Major Malpractice

I was on the practice range on the golf course and ran into an old neighbor, Bob.  Bob and Cathy had two young kids just like us and we met as they built their house and we built our house.  Their son was a year older than our son and their daughter was the same age as our daughter so we knew each other ok.  Neighbors and friendly but not great friends if you know what I mean.   

Both Bob and Cathy are doctors and Cathy specialized in emergency room work which is stressful and results in odd hours.  And Bob was never going to be in the running for Father of the Year.  Fathers are supposed to help sons build things and be encouraging and all that.  I was lucky in that my son was better at building things then I was but not Bob.  Bob kind of did it himself and yelled at his son when the son screwed things up. 

And Bob and Cathy weren't getting along and one day they split up and Cathy and the kids went back to Kansas.  We found out later that Bob was playing doctor down at the hospital with some of the nurses and Cathy found out and that was the end of that.  Bob stayed here and married one of those nurses.  Sue ran into them once downtown and was amazed as the new wife looked almost exactly like Cathy.  I have noticed that divorced men tend to marry women who look like the first one so maybe trying to give it another chance.

Anyway, Bob and I will run into each other once in a while and we did on the range on Saturday.  I was going to play nine holes and, being the friendly sort, asked Bob to join me.  He agreed and off we went.

Most people who don't play golf have the impression that all kinds of business deals are done on the course and everybody spends most of the time yakking away.  Can't be further from the truth.  In 25 years of corporate life I never saw a deal, even the mention of a deal, done on a golf course.  Just conversation is difficult as the average golfer sprays golf balls all over the place.

And Bob is the silent type.  Unless around nurses, I guess.  But I was determined to talk to him because I had just had my physical the day before and I was pretty proud of myself because I got a 40% discount.  40%, Bobbie, whata think of that?  As some of you know, I have a large deductible health plan and so when I go to the doctor I bargain.  And I got a 40% discount.

Bob hit his tee shot on number 3 and said "You paid too much."  Huh?

Bob explained.  First, he said the health system is a mess.  No argument from me.  And the health insurance companies pay only about 30% to 50% of what a doctor charges which leads to doctors charging a lot so they will get more when they only get 30% to 50% of what they charge.  And the specialist gets the lower percentage which means a general practioner gets the 50% and the heart surgeon gets 30%.  Makes no sense.  Bob was right, what a mess.

And I don't know what to do about it but if you go to the doctor, pay cash and offer the doc 50%.  They'll take it.