While one must always take great care with these issues, the reports in the paper suggest he is someone totally out of control.

“He is simply on a spree.

“In the council’s probation progress report, the author suggests there is some kind of underlying problem with his behaviour.

“I don’t know. It is either that or he is just bad.

“That would suggest we are at the tip of an iceberg here.”

Notorious

The Sheriff told Inkster that she expects him to have completed the three-week Venture Trust course in time for his sentencing in court in November.

Police Inspector John McGill said last month’s decision to ban Inkster from Midlothian was taken to “protect the community.”

He said: “His family come from the Woodburn area of Dalkeith and that is why he was coming into Midlothian, to see friends and family. He is one of a few notorious troublemakers there.

“These orders work similarly to bail conditions and if he is seen coming into Midlothian he will be arrested.”

A police insider had also said: “I would say he was Scotland’s worst teenager.

“He may brag now and make out it’s a big joke, but he’d be knocked down a few pegs in prison.”

Midlothian Council previously claimed the case proved they were getting tough on antisocial behaviour.

They said: “The council will continue to utilise aspects of the antisocial behaviour act to ensure the safety of its residents.”

In response to my previous post, I received this scolding by someone who enjoys having power over who gets health care but does not want his name used:

Anonymous said…
This might be funny, if you knew what you were talking about. Health care should be available to everyone, and there is a lot of misinformation being spread by republican’ts.

Aren’t you sucking off of the gov’t with your cancer care? Or are you blessed to have health care from one of your many many many ex husbands? Maybe we should take your care away from you, and see how you do. How would you feel then? Oh wait, you woulnd’t, because you’d be dead.

I don’t usually take the time to respond to self righteous morons but in case any one else thinks what this one thinks, I have to set the record straight.

I have NO insurance, no medical, no dental, no prescription, no eye care.

My doctor charges me $80 a visit and when I was beaten up by some nut last May, they wouldn’t let me in to see him even though, for once, I was not in their debt at that time. They told me to go to the emergency room. I said that it was stupid to go there and owe thousands of dollars when I could owe the doctor 80 bucks. They said, “The hospital has access to indigient care, we don’t.” So, I went home and stayed at home putting heat on my injuries because I didn’t know what else to do and I was ABSOLUTELY NOT about to take services away from indigent funds that should be spent on children. I currently need another 80 bucks to go to the doc to get refills on my heart med, blood pressure med, anti-seizure med. Although it’s not a very good idea, I can go without my Prozac and Xanax. Also, the doctor keeps telling me to get certain lab tests which I can’t afford so when I go back, he scolds me again. I feel guilty about not listening to him but I feel worse about having to tell him the truth, I just can’t afford it.

Last week I broke a very high profile tooth. I had no money to have it fixed so I traded my most prized possession (after my kids of course) to a dentist in exchange for a root canal and a tooth build up. He gave me a prescription for pain medicine but I only had 16 bucks and my animals needed food. So, instead of a narcotic after a root canal, I bought a bunch of Alpo and Aristocats Cat Food. That damn tooth still hasn’t stopped hurting and now the pain is in my jaw too. The dentist didn’t agree to anything else than what he already did. I don’t know what to do but for now, I have other problems that are more pressing. I’ll post a picture of my fridge for you. It’s embarrassing but not any more than taking food stamps from children and old people.

When I do have to pick up a prescription, I call Costco and Wal-mart because my pharmacy price matches and I can get them cheaper that way…but I still have to pay for my own medicine. Once again, it’s embarrassing to answer “No.” to the question, “Don’t you have any insurance?” But, even if I wanted to lie and say I did, I’d never get away with it because I couldn’t produce the necessary information.

Oh, and don’t let me forget my eyeglasses. I can’t see a damn thing without them but I stepped on them months ago and they’re broken beyond repair. One ear piece is still there so I wear two thirds of my glasses when I’m at home so that I can see the TV. It’s too embarrassing to go out like that and since I don’t have the money to get a new pair, I just don’t go out like that.

I’m behind on my rent so badly and all I can do for my landlord right now is clean the heck out of his house, do my best to manicure his lawn and then leave before I end up owing him more than I already do. I’m so ashamed that I let him down because he’s been terribly good to me over the years. But as I try to come up with the most responsible, decent and correct thing to do, I’m left with the reality of having to tell him that, despite all of the faith he has had in me over the years…I can’t handle it anymore and promise to repay every favor he has ever done me.

Everybody who knows my situation has asked me why I don’t try to get some sort of government help. I’ve gotten myself out of messes before and I am still praying that I can dig myself out of this hole. Like a person working out who begins to see new muscles, a sense of pride can also be quite addictive. 

