Q. The rates you gave me in January are higher now. You also tell me the plan I wanted is no longer available. Now you tell me the carrier will exclude coverage for kidney stones. What kind of deal is this? Why did you change your offer.

A. Well, for starters, it is now August. Of course the same rates aren’t available just like gasoline is much higher now than in January (except for different reasons).

Some of the carriers have withdrawn plans that were poor performers. You should have snatched them up while they were available.

And . . . you didn’t have a kidney stone problem in January. When you passed the stone in March you just bought yourself a 2 year waiver (at a minimum) for kidney stone coverage.

Now what I have to offer is fewer choices, at higher rates, and less coverage.

This is what happens sometimes when you put off a decision that could have been made 8 months ago on better terms.

Kind of makes you wish I had been more pushy, right?