Dear Health Insurance Company

God bless the organization I work for which pays the lions share of my health insurance premium. My employer is thoughtful about doing business with companies that do right by the community. However, seven months into my stint as a thirty-something covered by heath insurance I am about to opt out of health insurance coverage. This is a serious consideration for me not only because I am managing allergies and asthma with on-going shots and medicine but because I have a child. Here's my letter to my health insurance company:

Dear Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona,

I came home from a day of work trying to make Arizona a better place to find a bill for health care. This $200+ bill is apparently for blood labs that my PCP ordered. I hadn't had a routine check up in 5+ years and I am 35. I have mild health concerns but mostly just thought it prudent to be checked out since I currently have health insurance. Why wouldn't blood work be covered under my plan?
Because I also recently got billed for a sonogram my OBGYN ordered, I am unable to pay this new bill. Had I known that blood work wouldn't be covered I suppose I would have waited until I paid off the sono bill before getting this work done.
Then again, I might never get my blood run through the lab because after paying $270 a month for my coverage I don't have a lot left over in my budget for additional medical expenses. This makes me wonder about the point of medical insurance but also the wisdom of not covering routine blood work. Let's say my blood work revealed a simple, treatable condition such as anemia or more seriously, high cholesterol. Wouldn't that information help my doctor and I make some decisions about how I take care of myself now before any long term damage occurs? Isn't a bill from the lab cheaper than if I had a blockage that required an ER visit and maybe some surgery?
It's frustrating to pay $270 a month knowing that my employer is also paying into my coverage only to then get bills like this. And, this is in addition to the dental and eye care visits I have to pay for out of pocket. I'm really not sure how people in my 'tax bracket' manage these expenses. I suppose I might be forced to gamble w/o coverage.
Going bankrupt trying to take care of my health while juggling bills on my income is now a real concern of mine. Which is ironic since on your website your tagline is "Live fearless."
I'm also not sure how the upper management and CEO of BC/BS of AZ take home their paychecks and sleep at night. I'd be interested to hear what you think you are providing Arizonans. You must have something you tell yourselves about the good you are doing our community. So, Mr Boals, if you have the time, I'd love a reply.

–Deanna C Chevas