She also said "men don't get bladder infections, so I want you to go for an ultrasound of your kidneys" and made an appointment for me with the lab.

I went to the lab, showed my medical id card, and had the ultrasound.

Again no bill for this. It was covered.

3 days later the doctor's office called me and asked me to come in for an appointment, to get the ultrasound results. I went in and talked to the doctor again. She told me the ultrasound showed my left kidney very swollen like a balloon, and that she was making an appointment with a urological surgeon for further examination.

Again no bill for this. It was covered.

A week later I saw the surgeon who examined me, looked at the ultrasound results, and told me I needed my kidney removed.

Again no bill for this. It was covered.

Seven months later they called to tell me to be at the hospital because the operating room was available now. The wait was because people with acute life threatening heart disease or cancer who needed immediate surgery were bumped ahead of me. Had my kidney problem become life threatening at any time I would have been in surgery the same day. I went into the hospital the next day, the kidney was removed, and I spent 3 more days in the hospital, and then three months recovering at home.

Again no bill for this. It was covered.

Now, for the entire 7 month period waiting for the operation, I had been on medical unemployment insurance, which was then extended for the remainder of my recovery time, so I was able to pay my rent and bills, including my monthly medical insurance premium.

Total cost to me? $18.00, above and beyond my regular medical premiums.