Health Care Like the DMV

My fellow blogger, WCShort, recently wrote a colorful piece on his experience attempting to renew his driver’s license and paying his personal property tax.

I had a similar experience with the Jackson County Department of Revenue, the municipality responsible for collecting my State of Missouri personal property tax.  Because of confusion between internal departments, I was charged twice for my 2007 personal property tax.  And because I elected to forgo WCShort’s experience of actually, physically showing up in person, (thinking it would save the State of Missouri and myself time and aggravation), I utilized the State’s online payment system…

After several days of non-returned phone calls, unanswered voice mails, and being re-routed through multiple levels of ignorant and unmotivated county employees, I finally found someone to help me (i.e. acknowledge that I was double taxed).  She apologized for the mix-up and told me they would mail me a check for the refund (they couldn’t wire the money back to my bank account…even though they had my bank account information).  She said the check could take up to 2 or 3 months.  She also advised to me to call every week and check on the progress.  I am now responsible for a 2-3 month, involuntary, interest-free loan to the government — where I am responsible for the servicing.  Dealing with a deadbeat relative wouldn’t be this cumbersome…and he would’ve asked for the money, rather than just take it out of my bank account.

Why am I against government health care?  Imagine trying to manage your cancer treatment through such an organization…  Or better yet, ask any 75 year old how well they can explain what their Medicare plan covers.