We’d All Miss Private Health Insurance
January 12th, 2026 Barry Posted in Health care, R. E. Ryan collaborations | No Comments »
Another collab with the terrific R.E. Ryan.
TRANSCRIPT OF CARTOON
This cartoon has four panels, all showing a protest in front of a state government capital building, with marchers holding placards. We’re focused on two people talking, on a thin blonde man in a suit, the other a fatter guy in a pink shirt, carrying a sign that says “MEDICARE FOR ALL.”
PANEL 1
Suit, with an annoyed expression, is talking at Pinkshirt.
SUIT: Medicare For All? Ridiculous! Did you know that most Medicare For All proposals ban private health insurance?
PANEL 2
Pinkshirt slaps a palm over his face and looks horrified. Suit is startled.
PINKSHIRT: No private insurance? Oh no! The horror! How could I stand not paying more than my rent for insurance that doesn’t even kick in until I’ve spent $5000?
PANEL 3
A close up of Pinkshirt, wide-eyed and sweating.
PINKSHIRT: How terrible if I could pick any doctor! Imagine the trauma of not losing health insurance if I lose my job! Sob!
PANEL 4
Pinkshirt had fallen dramatically to his knees. Suit scowls at Pinkshirt.
SUIT: I can tell you’re being sarcastic, you know.
PINKSHIRT: The poor insurance company executives! Why didn’t I think of the harm to them!
CHICKEN FAT WATCH
“Chicken fat” is obsolete cartoonist lingo for fun but irrelevant details in the art.
In panel 1, an inflatable frog costume has a frown on its face. In panel 2, the frog has started to blow up a balloon with zebra stripes. In panel 4, the inflatable zebra has joined the inflatable frog, and both are smiling.
The tattoo on Pinkshirt’s arm at first shows an egg in the nest. Then, in the next panel, cracks have appeared in the egg. In the final panel, an adorable chick has hatched.
Protest signs:
“generic background PROTEST sign, which isn’t important and you didn’t need to read this, but now you have.”
“Down with this sort of thing.”
“Proofreaders need health insurence,” with the “e” in the last word crossed out and replaced with an “a.”
“No!”
“Bad Doggie”
“Careful Now”
“I Can’t Afford My Spleen”
