I can't say I like the idea of having to purchase insurance from one of those damn sleezy companies.

I'd like to see something more like the Dutch system where we are allowed whatever modality, or combination there of we want. I get medicare, it costs me almost $100 a month, but I still have to pay for my acupuncture, homeopathy and whatever alternative treatments I choose.

I developed a patch of eczema, after joining a health club to use the swimming pool (a suggestion by another doctor) I didn't know what it was, so I went to another "regular" doctor and they wanted to give me steroids and topical steroid creams. That doctor only spent 8 minutes with me. There was no discussion of my life style,, diet or anything. In fact no actual test were done. It was, what seemed to me a flash judgement. The regular doctor after my questioning her prescription, made an appointment with a dermatologist. It took 3 and a half months to see the dermatologist. When I got into the room, he strutted around and again wanted to give me the steroids. I asked if there was anything else and was told no. Take it or leave it, so to speak. At that time my health insurance was costing me almost $700 a month, plus $30 office visit fee. I canceled that insurance. Now I only have Medicare plan A and B. for those who don't know a lot about it, plan A is hospital and is "free", plan B is office visits and costs around $100 a month.

I kept on with my traditional Chinese Medicine, which composed of acupuncture, diet, herbs, chi gong and tui na. My eczema vastly improved. When I'm off my diet or stressed I get patches, but nothing like before. I know the steroids would only have provided symptomatic relief, but no cure. The side effects would have caused skin atrophy and thinning....and who knows what else? I pay for each visit to for TCM.

My medicare does not pay for any of that. If I used "regular" medicine it would pay some of it.