I’m not perfect but if I had accepted assistance from one person, one agency or one church…I wouldn’t be in the dire straights in which I currently find myself. But any help that I took would have to be repaid and I’m already in a financial deficit.

So do yourself a favor, before you make assumptions about me, or any other fellow human, remember than there are things that you don’t know and look inside to see if you could find the strength and maturity to take the high road. It’s really worth the climb.

Well, obviously I’m not dead…but I don’t really feel well at all.

Have a great day and God Bless!

My fridge is like a bachelor's, nothing but condiments with no food to put them on.

Ok God, listen here.  I know I prayed for you to help me lose a couple of pounds, but come on already!

I feel like I have so much to say but don’t know where to start.  I tell you when you, all your kids and your husband get sick it really takes a toll on you.  Not sick like, a cold sick, sick like can’t keep anything in you sick. 

I already have a hard time staying hydrated and so this has really thrown my body for a loop.  I will be surprised if I don’t end up in the hospital.  I usually do.  I pray I don’t especially since I have NO INSURANCE!  Lord knows we have enough medical bills as it is.

My muscles hurt so bad.  I don’t even know how to explain it.  It’s like my biceps for instance, there are 2 people playing tug of war.  My right arch of my foot is hurting so bad it is like it has a big bruise.  My neck and back are super sore, and to top it off I woke up (with Jarek screaming) to a sore throat last night. 

Taea has a rash now that is spreading.  It is on her thighs right now.  So, I am not gonna play with it, she has a dr appt at 10am today.  I don’t really have the energy to drive her but she’s gotta get there.  Unfortunately, I think the dr office is where we got this crap.  We were all fine until Monday night. (we were in the dr office Monday afternoon)

Monday the dr diagnosed the boys with Hand foot and mouth.  You should look it up because I don’t really know that much about it.  It’s can show up as canker sores in the mouth, and sometimes, rashes on hands and feet.  (boys don’t have rashes, only sores)  Micah actually was even symptomatic.  She just happened to look at him and see the sores in the back of his throat.  Honestly, I am not convinced that is what it is but hey, we will see.

My fingers are even hurting typing this so I better go save my energy. 

Please being praying for our families health.  This is really getting old and I don’t know how much more I can take.

Pain and Depression can go hand in hand

When it comes to chronic disease, we all have setbacks. Since last Wednesday I’ve been experiencing a flare. It’s honestly the first that I’ve had in a very long time that was quite this bad. It could be due to stress or medications or both. Compared to how I used to feel before alternative medications, this flare is a breeze. I can still lift my shoulders, tie my shoes and walk without wincing. Flares can vary so you never know what you’re going to get. For me, having Rheumatoid Arthritis can sometimes feel less of a joint disease and more of a systemic disease. For those of you that don’t know, RA can affect the organs just as much as the joints and it can mimic other diseases like Lupus.  I can see what’s happening to my joints….my fingers get more swollen than usual, but when it comes to my organs I can only guess what’s happening.

These last few days I’ve been getting up in the morning and feeling like I’ve smoked a pack of cigarettes. I don’t even know what that would feel like but I’m guessing this feeling is similar. There’s a sense of congestion and heaviness, accompanied with some discomfort to breathing especially if I bend over and especially when I first get up. Just like my joints, this feeling lessens as the day goes on. There are times that it feels like my heart is beating harder or having trouble….could it be Pericarditis? I simply don’t know. And there are moments when my sides have dull aches as if someing inside me is a bit more swollen than normal. Times like these I can only guess what’s going on. Without insurance, there is no way of knowing without going to the doctor and paying an arm and a leg.  Seeing that I can barely afford my supplements on my own, I simply can’t afford a doctor’s visit. Besides, I know the answer to the problem…..reduce the inflammation in my body and everything will be solved, including my sour mood.

If only it were that easy. I could take some Prednisone which sits in my cupboard. But after a year of trying to get off that stuff, no thanks. I’d rather not feel even more moody than I already feel which is what Prednisone would do to me.  Flares are bound to happen from time to time. I have been lucky to avoid having a flare for the past six months or so. I’m also lucky that this one isn’t all that bad. When I did have a doctor I had the same complaints: chest pain and congestion, rib pain, organ pain, and just about everything and everywhere hurt. Knowing that I have the least amount of pains now that I don’t have a doctor, it makes it all the more simpler to not worry and just keep going on with my life. A flare will eventually subside.

