“If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.” — Marcus Aurelius
Soap Box Day
My rant might not have been pretty, but Lake Reidsville in North Carolina is awesome. I need to sit beside such a place until my blood pressure returns to normal. -- Photo by Pat Bean
I live on a fixed income, almost 20 percent of which goes to pay for Medicare and Medigap private insurance. While it’s too much, I try to be grateful that I can at least pay the health-care costs. Way too many older Americans can’t. And the young and poor are in the same situation.
Then today I read a story about Dallas-area medical service providers who bilked Medicare and Medicaid of nearly $375 million.
But that’s just a drop in the bucket. Health Care fraud costs the government at least 60 billion annually, according to the Associated Press story.
Part of that is my money, and yours, How much less would we seniors have to pay for medical care if the greedy cheaters had a drop of human kindness in their hearts. And how much more would workers get to take home of their paychecks if the cheaters didn’t get their unfair share.
Have these arrogant sons of, well-you-know, been among the world’s population all along, or have we forgotten to teach our children that the world does not owe them a living? What can we do about it?
I wish I had answers. All I can do is hope that some judge, somewhere, will put these greedy so-called medical providers out of circulation so they can do no more harm – and deny them medical care, too.
Pat Bean's blog 
Pat, I totally agree with you and I’m in that same boat with you. Unfortunately I don’t think anything is going to change. Nothing has really changed the greed on Wall St. Nothing has stopped the greed that allows Monsanto to continue poisoning us. Nothing changes for the greedy, wealthy thieves while the rest of us continue to pay.
Yesss! The fraud that occurs is reprehensible and truly a shame. We all end up paying for it until they get caught and I wonder if they have to make retribution for their crime? I would make them do homecare for the elderly so they can see firsthand the product of their crimes!
It’s always all about the green. For some reason, people don’t think it is wrong to bilk “the government” forgetting it is all of our money. I read in the past couple of weeks that the greatest Medicare spending per capita is in our fair city, Sarasota, FL. I’m not surprised. What I see go on here with the over-65 population is scandalous. The medical care/insurance business is disgraceful. Try to get a doctor to see you if you are paying cash!! The first question that is asked is “what insurance do you have?” I asked if I had to sign up for Medicare as I prefer not to, the answer was yes. So I am forced to pay dollars for care I won’t be using. That’s just as much of a blood-pressure-raiser. I haven’t had health insurance since the 70’s and probably healthier for it!
Thanks for this update. People have the ability to make me so angry.
Amen!
Pat, let these good folks know you’re out there. Maybe you can help them avoid some pitfalls and hit some highlights. HF
http://tomandleahland.wordpress.com/
This kind of thing makes me angry too. I wonder how much of that occurs in nations that have national health care. I have no idea if it’s better or worse… I just wonder.