medical care

[Dishtowel]

I'm glad to hear a positive story about American Healthcare BDAB, normally I hear negative ones. I do like my Canadian health care though, when I got mangled they fixed me real good with no bills.

Because of it I still have my foot.

Best wishes on a speedy recovery.

 

[skinner]

Brits may not be all dying, but if you have ever bored enough to have watched one of the "town hall" type meetings Tony Blair had with representatives and common folk, EVERY question was from people pissed off that they were on a waiting list MONTHS long for surgeries and transplants. And not from a lack of materials or donors, but from an overfilled roster.
We are unhealthy because we are fat and smoke and drink too much...coupled with utter laziness.
Not because our health system sucks. The system IS broken, but nationalizing it won't help. In fact, it leads to a 'brain drain' of sorts. I work for medicare right now. I know the systems ins and outs like the back of my hand. But there are a LOT of good doctors that won't touch it with a 10 foot pole either. If you were the best of the best, would you settle for $5,000 for an extensive surgery if you could make $25,000 in another country?
I'm not saying everyone would leave...but we tend to get the best of the best because we are where the money is for them.

Nobody has a perfect solution as there really probably isn't one.

 

[MAKG]

WHERE on this planet, does ANYONE make 5 times the salary for surgery than in the US?

The ratios go very much the other way. It's not that the US competes with other countries (very much). If it did, "market forces" would control the problem as people go elsewhere for surgery. To a very small degree, some of this has happened, but obviously not for emergency care.

And the US has several transplant lists that are years long, as well, even with our expensive privatized health care.

It just isn't anywhere near as bad as folks are trying to scare you into. Fear is a strong motivator. Those with financial interest in the current situation count on that.

The best of the best....yeah right. Only if your PCP concurs and is willing to fight for it.

Private health responsibility is supposed to create this fantastic health care system, second to none in the world. Except it hasn't. Health care in Europe is better, at a fraction of the cost.

 

[skinner]

MAKG do you even read what I write or just start spewing that what I say is wrong? Perhaps I just wasn't quite clear enough...i tend to hop around and not get my point across clearly at times so that's most likely the case.
I realize that ratios go the other way. That's exactly what I was saying. We get the best of the best as far as physicians and researchers go because USA, at this point...is where the most money is to be made. Nearly every doctor I see anymore is Indian, Middle Eastern, or even East Asian. Why? Because there is tons of money to be made and equipment to be used here. The gov't gets involved, caps get set, salaries decrease. I'm not saying that all doctors will leave, but this ratio and advantage disippates.
One more thing...
Can you please explain HOW health care in Europe is better? You, at this point, are linking a much better lifestyle and habits of the Europeans to them having superior healthcare...

 

[Dangeranger3]

Just so everyone knows my first post was sarcastic. I don't think we need nationalized healthcare. And BDAB, I hope you start feeling better.

 

[skippy]

MAKG do you even read what I write or just start spewing that what I say is wrong? Perhaps I just wasn't quite clear enough...i tend to hop around and not get my point across clearly at times so that's most likely the case.
I realize that ratios go the other way. That's exactly what I was saying. We get the best of the best as far as physicians and researchers go because USA, at this point...is where the most money is to be made. Nearly every doctor I see anymore is Indian, Middle Eastern, or even East Asian. Why? Because there is tons of money to be made and equipment to be used here. The gov't gets involved, caps get set, salaries decrease. I'm not saying that all doctors will leave, but this ratio and advantage disippates.
One more thing...
Can you please explain HOW health care in Europe is better? You, at this point, are linking a much better lifestyle and habits of the Europeans to them having superior healthcare...

You won't win an argument with mikey.

