shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

If the premiums that we pay for our health insurance were deductible from our gross income, perhaps more people would be willing to purchase health insurance. Many people I know opt for $100/month cell phone expense, $100/month high-def cable TV and internet access, $375/ car payment with $275/month second car payment -- take a lavish vacation (charge it on their credit card)and make payments. Health insurance is last on their budget expense AFTER they pay for all the TOYS. It boils down to priorities.

It is hard to get any insurance to cover rare conditions even through Medicare. For example Medicare D does not cover drugs for rare conditions because they by necessity are prescribed off-label. Off-label prescribing is standard medical practice for drugs known to work, but which have not been extensively studied for rare diseases because of the enormous cost to do so. This situaion gets out of hand when there is only one drug known to work, and that drug is expensive, essenially depriving the patient of medical care.

Gerrianne has it exactly right. People across the country woudlnt be talking about health care if they budgeted for it like they do other expenses. Why is it the responsibility of the gov't to pay for our health care? Do they pay for our car insurance...life insurance....home or renters insurance...no. So why do we all expect the gov't to do so? Take reponsibility of your own life and dont rely on others to help. Which is more important $150 a month for TV, $100 a month for a cell phone or health insurance?