Yes, it is our responsibility, but sometimes all one can do is react to something, rather than prevent through being proactive. They think my old aortic valve was leaky from either birth or a high fever when I was a baby before penicillin and I was allergic to sulfa, still am. We didn't even know it leaked until I was in my twenties. By then, it made keeping up my exercise, etc. very difficult, so I lurched along. There were some things I could have done better, but we did our best in the circumstances. Now that I have a new valve I absolutely feel it is solely on me to stay healthy and help my heart as much as possible. I know there are other folks who don't have a choice due to something from birth or early childhood. So, I guess what I am saying is, yeah, take responsibility, but also understand that some folks don't get into a dire need thing due only to lack of responsibility.

Me? I am working on a balance between the homeopathic/naturopathic/allopathic. I loathe the latter mainly because it is their "job" to find something wrong, so the whole premise seems backwards to me. They are useful for surgeries, broken bones, etc.

TRUBRIT, I said no to the insurance when the premiums became more than we were paying for rent when we lived in WY. I skated by okay even though I was on oxygen and had the leaky valve until three years ago. That's when the old valve just couldn't do much anymore. Thank goodness the company Rog worked for was sold and we got insurance two months later. Miraculously there was no pre-existing clause as that si what paid for my surgery. There is no way I could go without now, but I'd sure love to. Good luck with your decision.