(New York City, NY) In what was obviously a plea for attention, Micah Laaker today loudly vocalized that he was in great pain to the nonexistent Blue Cross Blue Shield phone operators.

After ingeniously taking a flight to New York during a sinus/ear infection, Mr. Laaker found himself in an unprecedented predicament: immense aural and sinal pain with no relief in sight. Numerous phone calls to Kansas City and an extensive Web site search brought forth little assistance from Blue Cross resources, and Mr. Laaker shortly proceeded to visit the St. Vincent’s Emergency Room (ER).

A brief argument with the staff physician resulted in hurt feelings and a prescription in hand. However, after a failed twenty-minute attempt to get Blue Cross to validate the prescription, Mr. Laaker had to encourage the pharmacist to "go ahead and charge it."

Mr. Laaker is now feeling better.