Monday Mystery Bruises

You limp into work, wondering exactly when that deep thigh bruise happened. Was in the match? Or at the Pub? Then, there's the tightness in your shoulder, and that scab from two weeks ago, the one on your elbow, has scraped off and requires neosporin.

Well, here's what ails me this Monday morning:

• Bob L. explains the history of Health Insurance premiums and health care costs. The change in America's health care system is obvious. Costs are as crazy as the 6 Euro beer I drank in Ireland. Always looking for boots and beer, Ruggers will flock to Health boutiques, HSA policies, and Accident Medical Plans. Short term, more out of pocket, long term, less.
• Which leads to the tightness in the Shoulder: Group plans have a lower maximum cap than an individual plan. (I'm using CA here, since the BS plan(s) I market have a 6 million lifetime max.) 2 Million is nothing. Nothing. One spinal injury, and you'll eat that in a few years. Smart players have their own health plans.
• And the scab is mental health. I've used counseling, but since I own my plan directly, I wasn't discriminated against.
  

Yes, the thigh bruise, tight shoulder, and bleeding elbow suck. Owning your own plan(s) can seem to be more expensive. Long term, you won't see the pitch again if you don't take responsibility for your own insurance and health care. I

t's not like you'll stop playing any time soon, so suck it up.