I went to see the doctor today. A few months ago I went to see her and she warned me about what would happen if the healthcare bill passes. I found it odd that she would be so strongly against reform. We argued. I asked her where she was getting her information since (a few months ago) no bill existed.
I couldn't beleive that I was spending time defending my point of view (to my doctor of people), rather than talking about MY health.
She must have forgotten that exchange since today was almost a repeat that went something like this:
Dr: (looks through my chart) Let's see what type of insurance you have. Hmmm...well, I hate to tell you this, but if that bill passes, you won't be able to receive the care that you need.
Me: What?
Dr: The healthcare bill. If it passes, we won't have much say in your care. We'll have to send you home and tell you good luck.
Me: Uh, I have Blue Cross.
Dr: Not for long if this bill passes. Blue Cross will go out of business.
Me: They've got plenty of money; I don't think they're going out of business.
Dr: If this public option gets passed, they will. They can't compete.
Me: Just because a public option gets passed, doesn't mean I'll be changing my insurance coverage.
Dr: I have the bill at home; I've read it.
Me: Really? Which one?
Dr: What?
Me: Which bill do you have? There are five of them.
Dr: The first one. The second one is coming and I don't have the others. They all have the public option.
Me: No they don't.
Dr: Yes they do.
Me: The public option got voted out of the Baucus bill.
Dr: No it didn't.
Me: Yes...it did!
Dr: Trust me, it's in there.
Me: If heathcare reform is so bad, why does the AMA, Nurses Association and AARP support this reform.
Dr: Well, this is why the AARP is losing millions of members.
Me: I think it's more about politics than anything else.
Dr: Well, I didn't come in here to talk about politics.
And that was the end of that discussion, but I left with a really uneasy feeling. You should trust your doctor. This crosses the line. How many other people who aren't following the debate as closly as I am being duped into believing that healthcare reform is bad? How many seniors are being scared by thier own doctor about death panels?
Tomorrow, I start looking for a new doctor.