Health care in the U.S. – they’re out to break us!

The health care industry in the U.S. continues to break us. The regular person, one who pays his or her bills and for years has paid (too much) for health insurance, doesn’t stand a chance. The stories you hear about Americans going bankrupt because of medical bills. Believe them, they’re true. And Obama Care, which was supposed to fix our broken health care system, has not done much to put a dent in the abusive system. In fact, since its passage, in the case of my daughter’s and my insurance, all Obama’s new health law has done is assure that the insurance companies representing us continue to raise premiums – and with little reason for those raises.

My daughter’s company, Aetna, just sent me a letter informing me that rates will go up in March. Reason: health care costs are rising. What costs? I asked. Costs in general, I was told.

Option 1: I can always agree to increase the deductible, which is already way too high. Option 2: Find yourself another carrier.

By the way, my daughter’s a perfectly healthy 8-year-old.

Then there’s the case of my own health care insurer. It’s crappy, too put it mildly. But it’s one of the few who will accept me. I tried to sign up for Aetna, for example. They wouldn’t take me – even when I offered to pay a higher premium. My age and my high blood pressure (controlled, by the way) makes me a risk – to their bottom line.

So what’s the solution? You tell me. There does not seem to be one. But if I was you, I’d worry. That’s unless you’re filthy rich. Then just send me a check. Make it out to Progreso Weekly or even Alvaro Fernandez.

Here’s a great piece done by CNN and Time Magazine, which helps to demonstrate just a bit of what I write about.

Alvaro F. Fernandez