The Metric System and No Health Insurance!

The speed limit is 110,  yet I have never felt safer driving. The world moves a little slower outside your car window than you would expect at such high speeds.  And would you believe we were sweating in shorts and t-shirts in 32 degree weather! Oh and the price we pay for everything is so much more than the amount that comes out of our checking account.  I took $200 out at the ATM and it only debited my account $157...score!  This metric system is working out just fine.

Not having health insurance coverage currently means cheaper healthcare is really enticing too. The Canadian government subsidizes healthcare and there are plenty of debates here as to whether it is good healthcare or not.  But regardless yes I did say we are currently risking everything in the event our health deteriorates rapidly or an accident occurs. My health insurance coverage through work carried us until the last day of June because in California the law requires employers to cover employees throughout the entire month of the month in which an employee is voluntarily terminated. Having no health insurance is not status quo (this is where the fear really comes from) and so we will keep going on faith in our health and our plan to not do anything crazy to risk injuring ourselves.  Tough to do with all the adventuring we are doing but for what it's worth we are focused on our self insurance never paying out!

No health insurance is a hot button for many of the friends and family I have told about our dilemma to carry it or not.  Yes we are experimenting and yes we are gambling but isn't having insurance gambling too? I've been losing for many years and the house keeps hitting record earnings and profits!  Having been in the insurance world professionally I understand very well that what we are doing is risky and yes I still worry at times that I might be wrong. I also see how much money insurance companies net of our premiums and my assessment is that our culture is out of balance around insurance.  We are a far too over-insured culture.  Much of this comes from insurance companies capitalizing on those people who live at the margins, pay check to pay check, compounded by those same people not having adequate savings should an emergency arise. They do this legally.  Fortunately, we are neither of these right now.  No, insurance is not bad.  It is very good in many situations (we still have life, auto, and rv policies, but we have worked hard and sacrificed to be in the postion we are in to self-insure and so this fact I must share.  There have been points in our life when we weren't as fortunate to make this choice. There is also a lot to talk about regarding medical professionals who no longer accept insurance and that community seems to be growing from our experience.  My dentist didn't take insurance and my therapist didn't either.  Erica never took insurance in her practice and people still came in droves.  The fact is that we feel that the level of service provided actually improves when insurance companies don't control the ways in which we are forced to be treated by the medical experts we seek treatment from.  These were some of the ideals that influenced us significantly.  Anyway, we are taking the opportunity to pull our money out of the health insurance system for a while.  We've lost enough sleep over this decision so we are grateful it's not an imminent debate anymore and Erica and I will continue to talk about the pro's and con's as we go. Erica is looking up virtual coordination classes to keep from hurting herself and the kids will bounce back quick from injury with a little rest and some candy. With my track record, well I'll just say this, I am invincible (this morning it took me while to get out of bed after walking the stampede all day yesterday but some streching and a Dr. Pepper took care of the hurt within 30 minutes or so) How's that for an insurance policy!  

The truth so far is that we were actually pushed into the MediCal program when our application for Covered California was recieved because we currently have zero monthly income.  It is unfortunate in my opinion that we didn't have a choice to participate in Covered California (where we pay a portion of the premiums and the state subsidizes the rest)and honestly I don't have the energy or want to fight the MediCal system for benefits.  I was already frustrated by the run around I got from the first person at the state I talked to.  Erica is more nervous than I about not having coverage and is really trusting my judgement here.  I guess we could join MediCal in the future during open enrollment if nerves and fear get the best of either if us.  I am not buying coverage on the open market due to high costs for a family of four. The cheapest quote from a reputable provider that I found was $1550 a month for very minimal family coverage...basically catastrophic coverage that didn't feel like it was worth the cost to me.  We will self-insure.  We will continue to exercise good judgement in our activities and continue to eat healthy.  Also, we plan to spend quite a bit of time out of the country and possibly in places where we could cover health care payments that are reasonable. 

Back to more exciting topics like how about 1.28 for gas...I mean Petro. You betcha these numbers are so messed up to us americans, but the rest of the world uses them and it has been fun to learn more about. We are now adapted to the metric system just in time to leave.   

Canadians are on one side a pesimistic group, but on the other they are most hospitable and kind.  We have had quite a few experiences here that required help from a stranger. "No problem, eh!" was the answer.  The folks here that I have engaged in deeper conversation with are opionated (especially politically due to the tension right now between our two countries) and seem to have a fondness for ethics, morality and family values above all.  

One thing is clear to me...I would hate to have the reverse and be a Canadian visiting the U.S. where the U.S. dollar is about 23% stronger. Because of this fact and our great experience here in Alberta, we will find ourselves up in Canada more than planned on the northern U.S. portion of our trip.  

Peace and Love