So far, the federal insurance reform that seemed so overwhelmingly dangerous (according to Republicans) and so overwhelmingly wonderful (according to Democrats) hasn’t yet destroyed the world as we know it — and America in particular. Armageddon hasn’t come upon us just yet …
… but I suspect many of my conservative friends still expect it’s only a matter of time until frogs, flies, brimstone, and little fish come raining down upon us.
In reality, insurance and insurance marketing of all sorts has changed very little since the landmark legislation was signed into law. Indeed, my wife spent six days in a local hospital a couple of weeks ago after a heart “flutter” problem. Her coverage, copay, and all the other costs remained just as they would have been before the legislation. And the care she received ranged from mediocre to excellent, depending on the doctors, nurses, and other medical staff involved in her daily treatment.
I know someone in a forum I frequent daily who is a native Canadian now married to an America and living in Germany. This woman has lived every day of her life under one form of universal health care or another. At the height of all the hysteria about health care reform, she confessed that she had puzzled and puzzled over the situation and could not for her life’s sake begin to understand what in the world so many Americans were angry, fearful, and upset about. She was absolutely mystified about all the fuss.
Sort of like me. Mystified about all the fuss. So far, we seem to be no nearer Armageddon than before the law was passed. But, then, who knows … ?