Extreme tiredness is another problem that accompanies most chronic diseases. It doesn’t seem to matter how many hours of sleep I get, I’m still tired. I can say however, the more I sleep, generally the less pain I wake up with. Depression is the other thing that pulls me down. People close to me try to perk me up and they say, “Don’t let yourself get depressed.” It’s hard to have that kind of self control. You go to lift something and you realize you don’t have the strength. You plan a day of activities to realize you don’t have the energy. You have aches and pains and have no way of relieving them. People want to spend time with you but you don’t want to spend time with them…..you are at a loss for words and feel like you might fall asleep in their presence. You find yourself stuttering. You spend more than your share of time in the bathroom to accomplish nothing. (Inflammation of the intestines can make you very constipated). People cook you food and you barely eat. I think faking the way I really feel takes its toll and adds to the depression. People ask on the phone, “How are you doing?” You answer, “Fine and how are you?” But the real answer would depress other people. “I feel extremely tired and sad that my weekend was taken away from me.” People don’t want to hear that so you hold it in and take one for the team, the chronically ill team that is.

What’s it like to have a chronic disease? Well, honestly it really takes it’s toll on your body and spirit,  especially when you’re going through a flare. The pain, the medications, the tiredness….none of it is easy. I can say that since I’ve been treating myself with alternative medications I feel WAY better than before, when I was on chemotherapy drugs and steroids. But even this path isn’t easy for reasons like expense, feeling alone on this particular path, and the amount of pills I have to take can be annoying and tiring.

At first I thought twice about writing an entry like this. After all, it can make people feel uncomfortable. But then I thought, why can’t I just be honest? Why spare other people and hold in these emotions?  Is this too much information? Perhaps it is but I don’t care. At least you know when you come to my blog you’ll get the truth and the real me.  Thanks to all out there, who visit.  You are my support and I appreciate you.

Limited Edition Framed Photos: 8×10: $125, 11×14: $150

Cook County Hospital opened its doors in 1914. Until 1967, the hospital set the standards for excellent medical training. During the 1920s, more than 42000 patients were treated on a yearly basis. In 1928 Cook County Hospital added a children’s hospital, men’s hospital, as well as a number of medical pavillions. These renovations made Cook County Hospital one of the largest hospitals in the country. Over the next 50 years new buildings were erected making waves for new renovations in order to keep up with its endless flow or patients. In 1939 the world’s first blood bank opened at Cook County Hospital. Its emergency room/trauma ward was one of the nation’s largest as well. In the 1980s, it was named the busiest hospital in the nation. Over 100000 people passed through the emergency rooms annually. The hospital started to show its signs of decay and in 1998 the Cook County Board of Commissioners took the final steps to approve construction for a brand new Cook County hospital, Stroger Hospital. During my four photo journeys to Cook County Hospital I witnessed much of the hospital’s demolition. Only one building out the original thirteen still stands, as it received a landmark status in the 1990s. I personally found the hospital to be one of the most interesting and overall vast facilities I have ever photographed. I lost myself at times in its seemingly endless hallways and rooms. In the time I spent photographing what remained of the hospital’s trauma wards, I was faced with strange noise I could not account for. I feel that if any place might have paranormal activities, this might be the place…the place where Chicago’s poor went to die for nearly a century.

More than 18 million auto accidents occur each year. On average, that is 49,315 accidents per day. Therefore, the likelihood of being involved in an auto accident is much greater than that of any other form of transportation.

Auto insurance does protect the majority of us in the case that an auto accident should occur; however, there are many individuals who have elected to carry only liability insurance. This choice makes the allowable coverage available for victims relatively low. Then, there are also the individuals who disregard the law and choose not to carry any auto insurance at all.

Unfortunately, if you are involved in an auto accident and are lucky enough to only sustain even somewhat minor injuries, an individual who has only liability insurance may not have enough coverage available to pay for your medical expenses. Worse yet, if you are involved in an auto accident and the person at fault has no auto insurance coverage at all, you may be forced to foot the bill for any medical expenses that are incurred as a result of your sustained injuries.

In such instances, there is a way to protect yourself.  Seeking the services of an attorney who specializes in auto accident claims can help to ensure that you will receive the proper compensation for your injuries as well as any damages to your vehicle, providing that the accident was no fault of your own.

It is always wise to contact an attorney in such instances because an insurance company will attempt to get you to accept as little as possible for your injuries. Your auto accident attorney should be one that you feel comfortable dealing with. Further, if your injuries are severe, your attorney can come to you and then act on your behalf to file your claim.

Don’t deal with the insurance company on your own. Instead, enlist the help of an attorney who has been involved in cases like yours before.  They can get you the compensation that you truly need and deserve.

I grew up in a “women don’t sweat” type of family.  My dad did not watch sports on television and neither did my brother.  The closest we got to physical activity was once, my brother and I, played badminton.  We did not go to the beach.  We would do a ‘walk’ on our vacation. It certainly wasn’t a hike. I was hardly allowed to ride my bike because I might get hit by a car.  Mom was a bit overprotective, but, then again, I never got hit by a car. 