 

[skippy]

I don't want to hear anybody bitching that they can't get medical care in the United States. Wednesday I had to check into the Emergency room for what I had assumed was really bad indigestion but turned out to be my intestine was folded over. it was to the point that if I had waited another day before seeking medical attention I would not be here to type this post. I received about $70,000 worth of surgery with out medical insurance (which I have, but i bought and started the policy the week before so we don't have the cards yet so as far as the hospital was concerned we don't have it) because nobody knew what was wrong I had to have tests done before I was admitted. it took approx 6 hours to go through the tests. Tests that I remember when I was in the army would have taken 6 months to get approval for (my internal organs were ultra sounded, I needed an ultra sound of my bladder when i was in the army and it took 6 months for Tri-care to approve it. the problem straightened itself out by then) If I would have had to wait for the government I would have died as it was I almost died during surgery and if I had been in scottland I would have been denied medical care because I am over weight and I smoke. In my country (the one that when I was 17 I took an oath the protect and defend) I was able to get the medical attention I needed to save my life. they didn't just stabilize me and send me home, they fixed the problem and kept me in the hospital from Wednesday to 9 pm sunday night to make sure the problem was fixed and everything was working. So I am home now able to write this post because by God's amazing grace I was born in America. The worst part about my trip to the hospital besides now having an 11" cut on my abdomen was having whats called and NG tube forced through my nostril into my stomach to pump out my stomach contense , at least it was the most painful. oh and now it hurts when I laugh or cough.

BDAB,glad to hear you are alright and sounds like you'll be back to the ole grind soon enough.My thoughts on health care are in my sig.

 

[Ozwynn]

yeah I was actually back at work today, kinda. one of my dispatchers was a driver so she drove my truck today and I booked freight from my bed and checked into my insurance, the agent that takes care of all of my insurance wrote a family policy for me when I bought this group plan for my drivers so I was covered as of aug 15th.

I'm glad to hear a positive story about American Healthcare BDAB, normally I hear negative ones. I do like my Canadian health care though, when I got mangled they fixed me real good with no bills.

Because of it I still have my foot.

Best wishes on a speedy recovery.

thats a nasty wound and I am glad you still have your foot. but considering I have already paid more than $70,000 in taxes this year you will never convince me I should pay more taxes to avoid hospital bills. I am sure there are things we can do with out to pay for national health care like say maybe nasa or corprate bail outs or quit bailing out the airlines or do away with rail road subsidies (did I spell that right) or maybe do away with million dollar gay meet and greet aids awarness cruises. what i am saying is if you want government health care then reign in the spending first and do away with useless things (for the record I don't think nasa is useless I was using an exampe) and I would be willing to talk about it as long as it was not controlled by a bureaucrat and the bean counters had no say in my treatment option and I got to go to the doctor and hospital of my choice .......... basically what I have now.

 

[skinner]

You kick ass BDAD. Glad to see you back and hopefully in good health.

 

[skippy]

Bdab,$70,000 in taxes?sounds like you fall in Obamas "rich" category.If he wins and your taxes go up what happens?Lay offs,Higher prices to customers,reduced bennies to employees?Or do you just suck it up?

 

[Ozwynn]

can't suck it up my profit margin isn't big enough. I just pass it on to my customers who pass it on to you the consumers. Obama wins and I will probably have to lock my doors because higher taxes will put us in a depression that makes jimmy carter seem like a happy memory.

 

[Dann757]

I blew out my pylorus muscle in my stomach this summer, lifting a floor sanding machine. I only trust my doctor, he was on vacation. I waited in serious pain for a week. I thought I had a bad hernia and got really scared. When I finally got my 5 minutes time with the doc for $100, he told me to rest for 8 weeks. I lived off my savings for that time. I haven't had health insurance since 1978. I'm self -employed and refuse to get ripped off. Watch "Sicko" by Michael Moore, its biased but interesting. My credit is outstanding, this would have bankrupted me. Yes, we have the best medical care in the world here, but I simply can't afford insurance, can't afford medical care. It's a sin. Is Obama going to get me free health care? Is McCain?

 

[Mark_88]

Canada's Health care used to be the envy of many countries...but it was also the envy of everyone who knew how to take advantage of it...between that and greedy docs it has been turned into the 'dont do what Canada did" story...

Shame...and earlier this year I had an incident that left me wondering...I was sick and wanted to see a doctor...went to a walk-in clinic because my former doctor was an hours drive away...they wouldn't see me without either charging me $50 or producing my health card...so I went home and looked for it...I thought I had it...went to the Ministry to get another health card...they wanted proof that I was a Canadian citizen...couldn't find my birth certificate now...(I'm really good at hiding things from me these days)...had to pay $35 to get a replacement...that only took four months to complete...

