If you think I’m really stretching this analogy, let me state my case.
I was in church recently and the pastor was explaining the church’s finances. The church had 2,000 families as parishioners. Its fixed costs were $140,000 per year or about $70 per family. That seems doable yet the church came up $50,000 short last year as only 300 families of the 2,000 made any donation. It seems there are higher financial priorities for many families.
One of those priorities may be tattoos as a considerable number of church attendees sported body art. How much does a tattoo cost I wondered. My research shows the minimum is about $100 with many in the $200 to $250 range and you can figure on $160 per hour for application. That’s a hefty sum given it is not exactly the wealthy segment of society adorned like aborigines.
Two hundred fifty dollars will buy one other thing, it will pay for a whole year of a generic oral contraceptives or the typical co-pay for a brand version. But we all know that is an unaffordable personal expense requiring federal intervention so now it is free.
At the risk of being called, well, something I can’t help but wonder how many women with tattoos can’t afford their birth control pills. Many people set their priorities based on their perception of personal responsibility. You see, a church can run its operation without money and the lowest cost, most routine health care is unaffordable if it detracts from our really important priorities like a snake on ones thigh or a pin of steel through the tongue.
Lest you think I am over generalizing or simply off my rocker look around for yourself and talk to people. Have you ever heard a person complain about the cost of some luxury they simply have to have, the price of a hot dog at Disney, their tattoo or the latest smart phone?
On the other hand, “What do you mean I have to pay $30 for those pills? I can’t afford that! I have lousy insurance!”
I wonder if removal of a tattoo is an essential health benefit … Oops, better not give HHS any ideas.
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