“Medical cost is the great political football. If a talking head runs out of politically correct subjects that he or she is paid to holler about, the ever-rising cost of health care is right there on the shelf. But what is it? I recounted my experience as a private pay patient earlier. I never did know the total cost, because they didn’t tell me, however I did pay eight-hundred and some dollars out of pocket. That was in 2004. Three years later, I woke up one morning short of breath. What? That’s never happened before. I took my pulse. Thirty. Oh my, that’s never happened either. I’ve had abnormal heart rhythms from childhood and atrial fibrillation for over two decades, but these were always fast, not slow, so what was this? Hospital time. Forty-eight hours later I walked out feeling fine with a pacemaker installed. What did it cost?” [editor’s note: Yet another very good analysis-piece, focusing on the real issue, instead of the “universal coverage” scam! - SAT] (04/29/07)