Venting about the US healthcare system

[nogutsnoglory]

I am sorry but I just need an outlet to share how disgusted I am with our healthcare system. If I wasn't on top of and in charge of my health god only knows where I'd be and in what shape.

I find that every specialist finds something and is quick to administer more tests, want more visits and of course put you on meds which cause more problems in other areas.

The doctors spend barely 30 seconds with you and don't know answers or give obscure responses. They don't read test results and have no clue what's going on. I am so sick of badgering them to tell me what's going on with me.

And last but not least I hate insurance companies who I spend hours on the phone with just trying to get them not to say no to a claim.

We need universal healthcare so badly or at least a government option to compete with these companies who don't get held to account. We need to focus on a more holistic and natural way of approaching our healthcare.

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

I think the best thing I can say is, "You go girl!!!!!!!". :emot-dance: I too have been having those problems and am finally looking to get a second opinion from my doctor. Hopefully some good results will come out of it...:hug:

 

[CLynn]

I'm with you too! And sick of doing the doctor's job for him, he makes wayyyyyy too much for me to be doing that.

 

[skippy111]

well the supreme court is about to decide whether or not Obama's madate clause in his health care bill is constitutional or not.

to force someone to purchase a good or service is a violation of the constitution. the mandate issue is that if we do not have insurance, we will be fined.. this will open the door to insurance companies to rob us blind and give us crappy coverage...

I remember back in the day when you could go to the hospital and you just got one bill from the hospital, and then one from the Drs who saw you...

now you get a bill from the hospital, the ER DR , the radiologist who does the x-rays,

then heaven forbid you need surgery,
you get a bill from the anesthesia person, and each individual dr who is there in the room...

you know those daily visits by the phlebotomist? where they take your blood?
well that goes to the Lab, and then the lab bills you for the lab work..

it's a big buisness now... and will only get worse if obamacare is allowed to go into effect ...

Charity care, pays for my hospital incurred expenses, and once medicaid goes through it will pay for the DR's

I am dissabled, so I depend on charity care, and the Medicaid,

Once the supreme court strikes down the mandated coverage part of the health care bill, the insurance companies will either have to provide more coverage or wind up going under..

 

[CLynn]

Agreed, Skippy, I have not ever been a fan of national healthcare, and have not heard good things about Obama's proposed plan. Have heard opposite, bad things. But the system is failing us badly, not just us crohnies, but failing the patients in general.

 

[bozzylozzy]

i dont understand how it works in the USA when it comes to healthcare. but just putting it out there - i love our NHS (sure it has its flaws)

have you seen michael moore's film - sicko? makes for an interesting watch.
i dont know exactly how obama's health care bill works or what it aims to do - but i was under the impression he was trying to work towards something similar to an NHS?.. but i really dont know lol!!

 

[CLynn]

Yes, it was meant to be a national healthcare system, but from what I understand, the government will decide who, what and dependent on the age of patients. For instance, under his plan, if you are found to have cancer at 70 years of age, they will not allow you to treat it. And many other stipulations that I just don't feel they should be deciding for us.

 

[bozzylozzy]

thats crazy..
my granddad is 71 - and has a very rare condition which means his blood vessels are extremely weak. he has severe nose bleeds, bleeds from his throat, bleeds from the "other" end. and it will eventually get to his lungs.
he has to have a blood transfusion every 4 weeks (sometimes has to have it after 2wks) and he goes regularly for his nose/throat to be cauterized. he is so severely anaemic, he has to have oxygen tanks at home now.
he is in such a bad way - but the minute he has a problem - the NHS docs get him into hosp asap. and gets whatever he needs.

i dont know what i'd do if no-one would treat him. because he cant afford private care

 

[Gculk]

Yep, your system is wack. 17% cost from gdp for healthcare? Wow. For a country constantly hollering about the benefits of low regulation of finacial (insurance) sectors, you really don't see any of that benefit. Especially compared to socialized models that tend towards more like 10%.

Obama's policy is better than nothing, but it does possibly have - major - issues. The issue of rate gouging could be avoided with appropriate regulation, but given the US's political climate, that would be difficult to get some people to swallow without people crying 'nanny state'.

I won't write a book on it for once, but my last comment on it is that proper governance includes rules that may be painted as onerous, but in reality are common sense.

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

Looks like I might be paying more money to the health system for a test I had in April Brother, every time I turn around I'm still paying for that test! I swear that I can feel my wallet getting thinner and thinner every time I see more paperwork from them

 

[DustyKat]

How do you in US view the universal health care systems that exist in other countries?

Dusty.

 

[Manzyb]

I don't really know the ins-and-outs of the universal healthcare systems in other countries, but I think that it is great that everyone can be treated and not have to go bankrupt, because they fall ill.

I am lucky enough for my husband to be in the military, we have amazing healthcare, but we both really want him to get out of the military, but with my disease, we don't see it as a likely scenario.

I really do think that they should do something here. At least try and make health care affordable for everyone. One of the obamacare issues was he wanted to make it neccessary for everyone to be able to have insurance and not raise premiums because of a pre-existing condition, or to be denied healthcare because you've hit a catastrophic cap. That, to me, sounds like a good idea if it was beneficial for all.

