Cripes. Medical insurance/billing -- how I hate you.

[Mr. Pedantic]

My experience is that for 4 specialist appointments, an emg and an MRI took over 2 years and I had to drive 2.5 hr to each appointment. My other experience is waiting 4 months twice for surgery. My mom needed an emergency blood transfusion and was waiting in the ER for 12 hours until they found blood (or something).
Having said that, my dad has cancer and seems be receiving timely treatment.
The 3 surgeries I've had in the US took less than a month. MRI and other test waits are non-existent.
I'd rather pay out for good service than be lumped into the same pool as people who can't pay.

Blood is special. What happens when you crossmatch blood is that the lab does a preliminary check for antibodies, above and beyond ABO and Rh. Most people are negative for the additional antibodies, so the crossmatching is easy. But in around 3% of people who have antibodies, the lab has to basically mix the donor and the recipient to make sure there isn't a reaction, and that takes several hours.

To pay for an 80k ER visit. And that deductible isn't that high when you consider simple surgery in an OR costs 5-15k.

Well, that sounds civilised.

/sarcasm

 

[nickbits]

Blood is special. What happens when you crossmatch blood is that the lab does a preliminary check for antibodies, above and beyond ABO and Rh. Most people are negative for the additional antibodies, so the crossmatching is easy. But in around 3% of people who have antibodies, the lab has to basically mix the donor and the recipient to make sure there isn't a reaction, and that takes several hours.



Well, that sounds civilised.

/sarcasm

I don't know what the wait was for, I wasn't there. Maybe it was for lab tests, maybe it was because any ER visit takes hours.
I recently went to the ER for a non emergency IMHO (dog bite) due to police recommendation. I was in a priority bed in less than 15 min. Mostly so the irresponsible dog owner would have to pay for the 2k visit, and the last time I tried to refuse medical advice from a cop, I was restrained and forcefully taken to the hospital. Why didn't I want to go? Because I was afraid of the bill. Lol. 80k later I was released and insurance denied the claim (got it resolved but that was a stressful 3 months). Even after that I still rather have the US system.

 

[nickbits]

Ps. Sorry to derail your thread OP but there are a few topics I can't resist commenting on, health care (especially with regard to Canada) being one of them.

I am bitter about my experiences (and my health issues in general). Health care would be less accessible to me in Canada or under a single payer system in the US. DO NOT WANT.

 

[Engineer]

Because we've bought into the third party payer system. Go back to a cash system and let competition bring prices down.

and those with cash can afford to get care and those without....well, just die quickly and gracefully.

However, I do agree that the insurance industry is just a sucking middleman.

 

[Patranus]

What's the point of having insurance if you have such a huge deductible?

Huh, I have easily saved my deductible in premium payments by having such a low premium payment and high deductible.

Then again I am responsible and many people are not.

 

[JEDI]

A Canadian goes in for an operation.
Then they go home when its done.

The End.

Someday maybe America will become as advanced.

if surgery isnt life threatening, then wait several years to get it done.

if u are going to die if its not done, then wait 1 week b4 u going to die. (yes, sometimes they estimate wrong and schedule the surgery 1 week after you die)

 

[Engineer]

if surgery isnt life threatening, then wait several years to get it done.

if u are going to die if its not done, then wait 1 week b4 u going to die. (yes, sometimes they estimate wrong and schedule the surgery 1 week after you die)

All I know is that the Canadians that I've talked to (spent several months in Canada) all laugh at our system and have few gripes about their system. They also told me that if they 'need' something, they can get it without the mythical wait.

Regardless, the US system is fucked beyond repair.

 

[Patranus]

Regardless, the US system is fucked beyond repair.

The system in the United States is the best on the planet which is illustrated by world leaders coming to the United States and not their own countries for treatment.

A small minority of people in the United States have an issue with payment which really isn't an issue as they can walk into any hospital and get lifesaving treatment.

 

[Engineer]

The system in the United States is the best on the planet which is illustrated by world leaders coming to the United States and not their own countries for treatment.

A small minority of people in the United States have an issue with payment which really isn't an issue as they can walk into any hospital and get lifesaving treatment.

Might be the most advanced health care in the world, but it's by far from the best. The system of insurance that we use is pitiful. As for your comment on lifesaving treatment, sure, you can walk in and get something but if you need extensive treatment (cancer, etc) and you don't have insurance, good luck. Our system of health care and it's rate of inflation is fucked beyond repair, period. Needs to be scrapped and started over as far as payment goes.

Right now, those that have insurance (usually through work) pay 3 ways:

1. Pay via insurance (and routinely get denied on procedures by insurance and have to pay). Insurance must skim off the top to pay for their employees and high executive pay.

2. Paying for those that don't have insurance and can't pay their bills (do you think the hospitals don't pass that on to those who pay?).

3. Paying for those on Medicaid and Medicare.

Those that work and pay pay for everyone else. The system is fucked against that that should be rewarded for their work. Instead, they get the lion share of the bills.

Oh, and you mention world leaders coming here to get health care. They can afford it. At the same time, record numbers of American citizens have to go abroad to get procedures done because it's no longer affordable to them here.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/07/us/the-growing-popularity-of-having-surgery-overseas.html?_r=0