I had my right knee replaced three weeks ago; my left one 10 weeks ago.

I have had a lot of trouble with pain and swelling and I do not tolerate narcotics well. So my doctor prescribed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (Celebrex). It is not a new or experimental medicine, but there is no generic.

I have pretty good insurance, but for some reason my insurance company will not cover it. I need it. I know I need it because, luckily, so far I have been able to pay out of my pocket the $210 for a 25-day supply. It goes a long way toward helping with the pain and suffering associated with knee replacements. Sometimes I only take a half dose to make it go further.

But I digress. My point is: We already have what some call "death panels," we just refer to them as "insurance companies."

We Americans all deserve better!

Brent Erkelens

Orem