General Discussion

I chose a plan based on the medical group I have been using for years. It's a full-service medical group in Minnesota that has a bunch of its own hospitals, physicians in every conceivable specialty and essentially covers just about anything that can happen to you. Which is not to say that it is perfect. I know of nothing that is. Am I gambling with my health? Sure, but we're all doing that some degree or another. As long as I stay in network, I'm going to be able to get care for whatever health issues I end up having. I'll be 80 next month. I have a health directive that reflects my attitude about health crises.

I watched my father go through some mind-bending health emergencies. He kept surviving them, but between the time he was 80 and when he died at 96, I watched him deteriorate to a degree I won't allow for myself. As long as I can experience some happiness in my life, I'm good. When that becomes impossible, then my directive will let me pass out of this life without heroic measures that keep me alive but with no quality of life.

You sort of have to know what it is you want and make choices based on that, i think.