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Re: Amy - Cost of Medical in the US
From: al (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed May 19 18:19:07 1999
Thanks for explaining all this to me. I really feel for people who
don't have the money to get the best quality of care possible, and
especially if any of you women are suffering physically, emotionally, or
financially because of this horrible health care (and I use the term
'care' loosely) system. Tell you what, if I ever win the 649 jackpot
I'll send you all some $$$!!! I hope that someday soon good medical
care will be available to everyone regardless of their income.
Painfree wishes to everyone,
luv, Amy
ChinaRose wrote:
>
> Hello Amy,
>
> Yes, you are very fortunate and I'm glad you are! :o) I hope that
> you get great care.
>
> I will give you my take (My opinion & experience ONLY!)
>
> The US is very capitalistic and doctors that are under HMO/PPO
> or some kinda of health plan, do not make much money unless
> they schedule enough patients for the day to earn the fee's the
> Health Plan deems is resonable. So doctors schedule alot of
> patients, therefore no one really gets the time needed with the
> doctor for the doctor to consider all the ailments of one patient.
> Unless of course, a patient is paying out of his/her own pocket.
> Now if you go out of network, the plan will only pay a percentage
> of what they deem is a resonable fee, for example; my second
> surgery the surgeon cost $3,500 (just the surgeon) the Health
> Plan said $368 was a resonable fee and they only pay 70% of the
> $368.
>
> Well, after being so mistreated by the Health Plan system of
> America, I had to go out of pocket or I would've ended up on
> welfare. Needless to say, I'm in debt. 1-surgery under medical
> plan and 3 surgeries out of network. As long as I make some kind
> of payment ($20 a month to each hospital, surgeon, lab, etc.) every
> month, they cannot turn it over to collections and there is no
> interest charge (well not yet anyways).
>
> Insurance can cost anywhere from $60 - $160 a month for single
> women between the age 21-30. Or some business will pay for 100%
> of medical benefit. And then one has to consider too, some plans
> if you're new and have had pre-existing conditions, will not accept
> you
> at all. It's all a scam!! Only the heatlh insurance and lawyers make
> money out here!! While we suffer. Oh, here in Los Angeles, CA,
> it's the plastic surgeons that make money.... LOL (please excuse the
> sarcasim), gotta laugh otherwise I'll cry.
>
> In some instances, I have written letters to the labs, hospitals,
> surgeons,
> doctors..etc. to plead my financial plight and some have actually
> either
> taken a percentage off or written the bill off. I have had one doctor
> also
> make arrangements with the hospital to accept whatever payment the
> Plan pays as payment in full. I still owe $ XX,XXX in medical debt.
>
> If I could do it all over again, I would have gone to seen Dr. Redwine
> the
> first time around, I think I would have saved myself ALLOT of money,
> frustration and my health may be better, as some of the treatment
> feels
> as it's taken some years off my life, not to mention the quality of
> life is not
> as full as it use to be... perhaps in time.
>
> Anyhow, this has been my experience in the last several years. $$
> denotes
> your quality of care here. I hope this answers some of your
> questions. Again,
> this is only my experience and opinion.
>
> Hope you are welll.
>
> Peace, Love and Light
> ~ ChinaRose
>
> Educate yourself. Endometriosis Awareness:
> http://members.xoom.com/China_Rose/endohome.htm
> My personal experience with Endometriosis:
> http://members.xoom.com/China_Rose/endohome2.htm
>
> At 08:20 PM 5/18/99 , you wrote:
> >Hi ladies
> >I feel very fortunate that I live in Canada where I don't have to pay
> >for medical procedures, and I don't say that to be insensitive, but I
> >just wonder, how do you pay for all this stuff??!! If just baffles
> me,
> >honestly, and I mean that sincerely. That's a LOT of money!!!!
> Sorry
> >for being so dense, but HOW? Do you like have to pay over years, do
> >they charge interest too? I just think that is sooooo awful that you
> >have to pay for this stuff!!! How much do you pay for insurance, and
> >does that cover all the expenses of surgery? Hope you don't mind all
> my
> >questions. Can someone enlighten me? please and thks
> >luv, Amy
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