As you know we have government health care up here in lil ole Canada. The payment per person where I am is $44.00 a month. No matter what, the payment doesn`t increase because of an existing condition. Oh! And despite Fox News et al I have never experienced a lineup. That includes multiple cat scans and some serious surgery. Lineups only exist because of triage. You must get Osama Bin Barak to do that for you if he manages to squeeze into power. Just like your Freddy and Fanny, there seems to be something strange about the way your health system and insurance is run. The insurer`s attitude seems to be `How dare you get sick. All we want is your monthly payment.`

>No offense taken. It is simply that I work for a company in SC, whereas I'm in NC. Their coverage does not reach up here. They looked into adding me into the mix, but it was very cost prohibitive due to preexisting conditions I have. I looked into getting insurance myself and for basic stuff like office visits, Rx and major medical, it was going to be about $1,700 per month with a $5,000 annual deductible. For $2,000+ per month, it is not something I can do. But, I totally agree with you; it is on me. I am the first one to raise my hand for blame and credit, so I hold no one else responsible.
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>>Jay,
>>Don't take this post the wrong way please. I'm just curious as to the circumstances of you not having health insurance. Is it because jobs in your field in your area are so scarce you have to settle for one? Quite frankly I take the hardline conservative stance that if a person doesn't have health insurance, it's their own problem. I'm looking for enlightenment as to why you don't have it because you seem like a smart responsible guy. Again, if I offended you with this question I apologize.
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>>>Anyone have any personal experience with this condition? I have had 3 major episodes, and a handful of "minor" ones, in the past couple years. A few days ago was the worst one yet. I honestly thought I was going to die. So did the other people who came up to me and asked if they should call an ambulance. You know what kept me going? The thought during the whole thing that I had no health insurance. Ok, this isn't about not having health insurance, but rather about Pulmonary Edema, but I mention it because you were thinking to yourself that if it was that bad, I should have gone to the ER. Funny (strange) what we think about when we wonder if it might all be over. I've had 2 stents put in, and those were no fun, but this was a whole other thing. Very scary. I realize now that it is probably how I will die, and that is truly a bitch. Not being able to breath. Just wondered if anyone else was intimately familiar with this condition.