I was last picked to play ball and I hated gym, so when I started the Body for Life program, I was thoroughly amazed at how good it felt to lift weights.  Me, can’t hit a ball with a stick, me and I love weight lifting. 

I had worked hard for nine months, alternating weight lifting and the treadmill, in 2005, and I lost (drumroll please) not one ounce; muscles weigh more than fat.  I did lose two dress sizes however, and I felt better than I ever felt: weak ankles, gone; floating knee caps, gone; weak arms, gone; aching back, gone.  I could throw around clay with the best of them.  I was strong and I knew I would never be weak again.

The main reason I had gotten into this is that I was watching my mother deteriorate and I said, to myself, that I was not going to go down that road.  That road included weakness, illness, resting to walk down a hall and instability, and I was strong.

In 2005, there were no commercials on television telling a woman that one reason she is tired could be her heart.  I could have been the poster ‘woman’ for that commercial.  I woke up one morning so exhausted I couldn’t lift weights, or run.  Just overnight, I was exhausted.  I could barely walk, and over the next two years, I got so bad that I could not make it to open the door for irritating Chihuahua to go outside. 

“Why didn’t you go to the doctor, you ask.”  I did.  I didn’t have insurance though so the A.N.P. (some type of nursing practitioner) that I got to see checked my thyroid four times over the next two years and told me I was “just under stress.”  Of course, she never even hinted at a treatment for the “just stress” that was slowly killing me. 

Then, the doctor’s office called me in and told me not to return for three months because I was “just under stress.”  There’s a lot more to the story, like blood pressure being twenty points different in each arm and a cardiologist who was pretty sure he knew what was wrong but his hands were tied by the corporation he worked for.  So, when they told me not to return to their office, I came home and announced, “They have sent me home to die.”

Then, on the internet, I found the wonderful people of St. Francis hospital.  I went into their free cardiac clinic and two hours later was seeing a cardiologist, who scheduled me for a cardiac catherization.  It took a total of seven days before I was having emergency open heart surgery.  I had a spasming artery to my heart (could it have been caused by stress?  Possibly)  I also had 70% blockage, but they said that could have waited.

When you don’t have insurance, you do not have rehabilitation.  So, it has taken me two years but, as a birthday present for myself, I finally felt strong enough to start Body for Life again. 

I recently read some negative things about this program, but I am here to tell you there is no pressure.  There is no one saying, “you can’t get anywhere, if you don’t use forty pound weights.”  Just the opposite, is the case.  I am starting off with two pound weights and actually I have also had to modify the program for now.  Last time, I did all the reps right from the beginning.  I have to listen to my body, so that I have the energy to do other things.  It is a great program and I love it. 

I am literally using two pounds on the upper body and one set of reps.  I went up to three pounds a couple of weeks ago and my rib cage hurt so much that I went back down. I am also eating smaller portions and healthier food.  It all goes hand in hand, folks. 

Since February 2, I have lost eleven pounds, and I’m loving that part too.  I’m sweating and I’m loving it all.

So far 10,000 “Racing – Stunt Driving Charges have been laid in Ontario since this law came into affect just over a year ago.

The charge was imposed as a result of an actual “Street Racing” Tragedy on highway 400. A Truck Driver had to ditch his 18 wheeler to save many peoples lives because street racers cut people off and caused several accidents. The truck driver did not make it and was hailed a hero for saving so many peoples lives by his actions.

The vast majority of Ontarians have been extremely supportive of this charge, as they are being left with the belief that 10,000 street racers have been taken off the road. It is great to get street racers off the streets, and I believe maybe these penalties should be imposed on them; but these are not the people who are being charged with these severe offences!

People have been charged with this offence for driving 50 km/h over the speed limit (without changing lanes or passing other vehicles), some for spinning their tires in the rain, others for simple fender benders in a snow storm. The fact is that this that this charge is so broad almost every offence in the Highway Traffic Act is covered in the Racing-Stunt Driving Charges.

Once an Police officer deems that you committed an act that they believe constitutes a Stunt-Driving Offence – Immediately a 7 day license suspension is imposed, the vehicle used during the offence is towed (whether you own it or not), you are then left to pay for the towing charges and 7 days impound storage charges (roughly $1500).

While there are high number of teenagers and young adults being charged with this debilitating offence. The average age of a stunt driving offender is 30! Meaning as much as the 21 year olds are getting caught, there a lot of people over 50 getting caught. Street racing won’t get stopped by this law.

Everyday unsuspecting people are left with no vehicle at the side of the highway. Most officers using no discretion and laying these debilitating charges very liberally; in the past officers have left young women, men, families with young children, the elderly and yes even priests at the side of the super highways with no vehicle, no way home!

