March 6, 2006 by bob.

I am outraged.

Last week I made reservations at a 5 star restaurant. I planned on having a fine meal complete with appetizers, wine, dessert and coffee. This restaurant is known for meals that tantalize all the senses.

I even asked my wife to join me. Why waste a good meal by dining alone?

We had an excellent meal in spite of the waiter who was a bit stuffy.

When the bill was presented I discovered I did not have my wallet. Must have left it at home.

I tried to explain that I wanted to pay the bill, but I just didn’t have the money. I thought they were going to create a scene when my wife came to my rescue.

She paid the bill for me.

How is this any different from those who claim they cannot afford health insurance, then demand care and complain when the bill arrives? The uninsured created over $21 BILLION in lost revenues in 2004. Caregivers that were stiffed just as the restaurant would have been if my wife had not paid the bill for us.

Guess it is a good thing I decided to invite her . . .

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March 6, 2006 by bob.

Why is it some people have an entitlement mentality? It used to be that the wealthy, were labeled as spoiled brats because they had everything they ever wanted without having to ask. I never quite figured out where the phrase, “born with a silver spoon in their mouth” came from. The little bit I know about the childbirth process automatically tells me that the mothers of these children must have dreaded the delivery process even more than mothers of the common people.

Thanks to FDR and later LBJ a portion of our society, those “less fortunate”, have also enjoyed generations of having things provided for them without having to work or even ask.

Now this entitlement mentality seems rampant, affecting people of all classes regardless of how much they have in the bank.

Yesterday I was in a meeting with a man who is retired military. I have a great deal of respect for those who put their life on the line for their country. It doesn’t matter if they served for 3 years or 30, they still get my respect and appreciation.

What gets my panties in a wad is the sense of entitlement this man had and a lack of appreciation for what is provided for him virtually free. We were discussing health insurance.

Notice my segue into the blog topic? Bet you thought I couldn’t make the connection.

He felt he was being betrayed by the government over his Tricare benefits. When he joined the armed services, certain benefits existed for active duty personnel as well as retirees. One of the retiree benefits is health insurance under a program now known as Tricare.

His complaint was that Tricare used to be free, now he has to pay for it.

This raised my antenna, so I just had to jump in and ask. What kind of benefits do you get, and how much does it cost.

This was like priming a pump.

“Everything used to be free, now they charge me a premium for my health care.”

Yes, I understood that part, so how much do you actually pay?

(Once more stating the known variable) “It used to be free, now I have to pay $230.”
I naively assumed this was a monthly premium, but I needed clarification so I could fully grasp the scope of his beef.

“It used to be free, just like the promised.”

(Yes, I have already mastered that part of the conversation).

“Now it is $230 a year.”

I am sure my jaw must have hit the floor at that time. Now he has me really curious. What kind of benefits are provided for $230 a year, less than $20 per month?

Office visits are $12. Emergency care is $30. Inpatient care in a hospital is the greater of $11 per day or $25 per admission.

All of this with no annual deductible.

OK, now I see his point. Makes perfect sense. He is entitled to all of this for free. How foolish of me.

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