Happy Early Birthday - Scott

I've been blogless the last few days as I try to put the wind back into my sails. What was it, you ask, that sucked the wind out of my sails? I opened our health insurance invoice for April. The premium increased $270 per month since January and Renee and I now pay $1096 per month with a $3000 deductible each. It's just overwhelming for a small business to remain profitable when faced with health insurance costs of this magnitude.

So the reasonable course of action was to investigate the reason for the cost increase and what measures are available to mitigate the cost increase. You can imagine my surprise to learn that the increase is a result of the anniversary of my birthday that contains either a '5' or '0'. Next month I will turn a very young and active 60. Renee says it's more like 16!!! Nevertheless, my early birthday present is an increase in health insurance premium. Now the reason is clear, but what can be done?

I researched many health insurance options and the universal response from each underwriter went something like this: You are how old? And what was it you had done to your right leg? And what about those routine prescriptions? Can you hold the phone please? Mr. Preston, you are best to keep the insurance you currently have even at the newly inflated price. Wow, that was not information I wanted to hear.

Our current options are limited: pay the higher premium by the due date, cancel our health insurance or look for opportunities in the work force that include health insurance benefits. For the short term we will make the next premium payment, look for areas to reduce costs and continue to evaluate all our options.

Our city council is wrestling with similar issues as they prepare the city budget for submittal to the state by the end of this month. It's not easy. It's painful. I hope council has the fortitude to make potentially hard decisions for the long range good of our community.