People and families left at the side of the highway are left in unsafe situations; Not exactly for the better good. When this charge is taken to trial the people charged with this offence face a further $2000 – $10,000 fine, 6 Demerit Points, up to 2 years further license suspension, and imprisonment.

If you are charged with this offence you should never try to self represent yourself. Seek Legal representation as soon as possible!

For more information visit our website http://gtatrafficticket.com

Disability can be challenging when they happen, more often than you think, it
can happen to anyone. An accident can be financially devastating to you and
your family.

Anyone can become disabled. An unfortunate auto accident, weekend sport injury,
or sudden illnesses can leave you unable to work. More than a millions people have
left the the U. S. workforce due to a disabling condition, and many workers never
return to work following a disability.

Two-thirds of American families live from paycheck to paycheck. American
saving are at and all time low.

You can wipe out life time of saving should you have a serious illness or injury.
We have found that most families do not have the money set a side to handle the
cost associated with serious illness or injury.

Three in 10 workers entering the work force today will become disabled before retiring.

One in 7 workers can expect to be disabled for five years or more before retirement

According to the Federal Reserve, 44% of U.S. families spend more than they earn.

70% of the private sector workforce has no long-term disability insurance.

Illnesses and accidents are on the rise in America, causing more workers to miss
work and lose income. At some time during their working careers, three out of
every 10 workers will suffer a disability and be unable to work for a significant
period of time.

Loss of income can be devastating. Today, it’s more important than ever for
workers and their families to understand how they would manage their regular
expenses during a period of lost income and make sure they’re prepared.

Planning ahead in case disability strikes makes good sense. Building a personal
financial security plan can help you get an idea of the financial hardship disability
may cause you and your family.

It’s hard to imagine becoming disable. But accidents and illnesses can happen to anyone-at any time. Disability is more common than you think.

Three in 10 workers entering the work force today will become disabled before retiring.

One in 7 workers can expect to be disabled for five years or more before retirement. It’s critical to prepare for disability – just like you would plan for any other family financial need – because a disability could seriously hurt your family’s financial security.

Most American Workers are not covered by disability insurance. Being aware of and planning for the financial impact that a long-term disability could have on your financial lifestyle for all people earning and income. you could also lose your savings, your retirement funds and even your home.

Your greatest asset is your ability to work and earn an income. Without that, alternative sources of income can help support you and your family’s lifestyle and financial security. Making a Financial Plan is a good start to help you and your family prepare should a disability interrupt your ability to earn a living. For comparitive insurance quote  <a href=”http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=141543&u=283599&m=18911&urllink=&afftrack=”>Have you been quoted lately?  Visit MYsurance.net today for free insurance quotes from GEICO, State Farm, AAA, AIG, Esurance, Aflac, and more.</a>  or more information visit my blog: @http://2brio-wolfen.blogspot.com

*edit*–I was reading the blogs on my blogroll as I do every day. Yesterday I found a guy who was abused and I read some of his blog entries and put him on my blogroll. I went to read him today and saw his latest post–it included such kind words about me and a link here to my blog. It brought me to tears and I want to link to that post. Thank you Donnie! The post is here! Now back to your regularly scheduled reading! hah

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I am sitting here doing my stupid dialysis. I was an hour late getting started–We usually get it going by 8:00 am on Mon., Wed, and Fri., but I was so tired this morning, still drained from this chest thing I have, that I begged Kev to let me sleep until 9:00. I woke up coughing up blood tinged—stuff. YUCK. I am pretty sure now I have pneumonia again. I am trying to wait it out until Friday when I have my doctor’s appointment. If the blood gets any heavier, I will have to go before then *le sigh*. Ahh, Kevin just brought my coffee to me…it is a routine on dialysis day. I tend to get headaches from it, we think it might be that cleaning my blood might put me into caffeine withdrawal, so the coffee does help a little. I still get mild headaches, leg cramps and shit. I hope that it finally gets easier to take, I don’t know. Blah.

I am still worried about what the doctor is going to tell me on Friday about my Tramadol. I really don’t think I could take the withdrawals from it–and I know my life will be hell with NO pain meds at all in my system *SIGH*. Just pray that either he can keep writing them, since they aren’t a really strong narcotic OR that my “fairy godmother(father)” comes through and I can go to pain management (which would be the ultimate help for me). I have had numerous people say “Kevin has money, why can’t HE pay for your pain management?”, well–go read his blog HERE and you will see why he can’t. I have checked all over my area, there are NO programs to help me. I am not eligible for Medcaid until the stupid government declares me “disabled”. WHAT THE FUCK more do they have to see? I have terminal leukemia, I am on dialysis, I have COPD, I have DDD (severe degenerative disk disease), my heart isn’t pumping blood like it should, yet they want to keep fighting me. My mother says they are just waiting for me to die so they won’t have to pay me all that back pay they owe me. WHATEVER, I would gladly say “Screw the back pay, just give me my monthly check and my MEDICAID”. That medicaid is worth it’s weight in gold to me. Not only would it pay for most of my medications, it would pay for my doctor visits, pain management, any hospitalizations or tests I might need. It will also pay for people to come to my home and help me with things, like cleaning house, monitoring my blood  pressure, diabetes, etc., etc. All help I really could use!

