-Nate

It’s about prioritizing, really.

You’re right about the food; fruit and veg are easy to find anywhere, but tofu products are non-existent. Soymilk is available, at least.

I wanted to tell you what a smart thing you have been doing by maintaining health insurance. I know it feels like you have been throwing that money away all of your life, and for the most part, that is true since you haven’t been able to use it. I also know what it is to feel like the entire industry, from the insurance companies to the hospitals, are mostly corrupt, because basically it is. But most importantly, I know what it is to need that insurance in a bad way.

About 8 years ago I was diagnosed with Leukemia. Before that day I had never been sick a day in my life and in fact didn’t even have a doctor. Long story short, I did chemo for about 2 years at which point I relapsed and had to get a bone marrow transplant. Thanks to a very selfless individual in Germany who donated his marrow, I have since made a full recovery and am considered cured since it has been over 5 years since the transplant.

The main point I want to make is that with my cancer treatment alone, my hospital bills have totaled over $750,000, not to mention the subsequent health problems from the after effects of chemo and radiation. Had I not had insurance, I would most likely not be writing this today. My father’s co-worker at the time had a daughter that was diagnosed with the same disease at nearly the same time as me, however she did not have insurance, and unfortunately only lived about 6 months from the date of her diagnosis because she did not have access to the proper medical care.

So I know it seems like a complete waste now, since you are obviously so healthy, but keep in mind that anything can happen at anytime, things with which you have no control. The key is to live your life not worrying about that which you can not control while still being prepared to handle all that life can and will throw at you. Like they say, luck favors the prepared.

Anyways, keep up the good work with your site and keep on living your life to the fullest, full of adventure and without regret. I wish you the best in your journeys and health and prosperity throughout your life.

Dustin
Austin, TX

But you’re right–a lot of policies will deny you if you’re a rock climber, and that’s a real problem too. It’s a little bizarre when you can’t get health coverage for doing things that make you an unusually healthy person! They’re all different, and they all have many many many pages of fine print.

I tend to expect things to be straightforward….from my point of view, I paid them money for health insurance so they’d pay money if I needed health care. Unfortunately, that’s not how things work in the “real world.” For sure, in my case, saving all that money would have been a much better choice. But who knew?

Live and learn , at least if we’re lucky, right?
xxS

There are so many issues to talk about, but how about this one: do you admit to being a rock climber in your insurance application? If you tell the truth you get denied, or sky-high premiums. If not, do you really have coverage?

I’m about ready to start putting that money into savings instead.