The Strange "Logic" of Health Insurance

I recently had a cancer scare. It's OK, it didn't turn out to be cancer (as far as they can tell), but we had a tense couple of weeks until we found that out. I thought all that was behind me until I received the bill. Yes, I have the best (read "most expensive") health insurance that I can get through my employer, but they use pretzel logic and who knows what else to determine what they'll actually pay for.

In my case, I found a lump in my breast. Big lump. Painful. Obvious. So I went to the breast imaging center to have it checked out like you're supposed to do. My insurance paid for the diagnostic mammogram, which didn't detect the big obvious lump. They made me pay for the ultrasound exam that did actually verify that I had a solid mass. O-kaaaaayyyy, whatever.

Standard procedure in my case called for a core breast biopsy. Again, my insurer kinda sorta stepped up to the plate. They paid for everything involved with the actual procedure involved to obtain the necessary tissue samples from the breast lump. And then proceeded to charge me for the full cost of the pathology test. The whole point of the procedure was to obtain tumor samples to test for cancer, and they decide to pay for the extraction of the tissue but not the test?!? That makes NO SENSE at all. WTF? Do they not realize that paying for cancer treatment would FAR surpass the cost of paying for an early detection biopsy? Apparently they do not give a crap.

It wasn't all that much money out of pocket, but the principle of the thing bothers me. If something serious happens, just how much would they really pay for? Makes me wonder.

Aftermath

Respecting the 24-hour rule, I can now say a few things about the game on Saturday. Apparently, my team just isn't all that good. I didn't see much to encourage me on Saturday. Usually, I can find a bright side. Not so much this time. It is possible we made our opponent look better than they are. They looked very good to me.

I cannot remember EVER being that hot during a football game. Maybe you don't notice when you are winning, and we usually don't drop a home game in September. At any rate, the Atlanta area set a heat record for 9/25 and I believe it. We were in the sun until the middle of the second half, sweating our asses off. The concession stands in our area ran out of bottled water around halftime. The EMTs had their hands full with dozens of cases of heat exhaustion. I got a raccoon sunburn on my face (everywhere except where my sunglasses covered). We were behind the entire game and it was miserable. The only bright spot was the almost comeback when we brought it within 3, but that didn't last.

But you know, that was last week and tomorrow is another day. We've got another game on Saturday. PDM and I will cook another awesome meal, and have people over, and hopefully our team will get it together and kick some butt! And no matter what happens, we will enjoy this season of college football. I'm not a Tech fan because they win. It is in my blood. They are my team, no matter what.

How Silvio Spends His Friday Nights

Crashed out on the couch.

Even More Bad Football Picks

Last week was my best yet. 4-2 straight up and 3-3 against the spread. Maybe I'll still trend up this week.

As per usual, underdogs listed first with spread and home teams are in CAPS.


Virginia Tech(+2) 21, BOSTON COLLEGE 17 - easy money, if I actually wagered any

North Carolina State(+9) 28, GEORGIA TECH 38 - Go Jackets!!! Win! Cover!

Wake Forest(+19) 21, FSU 45 - yes, I think F$U will crush Weak Florist like a bug

ARKANSAS(+1) 24, Alabama 35 - easiest decision ever

South Carolina(+1) 24, AUBURN 21 - why not?

NOTRE DAME(+1) 14, Stanford 17 - Trees rule.


I'll be at the Tech game at noon gettin' another weird sunburn. Last home game my cleavage got burned. Among other things. Dang. I think I will be more careful with the sunblock this time. And maybe wear a hat.

Still Behind the Tech Curve

Apparently, RSS feed readers are passe. This was news to me. I still check my trusty feed reader many times daily. Unfortunately, my RSS aggregator of choice is Bloglines, and they are getting out of the RSS feed business. They seem to think that people don't need RSS readers now that they have Facebook and Twitter. I disagree. Which means that I need to find a new RSS service to indulge my several-times-a-day habit.

Any recommendations? The obvious choice would be Google Reader. I'm just not sure I want to turn over yet another piece of my online self to the Google monster. They already know far too much about me. Are there any other decent feed readers out there? I really liked the Bloglines user interface, and would prefer something similar.

More Really Bad Football Picks

Last week's bloodbath: 3-3, and 1-5 against the spread. Only marginally better than my first week (thank you very little, GT).


This week's strategy: WAG


GEORGIA(+2.5) 30, Arkansas 24

Brigham Young(+8) 24, FSU 35

TENN(+15) 17, Florida 28

Clemson(+6) 14, AUBURN 21

TEXAS TECH(+7.5) 31, Texas 28

Maryland(+13) 10, WEST VA 24


First team listed is underdog, home team in CAPS. I'm going out on a limb for a Texas Tech upset. Why the hell not? Also, I picked UGA to win so they'll get another dose of my bad mojo. It worked last week.

What you lookin' at?

He's back, on a two-to-three day rotation, and that is all we get.

Tomcats... You can love 'em, but you can't trust 'em.

That said, I have a serious weak spot for ole Romeo. He's the bomb.

Off-Label Use of Party Platter?

Arguably it is rather cat shaped.

Really Bad Football Picks

This year I decided to share my weekly picks from the prediction contest on a message board I frequent. Meant to do this last week, but got busy and didn't get to it. I'll just give you the Cliff Notes version: I sucked. 2-for-6 and I was wrong about beating the spread on one of those two. (Basically, it doesn't matter what you predict for the actual score - the points come from the score differential compared to the spread.) VT, you're dead to me.

This week, I tried a new tactic: the George Costanza method. Whatever I think will happen or wish would happen, I picked the opposite (except for the Tech game, of course - can't bet against my Jackets). This way, I will either be happy that the games worked out my way, or I will do well in the contest. Win-win for me.

Here goes: Week 2

GT 35 Kansas(+12) 17

UGA(+2.5) 3 USCe 2

FSU(+8.5) 17 Okla 20

Mich(+4) 9 ND 24

Miami(+9.5) 21 Ohio St 28

NCState(+2.5) 14 UCF 10


Now I'm going back to watching the Thursday night game. I'm rooting for MSU, which means they are DOOMED. They'd be in the lead right now if they had stuck with their running game. And the kicker catching his own kickoff was badass. Our kicker has never done that, although he has tackled the returner an alarming number of times. Carry on!

Fun on The Flats

Opening Day was a success - good friends, good weather, good game.

Came home to beer brats and more football on the tube. Glad the season is finally here and there is even more reason to look forward to Saturdays (plus the occasional Thursday night). Go Jackets!

Brace For Impact

It's game day!

What is it with guys and the remote?

Even Silvio hogs it.

Way to go, Panthers!

Georgia State University won their first ever football game tonight against Shorter. Congrats to former Georgia Tech coach Bill Curry and his GSU Panthers!

And a big HOORAY that it is finally college football season at last. I spent a pleasant evening channel surfing between multiple games.

Nesbitt 4 Heisman

John Heisman was the head coach at Georgia Tech from 1904 to 1919. No Georgia Tech player has ever won the trophy named for him. Maybe this year?



Side note: the first player (other than Nesbitt) featured in this video was my favorite GT football player while he was on the Flats -- Gary Guyton. He has a good thing going with the Patriots now. My current favorite is Roddy Jones. He is a senior, so next year I will have to pick another one.

Paging Dr. Lou

It's not college football without Dr. Lou. Here he is courtesy of Lucas Cox.