 

[EthanPSU]

I am personally for the PPACA or "Obamacare" I feel many people don't fully understand it. The mandate does not force everyone to have health care. If you don't have health care and you can afford it, you will have to pay a small fee. But what people don't get is that if you can't afford health care, they will not force the fee upon you. Also, this mandate is needed because in 2014 there will be no more "pre-existing conditions". At all. People will be charged the same regardless of their medical history. So the mandate is necessary if you're doing away with "pre-existing conditions" because otherwise no one would get insurance until they needed to use it, which defeats the purpose of insurance.

And also, we should def like it somewhat because it allows the Food and Drug Administration to approve more generic drugs which causes more competition in the market to drive down prices of drugs.

Anywaysssssss just my speal... :ywow:

 

[NancyHany]

Try Egypt, a doctor forgot to tell me that I have a chronic heart condition ( he wrote it in the report but never mentioned it to me and led me to believe that I'm just a crazy woman). In one hospital stay a cockroach crawled next to me in bed and I found much more in the room. I can't tell you the times I've been told by doctors that I should accept my fate (ie not seek further treatment and just deal with it) or I will be upsetting God.

Last thing I'll say that yesterday I was released from the ER and the doctor told my husband I will collapse again by evening (which I did) but since they are busy and I have no blockage, I'll just waste their precious time Thankfully I have a new fabulous GI, takes weeks for an appointment, 6+ hours wait but he is honestly trying to do anything possible for me.

 

[bozzylozzy]

manzyb - thats rubbish that your hubby is a bit stuck in the military when you all want him to leave.

like i said before - i dont know how it all works in the US. but i love our NHS - and i hope everywhere could have something similar. but if you were to get something like our NHS - it couldnt happen over night, with all the insurance companies money/staff etc.. it would be really hard. baby steps

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I am personally for the PPACA or "Obamacare" I feel many people don't fully understand it. The mandate does not force everyone to have health care. If you don't have health care and you can afford it, you will have to pay a small fee. But what people don't get is that if you can't afford health care, they will not force the fee upon you. Also, this mandate is needed because in 2014 there will be no more "pre-existing conditions". At all. People will be charged the same regardless of their medical history. So the mandate is necessary if you're doing away with "pre-existing conditions" because otherwise no one would get insurance until they needed to use it, which defeats the purpose of insurance.

And also, we should def like it somewhat because it allows the Food and Drug Administration to approve more generic drugs which causes more competition in the market to drive down prices of drugs.

Anywaysssssss just my speal... :ywow:

I am also in favor of "obamacare" because it gives more people access, and protects those with pre-existing conditions. How does the legislation impact the FDA and generics though?

I wish the healthcare reform bill could have gone further but republicans care about insurance companies not patients.

 

[Gra]

Australia has universal health care scheme called Medicare, everybody pays a small levy on their tax (I think it's 3% for most people), and this pays for universal basic health care for everyone. The only real problem with it is that there are a lot of people without private health cover, so there can sometimes be long waiting lists for elective surgery. However if you have a life-threatening condition on Medicare you get prompt attention.

In order to deal with the elective surgery need, many people take out private health cover to deal with that situation. However even if you have private health cover you can still opt to go Medicare route and not pay anything.

Gra

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Australia has universal health care scheme called Medicare, everybody pays a small levy on their tax (I think it's 3% for most people), and this pays for universal basic health care for everyone. The only real problem with it is that there are a lot of people without private health cover, so there can sometimes be long waiting lists for elective surgery. However if you have a life-threatening condition on Medicare you get prompt attention.

In order to deal with the elective surgery need, many people take out private health cover to deal with that situation. However even if you have private health cover you can still opt to go Medicare route and not pay anything.

Gra

That seems fair as emergencies go first. Elective can wait and if you want it sooner you can pay out of pocket.

We need socialized healthcare and medicine!

 

[RFarmer]

So, I live in Canada. What bills do I get?

Medicine. Also, if I cancel a endoscopy appointment too late, I have to pay.

... to rant, or not to rant?

 

[bozzylozzy]

Nhs seems similar to australias medicare. we have a flat rate for medicine prescriptions too - i think its roughly £7.40 at the moment. regardless of the amount or type of medicine, you just pay a flat rate.
if youre pregnant you get free prescriptions and a year aftrr baby is born. kids get free meds until you're 16 unless you are in full time education until youre 18 i think. Some conditions like if you have diabetes - your meds are free too

 

[StarGirrrrl]

And you can get pre-payment cards too I pay £10.40 a month for 10months and get all my prescriptions paid for. Need 14 a year to "make it pay", but I am happy to have it "just in case" even if I don't hit the 14 items a year.

Also you can apply for free prescriptions on a low income basis, and with certain state benefits they are automatically free.

The NHS does sometimes refuse treatment on age grounds, but each case is judged individually. You are more likely to get more testing etc they younger you are. It's not an ideal system, but there is a fixed amount of money and hard decisions have to be made- and that's speaking as someone who has been on the wrong end of those decisions. I would argue it's better than the system the US has at the moment. I have lived in the US (uninsured, heck we could barely afford food) so have a fair experience of both.

I think (without wishing to cause offence) Americans hear about the worst parts of social healthcare and immediately declare they will happen if the US gets social care. When in reality it isn't clear-cut. It is a complex system with rules and guidelines, Drs don't for example roam a Hospital kicking out any patient they deem too old!