Tara Kittle:  

Life Two years ago, I became very sick and I almost died from Lyme Disease (I spent over eight months in bed), and I still haven't fully recovered (I'm writing this with my IV hanging out of my arm). What I have learned more than anything else--and there are not enough words that can express how important this is--but you must have health insurance *and* a relationship with a physician when you are healthy in order to ensure that you will get the necessary medical care that you need when you fall ill. I know this sounds counter intuitive (why go to the doctors when you're not sick?), and the answer is a ten hour explanation, but basically, medicine is more of an art than a science, and having a physician who knows you when you are healthy, will help him/her make the right (and fast) decisions for you if (when?) you become ill. There is a practical reason for this too--insurance companies don't like to authorize tests ($$), so if you know your doctor well, it will help give him/her the ammunition when you do become sick to get what you need when you need it. (as I say to all of my friends--think of it like doing your taxes--go once a year, have your blood pressure, temperature, and basic blood work taken (a chem panel and a CBC), and it will lay the foundation for your medical care when it's needed (because they'll have all of these numbers to compare to your sick numbers). Otherwise, they're left guessing into averages-- There are many other reasons why this is necessary--(builds trust for both parties, they know for sure you're not a hypochondriac (you've been seeing them once a year without complaining, etc) and allows you to find the right physician when you're well and can make good judge...Expand for more