I did not earn or deserve this - I was simply fortunate

In a recent week my pharmacist filled three prescriptions for medications ordered by my doctors.

The total  retail price of these "scripts" is $154.

Thanks to my relatively inexpensive supplemental insurance the total cost to me was $8:50

What a deal.   I did not worker harder or longer than (say) a coal miner in Appalachia to "earn"  such a retirement health care benefit -  far from it.

 Such a coal miner may well not be covered for prescription insurance, so he may have to choose between buying medications at full price, or buying food.

Nor will he live  in a prosperous area such as Sarasota FL where I live, and where I am surrounded by physicians and surgeons of the highest  caliber  -  a place where I could see my Primary Care Physician; a Vascular Surgeon; and a Cardiologist within the space of five days  yes, five days.

 Maybe my miner would have to travel some 50 miles for an appointment with a specialist, in x month's time.

All this is to say that I did not earn the right to first class health insurance.  I have it because my "employer"  (the Episcopal Church) has been utterly prudent and responsible  in its provisions for retirees.

I am so fortunate. I did not earn or deserve such good provisions,

My coal miner friend is not so blessed.  His employer most likely "bailed" on such responsibilities.

His life expectancy surely less than mine.

This must change.  But it will not do so just so long as the U.S.A. is in the grip of  a regressive Trumpian Oligarchy.

 How odd it is to have a President who wants to "bring back coal" but who apparently does not have an ounce of care for the health of the coal miners themselves. 

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