Anyways, I finally get my new health card...but I cannot find a doctor in my area because they are not taking patients...usually I end up going to the hospital (who have my records and don't require a health card....WTF).

The Ministry of Health informed me that I could always go to the hospital for medical care...but if you've ever been in a hospital in Canada where you walk in, you can expect to wait at least two hours for someone to look at you...and that is only if there are no emergencies that are more urgent than your symptoms...

It is now actually better that they put the health card restriction in place...in the sense that they are not experiencing the high rates of patients that are not entitled to Canadian health benefits...but it took them long enough to implement this system...and I just happened to have been on the receiving end of their reforms...

 

[canyoncritter]

I blew out my pylorus muscle in my stomach this summer, lifting a floor sanding machine. I only trust my doctor, he was on vacation. I waited in serious pain for a week. I thought I had a bad hernia and got really scared. When I finally got my 5 minutes time with the doc for $100, he told me to rest for 8 weeks. I lived off my savings for that time. I haven't had health insurance since 1978. I'm self -employed and refuse to get ripped off. Watch "Sicko" by Michael Moore, its biased but interesting. My credit is outstanding, this would have bankrupted me. Yes, we have the best medical care in the world here, but I simply can't afford insurance, can't afford medical care. It's a sin. Is Obama going to get me free health care? Is McCain?

I know my medical insurnace runs me about the same price as my cell phone bill a month or about the same as my internet and cable bill put toghter a month, or about the diffrence of me eating at fast food for lunch at work vs taking a bag lunch to work a month. So really medical insurance is not that bad if you do alittle shiping around and get put in to a group plan.
Throw a few more bucks at your medical and do a little research you could have gotten paid for your time off from work and not lived of your savings.

----------------------------------------------------

In the USA, are biggest problem would be "entitled" to it, as it is we have how many people in this country that are not enitled to be working here.And we have how many scum bag lawyers fighting for the "Rights" of these people just like they are Americans. Do you reallllly think they would get turned away from medical cause they are not entitled to it? NO! cause if they did, that hospital would be sued up the ying yang, etc etc. for discreanation!
So then who is going to pick up the bill for the non tax paying,non entitled, person who go's to the hopsital and get treatment? the hospital? would not be long till that hospital looked like a halloween prop, the goverment? oh that right, the goverment's going to pay for it all anyway...so the goverment will need to take in some more money to pay for the "extras" they did not have written in to the tax bill.....so guess what...Need to raise taxes again!...

I know, that wont affect you, cause you dont own a bussines or make a ton of loot right?......think again. Do you really think the local grocery store is just going to eat the extra "tax" lost profit? 10% tax to the bussines is going to drive up the goods price of that bussines up 11% then in turn will drive up the sales tax you pay in the end...so just ruffly over all going to drive up the bought goods price 12% total...so now, that 100 bucks you spend a week at the store, is going to cost you $112

So now, for the first year that dont sound tooo bad dose it?...well now the goverment is X amount of billions/trillions in the hole on thier projected medical bill.
Do you think ol TEd, nancy and BO and the rest of the senate,congress,mayors,governors etc are going to give up thier paychecks/ ways of life to flip the bill?......keep dreaming,Do you think the USA can afford to keep losing money and just go in the hole?..Yie DANG ting so

So now the goverment decalirs we need more money this coming year.So now we need to raise the busssines taw to %15 and the trend just keeps going.Cause Americans are to lazy or won't spend there own money to buy thier own medical.Cause they dont want to affrod it, cause they may have to go with out something "neat"....

So the next thing we know, to buy that $100 worth of goods end up costing $112,then $127, then it turns in to $143, then it turns in to $160....get my drift.And as taxes start gettign to high, companies that can will move off shore..in turn you lose jobs, and and tax revanue in the USA.....

 

[Legend]

A hospital hired me to design them a custom accounting software package. They wanted all the normal standard things, but their #1 most IMPORTANT priority was:

The amount of money they can collect from insurance is determined by the admitting diagnosis. The software has to track, real time, patient charges and estimate at the current rate, when the patient will exceed the allowable charges - then issue warning alerts so the patient can be discharged before the maximum charges are reached. Then they can readmit the patient with a different diagnosis to resume charging!