Random Questions from the Week's News

Is Chris Christie becoming a Democrat?  (Answer: Possibly.)

Is Time magazine about to redirect the healthcare debate, with Stephen Brill's exhaustive cover story about the rip-off costs of American medicine?  (Answer: I hope so.)

Can Congressional Republicans become even more dysfunctional?  (Answer: Afraid so.)

Did the NC legislature really vote to refuse Medicaid expansion and to return $64 million in unspent grant money to the federal government?  (Answer: Incredibly, yes.)

When do the Cardinals arriving at the Vatican change into their red robes (and do they wear matching shoes)?  (Answer: You know the Vatican, "Mum's the word.")

Heavenly Health Insurance

The absurdity of American health insurance arrived in my mail not long ago.  My friend Hildegard, who died recently and who would have howled with laughter at this nonsense, received a HIPAA certificate from her former insurance company.  No doubt she'd be glad to hear that she'll need this evidence of coverage--when she arrives in heaven--"to reduce a preexisting condition exclusion period under another plan, to help [her] get special enrollment in another plan, or to get certain types of individual health coverage even if [she has] health problems."

Health problems?  Does this include death?  I wouldn't be surprised to hear that St. Peter himself collects co-pays from every American who arrives at the pearly gates.

We've got an antiquated system of health insurance.  The HIPAA Portability Rights that Hildegard's certificate guaranteed were an important step in 1996, but this was 16 years ago.  We've got to join the 21st century.

Obamacare moves us in the right direction.  I'm interested to see what happens when the state and federal governments establish the newly-required exchanges.

In the meantime, don't worry if you're covered by insurance at work: if you die, your next insurer can't hold your death against you.