A Mystery To Me

"We have really great health care benefits here at USJ," began Ramon, the human resources specialist.

"With all due respect," I replied, carefully, "I come from a country where you don't need to be a state employee to have great health care benefits. In fact, you don't even have to be an employee. There are no forms to fill out, no payments to be made. You just go to a doctor and they take care of you. And if you break your leg, say, you have a friend carry you to the nearest emergency room to have it set. You're going to need to start at the beginning, and explain it to me like I just landed here from Mars."

Which is exactly what I felt like. Co-payments. HMOs. PPOs. And did you say, if I change benefits plans I have to change doctors?

Ramon was outlining the various pros and cons of the six, count 'em, six different health care plans from which I was to choose. And by pros and cons I mean the prices. That is, what I would be required to pay, under thus-and-such circumstances, in addition to the great benefits provided by the state.

Years ago, when I was working in New York City, a colleague told me, with a look of horror on her face, that she'd heard that in Canada you can't choose your doctor! I don't know how she got that idea, and I couldn't seem to convince her that she was mistaken — nevermind try to comprehend why she would think such a thing in the first place. I sensed a lexical gap.

Now, after my meeting with Ramon, I am beginning to understand the nature of that gap. Having a choice of doctor, and being able to change doctors, within the restrictions of your health care plan, of course, is very important to Americans.

It's like being told how great the menu of a restaurant is, and being expected not to mind that you're going to have to eat there every day, three times a day, and that you can't eat anywhere else.

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that changing doctors is a "benefit" of one program over the other. If I understand Ramon correctly, and I'm certain that I don't, the main criteria, other than price, that differentiates one program from another, is the range of doctors from which you may choose, their location, and the ease with which you can change them.

I remember Jack telling me, long before I ever considered moving here, that America is a great country to live in, so long as you have money and you don't get sick.

I'm going to need some translation help from Jack before I can make this decision. And a stiff drink.

That photo, Gentle Reader, is the roof of the Winchester Mystery House, a tourist attraction here in San Jose. My best friend Kay is visiting, and we've been acting like tourists for the last week or so. It all starts with our Thelma & Louise photo.