There were findings, but not for the most horrifying possibilities. Nine days ago, I posted The Test Was Negative. Damn! I was very touched by the kind sentiments expressed in the comments.
This morning I had the examination that I was dreading when I posted previously. The doctor's first words at the end were "No tumors." Thanks, glad to hear it.
There were findings, I have some issues and I will remain under the care of this specialist and my other new specialist, for at least the next six months. Thus, I have passed the biggest personal health scare of my life since they found the benign tumor in my right lung nearly ten years ago. This stuff is not going to particularly affect my life.
The outcome is probably different for a different patient with the same problems I have, but without my excellent health insurance. That guy, at the very least, doesn't have the peace of mind of knowing what is going on. Also, some of my situation needs to be medically managed to prevent worse problems. That uninsured guy doesn't have that help and is at risk of getting really sick from something that could have been avoided.
The Romney/Ryan Go Back Team and their entire party are running on a platform of repealing the Affordable Care Act. What slice of the American Interest Group Pie does that serve? Doctors? Insurance companies? Hospitals? Working people? Bankers? Wall Street? Oh, yeah, tanning salons.
The point is that the GOP doesn't actually have a good reason to oppose the Affordable Care Act. They just can't help themselves, because President Obama and the Democrats are for it. Nobody in America should endure any less access to health care than I enjoy, but many do. The ACA moves the country in the right direction on this problem,
Democrats weren't good at campaigning on the ACA in 2010, but they have learned and the message is now a very sharp political tool when combined with the GOP plan to end Medicare as we know it and their draconian proposals for Medicaid cuts, which enable Democrats to talk legitimately about Republicans wanting to push Granny over a cliff. The GOP rails against health care rationing, and then proposes vouchers as a solution? In World War II, civilians were issued vouchers for buying food, gas, tires, lots of stuff. They were called ration books.
Wait, maybe the GOP is right, If rationing was good enough for The Greatest Generation, you know, Archie Bunker's generation, maybe it's good enough for us, Except, if it was up to me I would ration SUV's, not healthcare.