Member-only story
“To be, or not to be — that is the question.”
- Hamlet, in William Shakespeare’s HAMLET, Act 3, Scene I
For my healthcare needs, I’m a member of a large HMO, and have been for some years. By and large, it has worked fairly well. I’m moderately healthy and carry medical insurance mainly for potential catastrophic major medical conditions or accident, which could affect my nest egg like a fall off the wall for Humpty Dumpty.
A little over 2 years ago, I visited my PMD for a nagging respiratory condition. Near the end of the visit, he said, “By the way.” He glanced at my electronic medical record. “Your risk for developing a heart attack or stroke within the next decade is over 20%.”
This was unexpected and definitely not a pleasure.
My ears perked up. “What do you recommend?”
“Statins.”
“What would you do if you were me?” I’ve taken to sometimes asking this question; it seems to be helpful at times.
“I’d take them. I’m on them now.” He’s younger than I, probably by at least a couple decades, a slim Asian, presumably a nonsmoker. I didn’t know more about his lifestyle, but doubted he was a heavy red meat eater. “Plus I have my parents on them.”
