Obamacare (A case study)

[dellinger63]

Phil Billy is a West Virginia transplant who worked as a union Iron worker for about 10 years from his 20’s into his 30’s. For reasons never explained the union kicked him out and from then on he was supported and insured by his wife, while supplementing his income doing odd jobs, always for cash, until six years ago when she died.

Phil Billy drinks in between cigarettes 24/7 but it’s mostly now done in his dilapidated eyesore of a house as he’s been ejected for life from most all of the taverns and restaurants in the county. His idea of exercise is his once a week trip down and up his driveway on garbage day. His idea of a nutritious dinner is two big macs, two large fries and a sundae or his words protein, carbs and dairy.

Phil Billy has no insurance as he can’t afford it due to the pre-existing conditions related to his liver, knees, hip and right shoulder. He also is chronically short of breath perhaps due to a suspected heart attack a year back. He admits all of his ailments are his own fault.

Next year or when Wisconsin sets up its mandatory exchange Phil Billy plans to get his own insurance. What do you suppose a policy for him will cost? How much will Phil Billy be responsible for on an annual income of 15-20K and how much will we pick up? And more importantly is how much will whatever insurance company he ends up with, and ultimately all of us, be on the hook for a double knee and hip replacement, rotator cuff surgery and God forbid by-pass or liver transplant?

How is passing on his costs to split among his friends what more among strangers fair? How many families will go without or in Obama speech, how many dads will be forced to go without pizza night for their girls because of his neglect? More frightening is how many more Phil Billy’s are out there?

Next year when you or a family member needs medical treatment; remember Phil Billy just may be in front of you!