Well, it has been just about a month since we quit our jobs in SLC and having done that we lost our health insurance as well. There is COBRA, which would have allowed us to keep the same insurance we had, but the amount that we would have to pay per month for the two of us would be around $700... and to my knowledge that was only for medical, not dental. After much debate and checking into individual health insurance (which was not only expensive but had an outrageous deductible) we decided to not have health insurance. It's a scary thought, I've always had insurance...always...and our society scares you into thinking that you can't live without it (which, should anything major happen to one of us we might feel that way).
So, Saturday Jake's upper tooth that recently had a root canal and crown starts hurting. Then Sunday it starts hurting worse. Then his face starts swelling. By Monday morning I started calling dentists in Buffalo, which is the closest town, to see if anyone can get him in. Luckily the second place I called could see him that morning and the dentist there was great. He got an x-ray, did an exam, wrote for prescriptions, and made a referral for a dentist in Sheridan to get his root canal re-done...and he didn't charge us a thing!! There is something to be said for small town people... Too bad when he gets the root canal re-done next week they will be charging us... a lot...and, oh, you don't have insurance, then that will be cash upfront or don't even come to the appointment.
Poor Jake!!!
The whole reason I'm writing about this (despite the fact that Jake looks like this) is to bring up the principal of healthcare; or the lack thereof, for the people working in agriculture. I saw an article on civileats.com (a very cool website for anyone interested in anything to do with gardening/farming/good food), Your Farmer Body Needs Protection: Health Care
which basically goes over the real need for healthcare coverage for the new generation of young farmers. Farming is a tremendously physical job that requires the farmer to be in good physical shape...without good health the farmer cannot provide healthy food. So, it would be assumed that providing a basic level of insurance to farmers would be advantageous to everyone who eats food...
Why do we care so little about where our food comes from and who grows it that farmers can't even be farmers without some other 'job' to provide them health insurance and a means to pay the mortgage?
Hmmmm.....well, anyways, thought I'd provide a little 'food' for thought. I suppose I'll end my rant now so you'll come back and read my blog again some other time.
Here's a Happy picture to leave you with:
Man, I hope he is feeling better. We are in the same boat until McKay gets hired on as an employee instead of and independent contractor.
ReplyDeleteAnd BTW this post didn't feel like a rant, so lucky for you I will keep reading ;)
<3