patrick.net

curious2 says

Services marketed as "preventive care" do not save money, in fact they are often a total waste and sometimes injurious...

Sorry - you and I view preventative care as two different things. I am referring to the ability to see a physician for regular visits, so that the MD can provide care, take a history and compare changes between visits. People go to the ER for very high blood pressure and are often admitted - yet if they had been able to see a physician long before that the condition could have been addressed with medications.

Preventative care also refers to pap smears, colonoscopies, mammos, and many other tests that can catch conditions long before the become critical. I did not say "full body CT's" because I was referring to physical checkups and blood tests if warranted. If a serious condition is suspected, perhaps a CT or MRI is warranted. But not just for fun.

I have a healthcare condition that requires physician visits at least every 4-6 months, medications, and frequent blood tests. I'm fortunate enough to have health insurance, although I pay a shitload of out-of-pocket costs for my treatment. I, unlike many of my patients, do not have to choose between purchasing medications or food (or keeping the lights on). Without the health insurance, I would be totally screwed. And all of this is considered to be non-emergent, meaning that I wouldn't be treated if I went to the ER. I would be referrred to my primary physician whether or not I had one - or had the ability to pay for one.

Suburban Gal says

And other than the preventative side of coverage, you hope to God you never have to use anything else, like in the event you should require a transplant or reconstructive surgery, but it's there should you or someone else ever need it.

Well said.

Suburban Gal says

I know of some cases where people have actually been turned away from the ER because they have no health insurance.

ER's are, by design, supposed to treat emergencies. So people are evaluated and turned away every day. The sad thing is that conditions that could have been treated but weren't due to lack of insurance can - and do - become critical. I've witnessed people die due to this practice.

The worst one was a young man with an infected gallbladder that ended up killing him. He was about 25 or so, turned away from several ER's until he was brought in septic and died.

Healthcare should never, ever be an option. Single payer would be the ideal - but as long as we elect people and provide them with insurance that's substantially better than the rest of us, they won't understand what it's like to not have adequate medical care.

lostand confused says

I think they are a bunch of vultures, who try and bilk as much as possible from the insurance companies. I shudder to think how much fraud there must be in medicare.

I agree. Was any of the treatment actually necessary?

Seems to be that all the medical care providers seem to be referring people to the ER unnecessarily. That and when I watch TV shows like "Surf & Rescue : Dewey Beach" (or some other beach) they automatically call an ambulance and send everyone to the ER.

Last time someone told me to go to the ER, because of an infection, I bought antibiotics off eBay instead and just took them for about 3 weeks and I was fine after that. I spent $100 vs what a hospital stay would have cost me, just because they wanted to treat me the most expensive way possible (with an antibiotic IV, which would have worked quicker, but cost thousands). Instead I used my brain and searched the internet for an alternative which said that you really only need to go to a hospital if taking oral antibiotics for a month doesn't work. Knowing that no local doctor would prescribe that for me, I went the eBay route.

lostand confused says

I think they are a bunch of vultures, who try and bilk as much as possible from the insurance companies. I shudder to think how much fraud there must be in medicare.

That may be true in regards to some healthcare providers, but not all. (There are many honest providers out there.) I think it's the insurance companies that people really need to watch out for. They're in business to make money, not lose money.

Suburban Gal says

Health insurance companies, under Obamacare, MUST make birth control FREE to anyone who wants it. If you're a single male or senior citizen who doesn't require birth control, then you won't be asking for it through your insurance company. The same goes for anyone who is anti-birth control.

But the plan MUST include it. You can't say, excuse me, I really don't need that benefit in my plan, can I get a slightly reduced premium for not needing/wanting it? Nope, we're going to make sure that anyone who wants it, gets it, and YOU get to help pay for it to make sure they will be able to get it.

mmmarvel says

and YOU get to help pay for it to make sure they will be able to get it.

thing is, contraception is a LOT cheaper than pregnancy and well-baby care.

So it's a win-win and the only people opposing this are religious nutjobs.

30% of the population, alas.

Suburban Gal says

Health insurance plans cover a myriad of things to meet the needs of different people because more than one person is buying into that insurance plan. That's just how it works.

Insurance should be (and is in other areas of life, like how much insurance do you want to carry on that necklace) a plan that you can choose the coverage and based on your choices, pay for what you want. While car insurance has a base line (typically set by the state) you can add to that base/minimum coverage if you need/want to. As a male (and one over 55) I will never want/need birth control; I hear there is a requirement that the plans cover Viagra, while I hope to never need to use Viagra, I don't think other people should be helping to pay for my use of it. If a person wants to purchase a health plan that covers Viagra or birth control, then they should pay extra to the insurance company to have that in the plan, not force all of us to have higher premiums to include a benefit that we don't want/won't use.

We need universal healthcare to take burden off employees and employers alike.

I do not mind plans covering birth control. In fact, I think birth control ought to be strongly encouraged.

Peter P says

I do not mind plans covering birth control. In fact, I think birth control ought to be strongly encouraged.

I couldn't agree more.

zzyzzx says

Last time someone told me to go to the ER, because of an infection, I bought antibiotics off eBay instead and just took them for about 3 weeks and I was fine after that. I spent $100 vs what a hospital stay would have cost me, just because they wanted to treat me the most expensive way possible (with an antibiotic IV, which would have worked quicker, but cost thousands). Instead I used my brain and searched the internet for an alternative which said that you really only need to go to a hospital if taking oral antibiotics for a month doesn't work. Knowing that no local doctor would prescribe that for me, I went the eBay route

There are so many fake meds that are for sale on the interwebs it's crazy. Not only that, but failure to treat an infection appropriately is what has led to the MRSA epidemic that exists in our country.

It really depends upon the infection, and any comorbidities you might have. Google/ebay don't replace a good MD.