This post recounting the author's first time visiting the doctor with health insurance is heartbreaking and beautiful:
lawdy lawdy, it was like i was in heaven or something. the doctor even told me, well, instead of getting you all drugged up with pain medications, let's see what we can do to make sure that this doesn't happen again. it was like angels came from the heavens and shared with me a piece of what the lord must promise to those who have clean souls.
i was on pins and needles the whole time, however--asking every five minutes--are you sure my insurance covers this? are you sure my insurance covers that? i want to make sure my insurance covers that!! please don't schedule me for anything until i've checked to make sure my insurance covers that!!!
i am waiting for the reply of four different emails to the same person begging them to make sure that everything is covered.
if you have ever wondered, what's so wrong with being poor--this is it: if somebody is gentle with you, if somebody takes time to talk to you, if somebody wants to help you heal instead of drugging you until the pain goes away, if somebody believes you when you say it hurts--there must be a mistake. there must be something wrong, somebody must be tricking you or must've filed the wrong paper work or fucked something up some where.
it's not right, it's not normal or natural, for a poor person to walk into the doctor's office and not expect an all out fight with the office bill collectors, roughness and shortness in conversation from the doctors, raised eyebrows in disbelief from all concerned and a final dismal of "well, you're insurance doesn't cover it anyway, so take lots of aspirin and you'll feel better eventually."
