Helping Those That Help Themselves
I got a pal, Chainsaw Sam, who, like a lot of us, works for himself. He lives pretty much hand-to-mouth, gets paid under the table, probably won’t ever receive Social Security. He’s a hard worker, does everything from tree removal to deck building, gives an honest day’s labor for pretty much minimum wage pay. Sam doesn’t complain … but then, I don’t think it’s hit him yet that there will never be what most of the immigrants to the island have: a retirement.
So when ObamaCare hit the ground limping last fall — the health insurance half of the country doesn’t call by its actual name, the Affordable Care Act — I told Chainsaw he ought to check it out. With his income he probably would get affordable health care coverage. Sam, being a natural born libertarian who mistrusts the government, banks, politicians, newcomers, traditional medicine, the media and dogs that are pedigreed, wasn’t sure he would. Maybe, maybe not. Not real sure he needed insurance, Sammy said. I said they’ll give it to you nearly for free, whaddaya got to lose? “Yeah,” he said, “that’s what my mom sez too.”
Great. So now I’m in the same category as his nagging mama. “Look into it,” I said. “You’re who they had in mind when they dreamed this bill up — all you uninsured yahoos. We got to pay for you anyway, so sign up, man.” Chainsaw protested he’d barely been sick a day in his life. Clean livin’, brother. Clean Livin’.
So of course two days ago I get the message he’s fallen off a ladder, a little six foot tumble. Shattered wrist, broken elbow. Emergency room. Ambulance. Medics. No insurance. Operations scheduled. Rehab. Meds. Doctors. Nurses. The lady with the alligator purse. The Lord, it’s said, helps those who help themselves. Even the government tries. I tried. His Mama tried. If ignorance is bliss, okay. Let’s see if poverty is too…..
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