When the huge FedEx delivery van pulled up in front of our home, I got the usual “what have they brought me?” adrenaline rush. It was the busy Christmas gift delivery season. This could be the “big one” sent by a friend to fulfill my all-I-want wishes. After all, the Santa gift thing represents the very essence of Christmas, which historians remind us, was once about the birth of the Christ child. But I digress.

With hands trembling, I opened the small envelop which contained a 3-pack of dental floss. There must be some mistake. Then I remembered, I had ordered dental floss as one item along with several other items available through my Medicare Advantage benefits plan. The floss was free as was the shipping.

This whole transaction had cost me nothing. My Medicare Advantage plan from AARP has no premium. This plan and the floss it brought to me in a rush delivery were free. Or were they? Medicare must have been the ultimate payer. But Medicare is paid for by our (mine included) tax dollars. So, my question remains. WHO GOT FLOSSED?