I met my downstairs neighbor yesterday.  He and his wife are from South Africa and moved here to be near their 3 children and several grandkids.  As an international lawyer, he is still able to work, but at 71, considers himself largely retired.  Nice guy, great neighbor.

He told me the story of getting health care when he moved to the States several months back.  Upon arriving, he applied for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, but due to his age and a very small pre-existing condition, was denied.  Of course. 

His comment was classic, “But in America, you must learn to never accept ‘No’ and to keep trying until you get what you want!”  So, true.  Especially for us entrepreneurs.  When denied, you find a different way to skin the cat.  My neighbor set about a search for all the organizations that offer health insurance as a benefit of membership.  He found several chambers of commerce that did indeed offer it, and shop which plan was better, which membership was cheaper, etc.  He created a business in upstate New York that serves as a corporate shell for his ongoing legal work and joined the chamber.  And now, lo and behold, he gets insurance for a “great, cheap rate.”  I love this story.  I love his entrepreneurial attitude of never giving up.

What do you think of that Nancy and Harry?