That's very true... being raised around military people, in very military areas, I'm hoping it's totally a statistical aberration. None of the people from my era that I hung with would have done that. (at least I'd be very freaking shocked and bummed if I heard about it) And I feel almost 100% certain that my dad could only come up with 2 or 3 people in general that he disrespects integrity wise from his career to think they might intentionally rip off the country.
This is funny to think of because I know I work with bunches who wouldn't bat an eye if "United HealthCare" screwed something up billing wise and saved them, or wrongfully refunded them a bunch of money... they'd gloat.
And back to the "insane medical cost" of this whole thread... last night I talked to a co-worker who was diagnosed with CML, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, and his bills have been crazy. Sad part is they will always be crazy it seems and he is in a position to where keeping the job is all important now... he can't jump ship and try to get insurance somewhere else with a 'lifelong' disease like this. Before when we talked about 'what if they moved our jobs to XXXXX?' we could all talk about employment options we thought we might have. Now he's going to follow what the company says regardless... the insurance and expensive life prolonging treatments are too valuable.
With our High Deductible Healthcare Plan at work... he'll get screwed for the High Deductible right off the bat each new year... And right now he is fighting another $2700 that UHC and the hospital say he's responsible for, even though he hit his personal $5500 limit long ago... he said making phone call after call is just getting him shrugs from our companies HR benefits people, customer service reps at UHC, and the people at MD Anderson Hospital... most of them are leaning towards a "why don't you just pay it for right now so we don't have any interruption in your treatment, and we'll work on getting it reversed!" attitude!
Of course he's less than happy with that sort of response...