I am having some surprising reflections/thoughts in regard to my last week (which included 6 days in the hospital, surgery, etc). ?I will post more of these thoughts in the coming week.
But here is one of my initial reflections: I AM VERY LUCKY (BLESSED!)
I had access to good doctors, I have good health insurance, and I have good benefits at work and a job that values me as a person.
So what this meant was I got top-notch medical care and what could have been a financial disaster will only be a financial hiccup.
While I haven't seen the total bills yet, but I would estimate that the total expense of this "episode" will be roughly $50,000 (ER visit, 6 days in hospital, surgery, lots of meds, lots of doctors/nurses/etc). ?Again, I don't know how much of that will become my financial liability, but my guess is about $2,000. ?Now I am not someone who has an extra $2000 just sitting around, but I will figure something out. ?It won't be a disaster — just some adjustments to my budget, etc. ?But if I did not have insurance, this would be a financial disaster!
Also, I am lucky that I was able to cover my missed work with sick days and 1 vacation day — which means I won't miss a check, etc. ?My insurance is through work and my job has been great in terms of giving me the time off I need, checking in to see how I am doing, etc.
But if, like millions of Americans, I did not have health insurance — or like millions who work in the restaurant industry, no sick days or paid vacation — this event would be catastrophic for me financially. ?
I got lucky — but lucky is not a basis for good national healthcare policy. ?Just saying…
BEN DUBOW 
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