211115-PSA-Message to the President

Posted on 15/11/2021 by Grumpa Joe

A Florida Diner, not far from The Villages, forbids Biden supporters, and becomes so popular it runs out of food within hours and must triple their staff and set up extra tables on the sidewalk and in the parking lot The Post Mi A diner in DeBary, Florida, became popular overnight among residents and the international community after announcing they would no longer serve Biden supporters. They sold out of food the same day and temporarily closed. Angie Ugarte, the owner of the DeBary Diner, located just outside of Orlando, posted a provocative sign in the business’s window. It read, “If you voted for and continue to support and stand behind the worthless, inept and corrupt administration currently inhabiting our White House, that is complicit in the death of our servicemen and women in Afghanistan, please take your business elsewhere.  God bless America, and God bless our soldiers.” According to the New York Post, Ugarte received donations from across the globe and sold out of food in hours that same Wednesday, having to close early pending a 3000% uptick in food deliveries and orders. Ugarte told the press:”I’ve gotten so many people calling me from all over the world, from Europe, from Asia, trying to purchase meals for veterans, which I still haven’t been able to organize.  Cooks, chefs, wait-staff have shown up in droves and asked to work for no pay.  Two doctors and a former judge showed up and asked if they could wash dishes.” She adds: “I think that the veterans will be fed for the rest of the year at the rate I’m getting donations. People have traveled from all over the US, from thousands of miles away, to pose in front of the sign and show their support for Ugarte.  One car with two couples in it arrived on Thursday from upper Michigan, a 3000-mile round trip, with an offer to bus tables and sweep floors.  There was nowhere to sit so they ordered four cups of water, to go, which was free, of course, but left a $1,000.00 cash “tip.” This includes Rod Phillips, a member of the State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America association.  “We wanted to come over here and thank you personally,” Phillips told Ugarte as the pair posed for a photo. Phillips qualified, “I fully respect the office of presidency of the United States, but this should have been handled much better, much better.”He added, “Being a Vietnam veteran and combat-wounded, I don’t wish war on anybody.  But there is a proper way, and time, and place to leave an enemy country.”

Filed under: family, Food, Government | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

Where Do I Start?

Posted on 15/11/2021 by Grumpa Joe

This post may sound a little confusing but I will try my best to make it understandable. Currently, I am in the process of dealing with healthcare in the United States. The issue is not with myself, because I have Medicare and a supplement which covers my costs. I don’t even think about it. That is probably the crux of the problem. We in the good old USA don’t think about the cost of health care often because we are covered by medical insurance either by our employer, ourselves, or by Uncle. The issue I am becoming familiar with are the people who don’t have any insurance coverage at all. They could be middle class Americans who lost their coverage because of the wonderful gift from Obama known as Obama Care, and can no longer afford to pay for the so called “free” Obama Care. Others who are in the country under unusual circumstances, and are undocumented cannot get private health care, Medicare, nor Obama Care. They are the cash paying victims of our society.

Today, I made an appointment for a simple blood test with a blood lab that is national. The doctor directed me to get a test to rule out a vitamin deficiency. At first he told me to get it done in his medical group lab, but rescinded when I told him I wanted to pay cash and keep this off my insurance. “If you do it in our lab it will cost you $161.00,” he said. “You can find it for much less at a private lab.” I took his advice.

After a few times on the internet I finally found a website for a blood test lab and the key to unlock their tests other than COVID. The primary emphasis of their site directed people to go for COVID testing. I learned that they would give me the test I wanted for $48. That is because I compared them to a competitor who was offering the same vitamin test for $54. I registered for an appointment.

At the lab this afternoon, I was asked if I had an order from the doctor. “No,” I said, but you can call him and he will give you one. They called and I was rolling up my sleeve when I finally asked what the charge was going to be. “It’ll be $100.”

“Wait a minute, the website gave me a price of $48.” The technician read the dumb look on my face and said, “Thats the price you get when you register, and pay for the test online.”

“I did register for the test online.”

“Did you pay online?”

“No.”

“That’s why, without a doctor’s order it is different.”

“You mean that if I go home and register for the test online, and pay for it I won’t need a doctor’s order, and I get it for $48?

“Yes.”

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

I was back at the computer logging into the lab website when my wife asked me what I was doing. I explained the whole thing to her but she didn’t understand any of it. “In my country all of the tests are free, but I know a place that will do it cheaper, I had the test done a few years ago.” She gave me the number, I called and made an appointment for the test for $45, and didn’t need a doctor’s order.

I have finally reached the point I was going to make when I opened this post. One trouble with our country is the high cost of health care. It is easy to tell why it is so high. My doctor has a staff to support, and he belongs to a big doctor group that owns many hospitals, clinics, and offices. All of them cost money to support. The private clinic is much the same, but on a smaller scale, and finally the independent lab that runs on a shoestring is the lowest cost of all. That isn’t apparent when they deal mainly with people who use their insurance and don’t care what the heck a test costs. It’s my guess that the little guy makes more profit than the huge hospital group because his overhead is so low.

I’m trying to decide who is the blame for this high cost, the government for supporting it with Obama Care or capitalism for juicing the profit from the insurance companies, or the insurance companies for juicing the people and their doctors.

So why is this a problem? With so many people out of work because of COVID I see many instances where people who lost their employer healthcare now wind up paying out of pocket costs that are unsustainable. It won’t be long before Uncle is preaching universal health care for all like he did when Obama was president.

Filed under: Biography, Conservative, family, health care | Tagged: , , , | 3 Comments »