Hey Reader,

"Father, I don't hear confession and you don't coach this team."

Father is Father John P. Raynor, SJ, president of my alma mater, Marquette University. He’s the boss.

I was lucky enough to meet Father Raynor a few times. When I introduced him to my family at the President’s Reception during graduation week, he looked at me a bit puzzled, pointed toward my big sister and said, “How did we let this one get away?” I shrugged my shoulders. My sister just laughed.

Father Raynor was a joy to be around, but he was no pushover. The exchange with Al McGuire, well-known Marquette men’s basketball coach, is legendary.

In 1970, the NCAA tournament was less than half the size it is now at 25 teams. Teams stayed in their geographic region unless the NCAA wanted to move what it considered lesser teams. Marquette was ranked 8th in the country and they moved Marquette from playing in Dayton, Ohio instead to Fort Worth, Texas.

Al was irate with the NCAA. Al told the NCAA Marquette was not going to play in Fort Worth.

Marquette accepted a bid to play in New York City, Al’s hometown, in the 16 team National Invitational Tournament. The NIT still held a lot prestige in 1970. And, Marquette drew bigger crowds at Madison Square Garden and a bigger tv audience than the NCAA tournament.

After Al made his legendary exclamation over the phone, Father Raynor called back 15 minutes later and said, “Al, You’re right."

Marquette’s first national championship was the NIT in 1970.

The NCAA instituted a rule to never let a school decline its invitation to a tournament.

On my recent podcast, Episode 38 When It Comes To Health Insurance, Don’t Listen To Your Doctor, I kinda take the same position as Al McGuire where Father Raynor is the doctor. Give it a listen and you’ll see why.

Health insurance is always a prudent and useful tool to lessen the burden of financial hardship due to an unforeseen accident, sickness or other peril. It does not exist to simply pay doctors, hospitals and pharma.

Doctors often confuse the PPO contract they sign with “the insurance company” compared to the contract of insurance (or benefit plan) that you have through your employer or the exchange. They are two completely separate and distinct contracts.

Your doctor is not a party to your insurance contract/benefit plan. Period.

So when the doctor tells you they do not take insurance, the doctor really means they are not in a PPO network.

Your insurance remains valid and you can submit a claim for the charges you incur from your doctor. You will also be paid directly by your plan administrator in accordance with the terms of your plan.

That’s the way things used to be done. And it still works today…they just don’t want you to know that…

And, today, when you pay with your HSA, you’ll save at least an additional 28% (and up to over 50%).

Like Al said, he doesn’t hear confession. And I won’t give you a diagnosis or prescribe medicine.

But, I am all for your winning the championship!

Be sure to reach out when you’re unsure about your health insurance or your HSA: scottwdowling@scottwdowling.com​

And please be sure to tell your family, friends and neighbors, too!

Cheers!

Scott W. Dowling