How much?

How much would the following cost?

2 emergency room visits
30 blood pressure tests
20 blood extractions
60 blood tests
20 electro-cardio grams
2 angioplasty procedures--one stent implant
1 nasal packing procedure, subsequent removal
24/7 nursing care for 1 week
7 days and nights in hospital
1 nasal swab analysis
1 rectal swab analysis
10 consultations with various doctors, including cardiologists
30 pills of various sorts (one of which is $10 a pop)
transportation back and forth between two hospitals
3 visits with a psychiatrist
follow-up visit with family doctor
follow-up visit with cardiologist

I probably missed something, but the above is enough to make my point.

Answer:
It depends on where you live.

For the 75 million Americans who have little or no health insurance, the above costs associated with an "average" heart attack might run over $100,000. I have to estimate the cost because as a card-holding communist of Canada, the hospital did not present me with an invoice. My comrades paid a few cents apiece to cover the entire cost just as I have been doing through my taxes for anyone else who has been unfortunate enough to have experienced a heart attack. The thing is, I never missed whatever part of my taxes went to paying for other people's medical costs. I wouldn't want anyone to be saddled with costs like this. It's enough to give you a heart attack.

To my American friends: I hope you all have insurance and I wish you all good health.

By the way, my son (living in Dallas) told me this evening that Obama has levied a huge tax on tobacco. It was enough for my son to vow to quit smoking as soon as his current supply runs out. Yes, we can!

Apologies

to all my reader.

I hope you understand and forgive my extended absence considering that it was a heart attack that kept me away. I arrived hjome just 30 minutes ago after driving myself to the hospital a week ago. I have a lot to catch up on in the coming days--getting meds, paying bills, seeing docs, etc., so I'm not sure how much time I'll have for writing here. But the blog will go on...whether you like it or not.

Good health to you all.

Take this job and shove it!

This is not the time to make such a rash statement. You may not get another one for some time. So, for those of you lucky enough to still be employed, here are some helpful hints on how to hold onto your job. They are presented in a light-hearted manner, but they are sound advice, just the same. Unfortunately, you'll have to watch an ad first.

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