I am lucky that my doctors only charge me 15.00 an office visit, but unfortunately the pain management doctor won’t do that, so I am just screwed unless someone comes through to help me. They ”can’t” help me with pain meds unless I see the pain management doctor, BUT if/when I decide to go off of dialysis they have told me that they will get hospice in and they will give me all the pain meds I need to “keep me comfortable” until I die (which would be 10-14 days after stopping dialysis). So they will give me pain meds if I give up and say “Fuck it”, but they won’t give me pain meds to help me live *SIGH*. Ah well. We will see what happens, huh?

I am off today, no DJing, Wednesdays are my usual day off. I had someone just send me an IM wanting me to DJ on New Year’s Eve to help with an online party they are having, New Year’s Eve falls on my day off, so I will have to see if I can get one of the DJ’s to switch shifts with me. Let’s see if they will. Hell I can’t go out and party on New Year’s Eve, why not ring it in with Kev, my wife D and my listeners?

Ok I am tired of typing right now. More later.

Well, it started with Peanut, moved to Pookie, Husband and then me. I am better. Pookie is going to the doctor tomorrow because she is complaining of her ear hurting and she has green stuff in her nose. No fever but it has been a couple of weeks and she is prone to sinus infections. There is so much going around her class at school. Several children were out for a week or more due to croup, strep, ear infections. Peanut is better but still has a yucky nose. I am keeping an eye on her. She seems to feel better though. She typically does run fever so it is easier to tell.

Husband went to the doctor tonight after feeling yucky all day and we discovered he has a really nasty ear infection and sinus infection. Since we are without insurance for a few more weeks the doctor visit was $50 which is pretty cheap and the antibiotic was free. He specifically asked for this one because at Publix you can get some drugs for free. Thank you Lord!

It is crazy that this time of year is when all these nasty little bugs go around. We use our fair share of hand sanitizers and soaps. I think it is does help but my ultimate weapon is prayer. I pray every night against all sorts of illnesses and diseases. I used to just pray nothing would come nigh us but now I get specific after Pookie had a stomach virus or food posioning in January and we had to take her to the ER. We were there for 12 hours. She was so sick. She had to miss a week of school. So I definitely pray against specific illnesses now.

Last night after getting in from an affair I smelled a funny odor in the house.  At first it was faint and I didn’t pay much attention to it.  But as the night worn on…nearly an hour or so later…the smell became more and more evident to me.

Finally, I got up and started sniffing around.  It is funny how much like animals we are.  But that is what I did.  I started sniffing and began discounting area after area.  But the smell was growing. 

I started thinking about the possibility of a fire being inside the walls.  We have all heard those stories.  How for nearly a week the family smelled something and didn’t know what it was. 

Besides, I had recently had to unplug my diesel truck when I had smelled something upon awakening in the middle of the night…something that very much smelled to me like fresh popped pop corn.  It wasn’t fresh popped pop corn…but turned out to be the outlet that I had plugged to the truck.  More to be exact it was one of those multi-plug things we all use for our computers and everything else we have to plug in.  But the extension cord running from inside the house to truck is constantly on…and I guess the outlet just couldn’t take it. 

Upon sniffing…I found out I didn’t have a pop corn problem but an electrical outlet problem.  Which I quickly solved by unplugging the cord and cutting off the multi-outlet.  But because I have seen so many Christmas news stories about electrical outlets and Christmas trees…and of course those electrical extension cords causing fires…that I didn’t hestitate to unplug the whole thing for good. 

When I smelled what I smelled this time…I immediately began to assume that maybe I hadn’t solve that problem at all.

I thought that maybe even though I had unplugged the truck and killed the outlet switch…that perhaps it had caused a fire to start in the inside of my parents house’s wall.  So, I sniffed and I sniffed but when I went near the area of the shut-off multi-plug outlet there was nothing.  Now, Sherlock really had to go to work because the smell was getting stronger…and I felt an urgent need to find it.

While I was sitting in a certain area of the dinning room the smell seemed it’s strongest.  But there was nothing there.  And when I sniffed the area…I could smell nothing outside of a whiff of the smell.

That is when I decided I better go check downstairs in the basement.

