I can't afford my diabetic supplies, because I don't want to give up my cable television. At least that's what one lady told her pharmacist:
A few weeks ago I had a morbidly obese Type 2 Diabetic patient who was on oral hypoglycemics and insulin for blood sugar management. Her medicaid 3rd party prescription provider no longer covered the syringes or lancets so she told me to put them back because she would rather have her cable tv.
I have stopped being surprised by the lengths Americans will go to protect their amenities and luxuries at the expense of their health. When you choose not to afford your diabetic supplies because you choose not to give up your cable television, you send a clear message to the world about your priorities.
The only person she's hurting is herself. So few doctors accept Medicaid anymore that when she eventually strokes out, there will be no one willing to take care of her. But she'll know what to do. Because she'll have the Discovery Health Channel, in hi-definition. Don't feel sorry for her. Think of her as the next generation of empowered Medicaid patients.
It's not FREE=MORE. It's FREE=Cable TV
