10 items on the list to do today, and I've just done 2 of them. However, getting health insurance should really be counted as more then one, as it takes hours of careful consideration. After getting a couple quotes last week that were disagreeable I continue today sifting through dubious options, rates, and providers. For the last four hours, I precede to get answers from questions as:

"if we get in an accident are we going to covered in some small town of Wright, Wyoming"...
"where are there providers...oh, so you're just the broker not the insurance....well can you connect me to the insurance company that you are advertising....no, I have to just go through you to get the rate,...hmmm"
"can we be covered together on the same insurance....so Indiana doesn't allow domestic partnership, oh most states don't."

In the fact that insurance is a basic need, and this year, according to the US Census Bureau report on Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance for 2006 close to 50 million are without insurance, and even those that are insured get shotty coverage, is enough reason to be indignant. It is obvious, whatever political affiliation one stands, that we need to restructure this defunct system, as new retirees, families, single individuals, etc are continually be forced to choose between basic needs of food, shelter, and health. So, as I continued my quest for expensive, uncertain coverage, Idid come to the conclusion that the Blue Cross options were the closest bet to be covered in Idaho.

Though I could have filled out the information online, I called the random unassuming sales agent. Oh, we chatted it up, and unlike previous first meet ups, this man asked me questions, lots of personal questions that normally aren't disclosed until at least being a bit more serious. Diabetes, STDs, alcoholism, mental impairments, emergency room debacles, yellow fever, you name it, he knows it. After our conversation, he provided me a quote that was a bit higher then Andy's, even though our health history is basically the same, tip-top. I get the extra charge of $50 because the insurance system structure assumes I will and can have kids. They don't provide me with the choice, it's assumed and at a cost. I can understand if they want to up my insurance when or if I decided to have kids, but to charge me now infuriates me. My frustration with the system is right up there with the insurance companies not covering birth control as well.

Nonetheless, thankfully though at higher prices, we'll have insurance before we leave on our bikes. Now I have to firm up the equipment insurance. More on the later......