Healthcare Monday II

I just scheduled a dentist appointment for the first time as an adult who has insurance that is not her parents'. This is great, because I can investigate the strange sensation my jaw's been reporting to me when I am too quick to stand up or change my general orientation to the world. The nurse also promised my teeth would be shiny and white just in time for Thanksgiving. This seems like a fine idea. My relatives are sure to approve of my clean-looking teeth.

But really I feel really privileged and lucky to be able to call up a dentist and say "yes, I have insurance through XXX," and then they say, "We can see you Wednesday!" and I say, "awesome, this is like, close to free."

Next year I'm switching from a pretty decent medical plan to the scary high-deductible version because I decided it was the closest I could bring myself to sacrificing something in solidarity with the millions of Americans who don't have any choices. But when you're young and healthy, it doesn't actually feel like much of a sacrifice until you unexpectedly get hit by a car or a baby or manic depression.

In the meantime, I'm getting as many chest x-rays and hip replacements as I can before Jan 1. 2010 hits. Right right right?