Re: Amy - Cost of Medical in the US
From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Wed May 19 18:28:16 1999
Hi Amy
I feel the same as you I am from Scotland and my treatment is free also. and
if I won the lottery I would give this forum alot of the money and I am being
sincere, everyone here has helped me so much.
Take care or you
Debbie (UK)
al bowers wrote:
> 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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