When I opened the door leading towards the back hallway of my parent’s house the smell suddenly grew stronger.  Now, I knew…I was on the right track.

As I started down the stairs, I felt heat like I had never felt before from down there.  I was hit with like a wall of heat.   Immediately I headed for the furnace.  And the furnace it was.

It was all lit up…bustling red hot…it was as I had never seen it before.  The coils running out at the bottom of furnace were red hot…and this was something that never was before.

I tried to look and see if the furnace was out of water.  And as far I could tell it was.

So, I reached up and took the knob to the water pipe and began to release water down into the furnace.  But the furnace response to water was violent. It started making all kinds of weird noises.  I feared that the furnace was going to blow up.  Which is exactly what I thought upon seeing how red hot the elements on it were.  It looked like it was going to explode.

So, I quickly turned off the water upon hearing its reaction to the water being released into it.  And I ran up the stairs.  Well…I tried to get up the stairs as quickly as I could.  I went directly to the thermostat to the furnace, and I turned it all the way off.  I hoped that this was going keep the furnace from blowing up my parent’s house…which upon looking at that furnace that was exactly what I thought would happen.  I definitely felt that the furance was well on its way to exploding.

We have all read stories about furnaces blowing up…leveling the house and killing everybody inside.  That is just what I envisioned.

All I could think about was my parent’s house…and how it had no insurance on it.  If it were to blow up…where would I go?

What would I do?

Where…what..how could I…

Not to mention…I would have been the cause of blowing up my parent’s house….something that they had work hard for…and made all kinds of sacrifices for.

So, I prayed…and I prayed…and asked God, “Please don’t let my parent’s house blow up.”

When I awoke this morning the house wasn’t as cold as I thought that it would be.  It hadn’t blown up.  But I knew I had to call the furnace people.  Because I was not going to dare turn it back on without calling someone to come and check it out first. 

I was so happy that the house hadn’t gotten leveled to the ground…and that God once again had stepped in on my behalf.  And He did…as always.

So, a few minutes ago the furnace guys came and ran water into the now very cold furnace.  And after a while the water ran out of furnace onto the ground of our basement…which was the thing what they were looking to see if it would happen.

They then informed me of what they knew I really didn’t want to hear.  They told me that I should not have turned on the cold water but rather I should have turned off the furnace and then allowed it to cool all the way down first.  This is message to those of you reading this as to how not to end up costing yourself an additional $4,000 to $5,000 bill by having to replace your furnace. 

Yes, that is what I have to do. 

I must pay to have a whole new furnace put in because I reacted without thinking before turning on that cold water.  This was something we have all learned in our grade school science class…but who remembers this stuff when thrown into a situation many years later?

Though I must say…I am not sure that I may not have turned on that water anyway.  Sometimes we all learn best…when we end up having to pay for it. 

This is a lesson I have now learned…and learned it the hard way (much like that other story I told you in a prior blog when I stuck a fork into an electric toaster while the toaster was on…you’ve have got to read that blog).  But I have now well learned this lesson too.  And I am not subject to ever forget it again.

My parents used to take us to Florida during the summer to spend some time with our grandmother.  Once, while driving to Florida many years ago when we were still kids.  I had just started driving at this paricular time.  On road down to Florida, our car overheated.  I clearly remember now…how we sat along side the road waiting on the radiator to cool down before daddy poured some water into it.  I also now remember him risking burning his hand to take the cap off the radiator so the heat that had built up inside the radiator could escape.

None of that came to me last night.

Daddy was sure something.  He really was. 

Somehow, I appreciate him and all the things he did and could do a lot more now than ever before.  And it grieves me to say that…because I certainly didn’t appreciate him as much as I should have when we had him with us. 

Daddy did burn his hand.  But after a while we were soon back on our way.  And everytime we stopped…daddy got out and kept checking the radiator from that point down and all the way back home.  And he never complained about his hand.

I am so happy I didn’t blow up my parent’s house.

Who cares about that furnace….that can easily be replaced.  Yes, it will take me some time.  And yes…I may not have any hot water either for a while.  But at least I still have roof over my head.

Let us all pray for the homeless and those facing foreclosure…and those who’s problems are not so easily fixed.

Early this morning I had the chance to meet Nikki Giovanni…and I took it.  I cut my History class and found my way down to the auditorium where she was speaking.  She was all of what I expected and much more.  But while there I ran into an old friend.

This old friend was a woman whom I have known from the days when my parents used to pack us up and send us off for 2 weeks to camp.  She was then one of the little campers…just like me.  But she told me how her daughter had died instantly in car crash on her way to the airport.  Then she commenced to tell how her sister, Darlene, has just passed.  Darlene had been a little camper with us…she was just a couple years older than her sister telling me the story.  She also told me how Darlene prior to dying had been in intensive care for 2 months.  And then she told me how she had also just buried an uncle. 

