It's all my fault

I got my physical yesterday, then asked my doctor about my yearly slew of preventative tests I always have run, but imagine my surprise when she said no. She said that it's people like me that are ruining the health care system. I asked her how in the world she came to that conclusion, and she answered, "Healthy people getting unnecessary tests." I explained that Mom had just died from diabetes, so I didn't think a glucose test was unnecessary. She asked if I had any symptoms, and I said no, so she said I don't have diabetes and don't need the test. I explained to her that I exercise, eat well, take my vitamins, keep my weight down, ALL out of my own pocket (no insurance money for tennies, vitamins, massages, yoga class), and that we pay IN over $6000 to the insurance company, and hardly use a fraction of it throughout the year - no hospital visits, procedures, prescription meds, clinic visits - NOTHING. How am I ruining the health care system? Isn't it more responsible to keep yearly tabs on my numbers so I can see the beginning of a trend, and head off any serious ailment early, thus SAVING the insurance companies millions of dollars in subsequent meds, procedures, operations, hospital visits? PREVENTION IS the key to turning around the whole health care crisis.

In all fairness to my doctor, she DOES believe in preventative medicine, and I can understand her point, but I still don't understand how my using up $500 a year in my insurance premiums, giving the companies a yearly net gain FROM me of $5500 is ME ruining the system. Yes, I'm frustrated, yes, I'm peeved, yes, I'm 100% healthy, and yes, I want my yearly slew of tests. This feels like the whole Wall Street bailout all over again - I'm responsible, I don't take advantage of anything, and now I'm being punished and penalized by other people's actions. There must be some lesson or gift here for me, maybe it's about standing up for myself more and speaking out (I know - you may think I DO speak out, but I really don't - I want people to LIKE me - they won't like you if you speak out, will they?). I'll have to figure it out. In the meantime, I'm writing my doctor a letter, explaining those three points: 1- I pay IN way more than I pay out, 2- I pay for my own preventative things, and 3 - preventative tests will save the companies money in the long run, as they'll catch nasty stuff early. I don't know what she'll think, and I don't much care. It's just important for me to tell her how I feel, and if need be, I'll switch doctors to somebody who might be able to understand my point of view a little better. But seriously ... give me a break - please. This was a really crappy, intense summer in a lot of ways (beautiful and fabulous in other ways), and I just want somebody to wrap their arm around me, hold me, and say, "I'll take care of you for a while." Just a little break - that's all, even if just from my doctor.