ok, not quoting because it gets to long.

I get what you are saying, Tab.

Here is where I was wrong. I was not intending to say the Dr. are the problem or raking in the cash. This is what I was thinking and where I see the problem with insurance.

Pt. needs a hip replacement and the insurance will not cover until it gets worse. So, the Dr. cannot fix something with a simple surgery but has to wait till it gets worse and do a more expensive surgery. This goes on and on. Many of the Dr. I talk to spend so much time trying to get the insurance to cover a pt for the care they need. Then instead of getting the care they need it ends up being above and beyond what they really need because that is the only way to g the ins. to cover it. Does that make sense? That is why I am wondering how it is always the people who screw it up.

I get there is abuse in any system and like you said that will always be there. There will always be people who do not care for themselves. I mean that is the case with anything. People have different priorities, etc. No one can agree all the same on how to raise a child and the same goes for health.

As far as younger people not needing ins. I guess I still do not agree. I mean cancer knows no age. You can have a 5 year old that comes down with an illness and catastrophic ins. is not going to cover that care. I had to have a mammogram at 26 and a lumpectomy. That would not have been covered if I did not have the insurance. I mean I could go on and on with that. That is the whole point of insurance and life insurance, etc. Sure, it is not something everyone will always need or use, but it is needed. People who lose their job and get ill are F*ucked and it should not be like that. Seniors on a fixed income are screwed when their medicine comes to 400 bucks a month and their income is 1000. I mean I do not have the answer. If I did then I would be out there shouting from the roof tops. I really do not think it is just the people who are screwing it up. Do I think there are situations out there like that, sure. I mean you stated examples in your post. I just am not convinced that is the majority.

To address the issue of Dr. being able to say they cannot treat you. Well, that is just so dang slippery. Dr. and medical personal are human. Not all Dr. are good. Not all medical personal are good. It took me 3 Dr. to treat and diagnose my thyroid problem. If I would have listened to my first Dr. who told me at 26 that I need to have my milk duct removed when I went to her about an issue with my breast leaking then I would never have caught the issue that led to the surgery. The surgeon said she was nuts and would not remove the duct and that led me to find another Dr..I guess I understand what you are saying about stupid people who expect Dr. to save them when they abuse their body, but that is the down side to being a Dr.. I would not want a Dr. being the one to play God with my life when another Dr. next door would not agree and find an alternative way to treat something.

As far as the elderly and doing unnecessary treatment. Well, I thought a life directive takes care of that, no? Maybe I am wrong. I do agree that is a shame that happens.