A repeat posting by request
The year is 2007.
Joe and his friend, Dave, are discussing the need for a replacement for
Dave’s prosthetic leg over breakfast at the local Greek restaurant.
Joe – So how’s the leg Dave?
Dave – My guy says I need a totally new leg. It’s 12 years old and not
worth repairing.
Joe – How much is new one?
Dave – With all the bells and whistles it will come to 22 grand.
Joe – Insurance will pay for it. Right?
Dave – Nope. It’s pre-existing for my present policy. They won’t cover a
dime.
Joe – What ya gonna do?
Dave – My support group told me about a new way to buy a leg. I can either
go to Havana or Ho Chi Minh City.
Joe – No crap!
Dave – That’s right Joe! A couple of south Florida prosthetists who were
denied Florida licensure because they only did a 1600 hour internship
instead of a 2000 hour one, opened up an “American” O&P shop in Havana after
Castro died and we normalized relations with Cuba. It’s a cash only
business and they charge about a third of what you would have to pay in the
US. They are getting patients as far as NYC.
They buy the same components at cheaper oversea prices from the
manufacturers. So its cheaper to make my leg. They also have much less
expenses operating an O&P shop in Cuba. No problems from the government.
Cuban government is pro-business and does not bog you down in paperwork.
And not having to deal with Medicare has added years to their lives.
If I have a problem, it’s only 60 minutes away by the new hydrofoil shuttle
boat. It’s like a little vacation going there. I also pick up some Cuban
cigars and 100 Viagra’s for $30 bucks when I’m there. You want some?
100mgs or 50’s?
Joe – What about Vietnam? And I’ll take a couple of hundred Viagra, the
extra strength 400 mg if your going to Cuba anyway.
Dave – You remember the little war we had over there? It seems the war
caused a lot of local amputees. A bunch of European companies went over
there and started prosthetic schools 25 years ago. Now all those
graduates are starting their own O&P shops and doing a lot of local reverse
engineering and local part manufacturing for the big manufacturers. A new
leg is about $1500.00 complete. I can go there and see where my father
served. In fact he wants to go with me. The IRS will even let me deduct
the entire trip as long as it does not exceed the cost of a new leg here.
My Dad told me how a lot of guys he served with would buy cars overseas and
even have their kids braces made in Germany because it was so much cheaper
than US dentists. Heck, my wife had her boob job done in Brazil and my
mother had her face lift in Cancun.
Joe – What about fixing and adjusting it?
Dave – No problem. There’s a local guy, a physical therapist, who’s been
there and knows what to do. He took that new one year certificate course at
St. Pete College. He says they use the same parts we do. In fact, he wants
to offer a warranty service for all the people getting their legs overseas
now. For a thousand bucks he will cover it for three years. A buck a day
and Im covered.
Joe – How would you feel about your leg being made overseas?
Dave – It’s like this Joe. My suits are from Italy, my t-shirts were made
in Guatemala, my Docker’s were made in Peru, my shoes were made in China, my
car was made in Sweden, my new Plasma TV was made in Korea. I drink water
from Canada, my proctologist trained in Russia, my first wife was from Hong
Kong and all my computer gear was made overseas. You starting to get the
point?
Joe – Yeah Dave. I see your point. Hey Dave, remind me to get some Greek
olives at the front counter on the way out. My wife loves the stuff.
Joe – What about dinner. Want to have French?
Dave – No way. I won’t give those bastards the time of day.
Just a thought
Charles Barocas, CO (retired)
