2030_ The Real Story of What Happens to America - Albert Brooks [32]
“Eighteen months.”
Kevin let out a low whistle. The kind of whistle electricians give when they open a junction box and know without doing a thing it’s going to cost you twenty thousand dollars. “Kathy, I’ve got some bad news for you.”
“Bad news?”
“We can’t do anything if it’s over a year. If the premiums were not paid for a month or two, or maybe three at the most, we might be able to establish just cause, but a year and a half is too far over the limit. I’m sorry.”
“That seems so unfair. He paid in all his life, he took this new job so he could continue to pay.”
“Where did he get shot? What kind of job?”
“He was a guard at the city college.”
“Damn,” Kevin said. “Of all the employers, the city is protected the most from lawsuits. I’m sure his contract is rock solid in their favor.”
“So what are my options?”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to borrow the money. Have you contacted any of the medical loan companies?”
“Not yet. I was hoping to talk to you first.”
“I’m going to forward you some names that are reputable. It’s not pretty out there, the interest rates are off the charts, but you will get the money, providing you have some assets. Does your father own his house?”
“It’s heavily mortgaged.”
“Well, you’re young and I’m sure there are ways to show these companies that you’re serious about paying back the money. Hopefully your father will recover completely and continue working.”
“Right,” Kathy said, getting up. “Hopefully he’ll get better enough to get shot again.”
“I’m sorry, Kathy. Believe me, I wish I could help.”
“I know you do. Thank you.” Kathy started to leave the office.
“Excuse me, Kathy, do you want to pay now or should we take this directly from your account?”
“What?” Kathy couldn’t believe it. “The ad says if you can’t help it’s free.”
“That’s only if we take a case and have no results. It does not include consultations.”
“Well, how much is that?”
“Normally a consultation is a thousand dollars, but seeing you’re in a bind, I will only charge you five hundred.” She wanted to shoot him, but all she could do was hand him her card. He ran it through the scanner and handed it back. “Believe me,” Kevin said, “no one gets charged this little. I could get in trouble.”
“You’re a saint.” And Kathy left his office without actually saying, “Fuck you,” which was very, very difficult.
Kathy called Brian and told him. He was furious. “You’re kidding!”
“No. Five hundred for nothing.”
“What a son of a bitch. Listen, try and forget it tonight. What are you doing later?”
“Feeling sorry for myself.”
“Come to a meeting.”
“What kind of meeting?”
“I’m not sure. A guy told me about this group that’s trying to do something about health care.”
“I can’t sit through any more of this.”
“It’s not what you think. It’s a lot of younger people who have some radical ideas about how to change things.”
“What things?”
“Exactly what you’re going through. Come on. Come with me.”
“What time?”
“It doesn’t start till nine. We’ll get something to eat first.”
Kathy was silent for a moment. Brian asked her again. “Come on, if it’s boring we’ll leave.”
“Okay. Come get me at seven.”
* * *
Euthanasia was legal in only three countries, and the United States was not one of them. Several of the states had allowed medical intervention to end life if there was great suffering, but the federal government wouldn’t make it official, and there was always a chance someone could be prosecuted by the Justice Department, although the current administration was not active in that area. The matter went before the Supreme Court in 2020, but in a five–four decision they threw it back to the states, and it remained in the same gray area it always had. Certain states looked the other way and other states just banned it.
Oregon was the most lenient and, for a time, so many people went there to end their lives that the tourist bureau seriously thought about