by Joe Kirkpatrick

This month's column is going to be short but not sweet. Amidst TennCare reductions, health insurance premiums skyrocketing,  and about 40 - 50% of American's who don't have any type of medical coverage, I made a startling discovery.

I talked to a pilot who works for an aviation company that has a contract to transport federal prisoners. That seems to me like an interesting job, so I started asking him questions about his work. What I found out was not very exciting, but very informative. While I imagined him flying loads of dangerous convicts as depicted in the movie "Con-Air", I found it is a much different picture. Seems like the bulk of his work is flying elderly prisoners, mainly "lifers", to get medical care. At one pickup, they had flown a turboprop to pick up two prisoners for a long trip, and they refused to get on board. The reason? For a long trip, they said they should be transported in a Lear Jet. Believe it or not, a Lear Jet was dispatched to pick them up! I had never really thought about it before, but the one group of Americans who gets free, unlimited "national health care" that none of the rest of us qualifies for are federal prisoners.

I know with the new federal drug plan, seniors now get their prescriptions at a

better price than they used to, but the elderly housed in federal prisons get theirs free. In fact, if you are in a federal prison, you don't even have to be elderly to get them free. Of course, it goes far beyond prescriptions - they get surgery, physical therapy, psychological treatment, as well as free dental and eye care as well. My wife is a teacher with the State of Tennessee Blue Cross-Blue Shield plan that costs us $600 a month out of pocket and we don't get dental or eye care with it.

My dad came to live with me in 2002, and stayed with me until he died in 2004. His personal costs for his prescriptions he paid for out of pocket was over $600 per month. My father worked from the time he was 16, and did not retire until he was 75. He always paid his taxes, served his country 4 years in the military, yet he paid $600 a month for his prescriptions, and $200 every 3 months or so to see a pulmonary specialist whom his limited health care plan did not cover. On the other hand, had he been sentenced to life in prison at 16, never paid a dime in taxes or social security, never served his country in the military, he would have received unlimited free health care throughout his life.

I am not necessarily for not treating sick prisoners, but shouldn't tax paying, law abiding citizens at least get equal treatment?
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