How Jimmy Buffett Saved My Life

No, don't worry I am not some crazy "Parrot Head" [and believe me they are crazy.] And no, his music hasn't sparked in me some youthful second wind [although his music is quiet uplifting]. His "Floribean" attitude has not made me quit my schooling and head for the beach [even though that is quite tempting]. No, Jimmy Buffett hasn't done any of this for me-but he did save my life, in a way, so let me explain.
When I moved to Vegas my friend helped me find a job at the gift shop at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. It was shocking how many people came in and asked where the buffet was-it's not buffet it's Buffett. Anyway, working at the casino did have it's perks. They paid O.K., we received three free meals at the employee buffet, and they offered full benefits to it's part time employees. When I received the notice of benefits with my pay stub one week, I asked my friend, should I elect benefits? She said, why not, what is it going to hurt? Less than 6 months later I was diagnosed with cancer.
And that is where Jimmy comes in [we are on a first name bases now]. Coming from Utah, I wasn't used to employers offering full benefits to part time employees. Actually it can be difficult to find a full benefits with a full time job there. Little did I know how important it was to have and keep insurance coverage. But Jimmy was there at the right place and the right time for me. Not only did they offer great benefits, but Margaritaville's from around the country gathered together and raised money for the helpheidi cause.

When I was diagnosed I went to our governments social health care [Medicaid, Medicare] to see if I qualified. Unfortunately, as full time students, we made "too much money" and we didn't qualify. The only way I could receive government help was to have metastatic cancer. The system seemed so skewed. I had plenty of friends and family that had been using Medicaid, why couldn't I qualify when I was about to encounter 14- $46,000 chemo treatments? Since being diagnosed and going through treatment, and having to deal with insurance on a day to day basis, I have learned how extremely important it is to have and keep insurance. I am shocked how many people I know who don't have health insurance. I believe that our system in the United States is below par, and is unfair to say the least, but is the only program we have, so we must comply.

And yet there is over 43.6 MILLION Americans are uninsured (www.cdc.gov). It is so scary. I have been told by a few Oncologists that if I didn't have insurance they would not be able to treat me-that's messed up. Once while at work, I was speaking with a patient who was going in for a hysterectomy, after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. Unfortunately she was uninsured and was spending her life savings on this surgery. She was hoping that she would get all the cancer, because she could not afford further treatment. What shocked me was that she was a smart, well put together women, who ran a successful business. Those who are uninsured are not low life white trash Americans, who would rather mooch off of the government than work. Those who are uninsured are our friends and family, who work and make an effort in society-and sadly 6.8% of those who are uninsured are children.


Maybe you think that there is nothing that you can do about it-you feel fine selling out those 43.6 million American's as long as you have insurance-but there is something you can do. And that is to vote for the candidate that will change our health care system. This year is a big year, and if you don't vote-well I hope that you are satisfied with the insurance you have now.