I see whatever doctor that I choose (if I can find one willing to take new patients) whenever I have need. Including one general physical exam per year. No arguing about whether someone can pay. Direct cost to me? Zero. If I need to see a specialist for a non-urgent problem, frequently there's a waiting period, often substantial. Needed treatment is provided without consideration as to who's to pay. Direct cost to me? Zero. When I need urgent hospital care, I get it. No argument about who's to pay. Direct cost to me? Zero. If I am willing to accept ward care (usually 4 persons). Quite a number of people choose to carry medical insurance for semi-private or private rooms, plus a number of other medical costs above basic ones. When my need is less urgent, I may be required to wait for a time, even though I may suffer some pain, decreased mobility, or other non-debilitating illness which might make my functioning in the workplace difficult, even impossible. As my pension cheque is deposited into my bank account monthly, regardless, inability to function in my workplace is not an issue with me. When I want non-essential care, e.g. unnecessary cosmetic surgery, such as face-lift, etc. I must pay for that myself. People that meet me can take my face the way it is - or look elsewhere. I receive drugs in hospital at no cost, but must pay for them when outside (but there is a low cost plan for seniors). I must pay for ambulance service myself - often about $250.00, I hear. Many Europeans receive high quality health care - at a much lower percentage of their Gross National Product than we do in Canada, and our health care cost is a much lower percentage of our Gross National Product than in the U.S. Further, everyone is covered - but in the U.S. something more than 10% have no health care coverage, though most do receive treatment of some kind, I think. I prefer the bottom line in the health care field to be, "Do you need the care?" rather than "Who's going to pay? We have to have a profit, you know". As well as large advertising budget. Good wishes to all for high quality health care for all - at reasonable cost. joyful guy/Ed P.S. A male friend said a while ago that he didn't like having the doctor stick his finger up his rear end to check out his prostate. I said - "You think that you have problems - how would you like to be the doctor?" When he thought of the situation from that viewpoint - he agreed that he had the better part of it. P.P.S. As we bring resources from many parts of the world, process them and sell them at a profit, it seems only fair that we contribute to increased health care and education in those areas where life is ofen difficult, brutal - and short. While I am thankful, pleased and proud to be Canadian - it was an accident of birth that made me so, rather than a citizen of a much less fortunate area. So, especially as I consider myself a Christian, I feel that I owe some people there a share in my good fortune. Not only do I expect that God may have some interesting - and most likely embarrassing - questions to ask me after this realm of living - I find that He/She asks them of me now, as well. Probably show me a movie of my life as it was - and how much more help I could have been in the world had I been truly Christ-like. A movie that I don't think that I may enjoy seeing. EB

Been digging around and found this which pretty much answers my questions: Skip COBRA Conventional wisdom says that if you lose your job, you should go on COBRA right away. If you're healthy, you can almost certainly find an individual policy that offers better coverage for way less money. COBRA is meant to be a last resort, so only use it if you can't get real insurance. Don't elect COBRA until you need it Even if you can't find any other insurance options and need to use COBRA, you don't need to actually pay for it until you get sick. You have 60 days before you have to elect into COBRA and another 45 days after that before you have to pay. Once you elect, you receive retroactive coverage. So basically, don't elect until 60 days after you left the company, and don't ever pay unless you actually get sick and need the coverage (or if 105 days passes and you still don't have real insurance). With this loophole, you can be covered by COBRA for 105 days after losing your job without ever paying a dime. Here is a link that might be useful: Copied from this website

In Rita May's defense, sometimes the choices we have to make are difficult. It's easy to say that it isn't a good idea to not have health insurance. But the cost can be prohibitive. I don't know if prices are uniform all over the country or not, but I can tell you that here in California private insurance costs are outrageous. And fewer and fewer employers are offering health insurance to employees, or are making them pay a large portion of it. And because DH has had cancer, changing insurances isn't a real option for us (remember pre-existing conditions). Every year when our contract renews, of course the price goes up. Last year we were paying more than $1,100 per month for the two of us to have medical and dental. In June, when our contract came up for renewal, it was going up another $200+. So we ended up moving to a plan with less coverage to bring the cost down. And this is with a high deductible. So every month I pay for the privilege of SAYING that we have health coverage, but we pay full price until our large deductible is met (we're healthy, so deductible is never met). We argue about this subject every month when I write the check. He says we're throwing our money away. I argue that, while I agree that it's not helping us out now, chances are that as we get older we may need to be hospitalized for one thing or another and that is when the insurance will become "worth it". Many people have to choose between having health insurance and having food on the table. It isn't any wonder that there are so many uninsured. Sad, sad, sad.

Looks as though you have gotten some good advice so far but thought I would add my 2 cents. I am currently employed as a Medical Transcriptionist and thankful I only have about a year to go before I can retire. I have been a transcriptionist for approximately 33 years and have seen the profession slowly disintegrate. Our hospital started out with 10 full time employees, now we are 3 FT with 2 PT. Last week, we didn't have enough work for everyone so us 3 FT employees took a day off so the 2 part time could get their hours in (we get PTO, they don't). Our hospital installed the voice recognition system about 2 to 3 years ago and it has been downhill for us since then. As people quit, they were not replaced. There are a few doctors that will refuse to use the system and a few that the system can not pick up well enough to transcribe but that's not enough to keep everyone busy. We are now known as editors since we basically listen and follow along with the report, correct errors, etc, and not transcriptionist since we don't transcribe very much now. There are coder jobs that can be done at home as we have coders doing this and so far their positions are safe, I think we have about 10 of those still. This would be a safer position if you think this is something you would like. Hope I have helped in your decision. Lizzann