earnest about health insurance

earnest about health insurance

fiction
edward w pritchard

Earnest was a man's man. Hunting, fishing and some other aggressive stuff that I don't agree with so I will skip that. I admire him and always looked up to him.

When Earnest was in his late fifties he had a heart attack. Recovery was slow for he vowed not to change his life style; drinking, travel, long hours he wanted to be the same as before. When he was 61, I think, he had his second heart attack and the Doctor insisted he slow down. The Doctor said to stay at home, sit with his wife and enjoy the peaceful life. Earnest said no, he refused, saying his wife had married a man and as long as he was alive he would be one. The Doctor was too surprised to be upset. Imagine anyone not listening to the Doctor? Preposterous.

In less than a year Earnest was dead. Not a heart attack he went off alone and shot himself. One shot, direct hit and he was gone. The wife was now alone.

Because of the Doctor the local Hospital took an usual position on the case. They sued the wife, executor of Earnest's estate, a substantial estate, for foregone benefits. The health insurance company was named also as a party. Both the wife and the health insurance company were sued because a man after two heart attacks, normally endured 2.9 years of suffering. Earnest didn't consume in those lost 2.9 years. The average man of Earnest's age, height, weight, BMI, and temperament and income and net worth would consume a substantial amount of hospital services after his second heart attack. The health insurance company screamed foul, the wife counter sued but so far the court's listening carefully. No one can live as they wish, and then ignore the Doctor's advice and then shoot themselves to keep the hospital from their due. It was outrageous.