She ended it all by glancing over at me with a pair of the saddest eyes and saying, “This has been a very bad year for me.”

When you think that times are bad…or that you have it hard.  Just keep this in mind.  That there is always someone going through something worst.

Enjoy your weekend…and be bless.

Before closing let me thank each of every one of you for reading these blogs.  About a week ago my stats for these blogs were barely over a 1,000 hits.  But that isn’t bad considering I had only gotten started blogging back in June of this year…and who ever thought I would be blogging.  I didn’t even know what blogging was…much less how to do or that I cared to do it at all.  But within a weeks time from last week I have neared almost 4,000…and that is because of you.  By some time Wednesday it may be 5,000 if not more.

When I started I wondered about how people would find my blog?

There were times when only one or two people read them…but now…it is over 200 hits per day.

I think that is wonderful. I certainly would not have thought anything like that. 

Who could be interested in reading anything I have say…on anything?

I just hope that I am saying something that makes sense to you, that may inspire you…or even give you reason to pause and consider some things.  But most of all I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share with you…and be able from time to time to tell you just how good God is to me.  

Thank you so very much.

I found this picture and loved the colors so much I just could not resist including it along with this blog…it is simply called “The Wedding”…

TUESDAY…TUESDAY…TUEDAY!!!!!   Just can’t wait. 

 Even the little ones support Obama!

Have a beautiful day…and thank you for reading.

As most people know, I haven’t had health insurance for over a year now and because of this I have been paying out of pocket for any necessary medical treatment. During this time I’ve been on a specific medication that, while pricey, works well and I’m comfortable on it. Now, up until January of this year, the manufacturer of the medication provided assistance with paying for it, which was wonderful. Unfortunately they decided to take this service away from the uninsured and only offer it if you already have health insurance.

Yeah, that makes no sense to me – help the people who already have prescription coverage and pay a FRACTION of what I do. Totally fair, right?

Anyway, I got over that bump and since the change-over have been paying full price for the prescription. It’s a strain on the pocketbook, but unfortunately blood pressure isn’t something you can play with. During this time I have been using Walgreens pharmacy, exclusively because it’s convenient and they’ve never not had the medication in stock. For the past 7 months, I’ve been using the same Walgreens, which is right down the street.

Now, my first beef is the fact that everytime I go to pick it up, I’m always informed that there’s no insurance information in the system, do I know this. I always smile and nod, telling them I’m aware of that and was planning to pay full price for the medicine. I realize that it’s unusual for someone to be purchasing such a high priced medication without insurance, but it’s not like I just grew a second head. I’m not the only person in the US who doesn’t have insurance and I’m sure there are people out there paying much more than I am for other medications.

Now my second problem has been recently, after I submit for a refill online, I’ve been getting a message that there’s a delay because my insurance can’t be processed. Um, what insurance? The first time I called the person who answered, rudely informed me that my insurance was expired. I shared my surprise at this, since I don’t carry any insurance. “You realize you’ll have to pay cash then and it’s $XX.XX?” she asks, as if this is the first time I’ve ever tried to do this. I explain that I’m aware of that and haven’t had insurance for quite a while. She said she adjusted things in the computer and that my prescription would be ready for pick up the next day.

Now today, once again I get that message and the girl I speak to informs me yet again that my insurance is expired. This is after I told her at the beginning that I don’t have insurance so don’t understand what the problem is. She then, very rudely – once again – tells me I’ll have to pay cash for this. A bit exasperated I explain that I’m well aware of that and have been paying cash for quite a while now. I also tell her that I’m a little frustrated with the attitude the employees seem to approach my lack of insurance with. You’d think they’d like me better – I help improve their bottom line everytime I have to pick up my medicine. They’re getting at least $50 more out of me than any other person who walks through that door with insurance.

I just don’t appreciate the attitude and being treated like there’s something wrong with me just because I don’t have insurance. Yes, I have it now, but I don’t know if it’s going to cover my medicine yet, so I may not try and apply it to this month’s pick-up. I’m not sure yet.

All I can think is are other people who don’t have insurance faced with the same condescending attitude when they try and get medical treatment, whether it be at a doctor’s office or pharmacy. It annoys me to no end to think that the people who are having to pay the most for these treatments are somehow getting the least respect just because we don’t have a shiny plastic card with Blue Cross, CIGNA or some other insurance company’s logo on it.

Sure I have insurance now, but that doesn’t make me any better than I was before. All it really means is that my family is paying $400/mo so I can get a medication for $40 instead of $130. If it weren’t for the fact that there’s also doctors visits to consider, I’d wonder if perhaps we were getting the raw end of the deal.