Some years back, while working in a radio station, a little piece of cellophane (off a pack of cigarettes—not mine) sent me sprawling. Slipped on the damned thing. And buggered my knee real good! Went to my doctor. He drained about 20 cc's of fluid and blood from my swollen knee and gave me a prescription for pain-killer.

Shortly thereafter, I get a letter from my health insurance company (Blue Cross-Blue Shield at the time. No more!) telling me that they didn't cover things like that!

I asked my direct boss at the radio station, program director Bob McDonald, if the station had insurance to cover things like that—accident on the job, etc. He said, yes, they did, BUT—

"Those bastards are always pulling that sort of thing. If you accept it, they're off the hook. Look, their offices are in a big building north of the city. Go out there. Check to make sure the waiting room is full of people, which it usually is, go up to the counter, and raise Holy Hell. Loudly!"

The waiting room was crowded with people. I went up to the counter and explained to the woman why I was there, i.e., why was my claim denied? She pulled up my file, then told me, "Well, Mr. Firth, I'm afraid your insurance doesn't cover this sort of thing."

I banged on the counter with my fist and said loud enough for everyone in the room (and a couple of blocks away) to hear me, "Well, if my insurance doesn't cover this kind of accident, then what in the hell am I paying premiums for!!???"

Faces buried in magazines suddenly looked up, very intersted.

She tried to hush me up, and made a quick phone call. About thirty seconds later, another woman came and ushered me into a small room off the nearby hallway. She had my file with her, which she quickly scanned, then said, "I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Firth. I'm afraid the whole thing is some silly clerical error! Of course your insurance covers this kind of accident. We'll get a check off to your doctor immediately! And once again, I am SO SORRY!"

My next shift at the station, I told Bob what happened, and he said, "Yep! Sometimes, to keep them honest, you just have to go out and give them a wedgie!!"

Don Firth