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The Medical System
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Jan 16, 2022 08:27:24   #
starlifter Loc: Towson, MD
 
I consider myself fortunate and a little lucky too. Being a veteran, I have VA health insurance. I can email my doctor and get a response usually the same day. I can renew my prescriptions online and receive them in the mail. I have also had several procedures including a cataract operation. And as they say down under" No worries, mate ".

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Jan 16, 2022 08:49:45   #
BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA
 
jerryc41 wrote:
Our medical system is not getting better. While my son was at work, he got a cryptic email from CVS saying that they couldn't contact his doctor to get a Rx refilled. This happens every time a Rx has to be renewed. I can always get through, so why can't they? I called my doctor, and I got a recording saying that because they were overwhelmed by C***d, I had to go to the "Patient Portal" to renew the Rx. I'm signed up on the portal, but my son isn't, and I saw no way to sign him up. I can't visit the office in person because I must have an appointment, and I have to phone them when I get there so they will let me in. I wrote a letter to the doctor, and I'll mail it when I go out. Is this progress?

My doctor's office joined a large group - Health Quest - after the founding doctor retired. Then that group joined a larger group - Nuvance. Now it's Nuvance Health Quest, which includes hundreds of practitioners and several hospitals. Besides that, the local hospital has also joined a group, and it's now Health Alliance. Health Quest, Health Alliance - life used to be simpler - and easier.

I watch an English doctor report on C***d every day. The US is leading the world in hospitalizations - way more than any other country. He said this is partly because so many Americans have other health problems, like obesity, and our healthcare system is so costly that it leaves many people on the verge of needing hospitalization, anyway. Getting C***d, even the milder omicron, pushes them over the edge, and they must be hospitalized.

A couple of years ago, I cut my thumb. After having it washed and bandaged at the ER, I received a bill for $3,897. Fortunately, my co-pay was only $75.
Our medical system is not getting better. While m... (show quote)


Blame Big Brother (aka Federal Government). I am a retired Radiologist. While practicing my group had a policy of writing off fees charged if the patient wrote us a note stating that they did not have the means to pay. While some did pay at least part of their bill in installments many were just written off.

That is until the Department of Medicare and Medicaid services threatened to sanction us if we did not send all such individuals to collection because we were not allow to charge less than we billed Medicare of the same service. Talk about stupid!

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Jan 16, 2022 09:43:48   #
Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England
 
Real Nikon Lover wrote:
And what are the inequities? Come to Los Angeles! Healthcare is all free! Spend your money on healthcare or don't. It's just that simple. The US has some of the best healthcare in the world. People travel outside of the US to get healthcare and then end up regretting it. They usually do this because of the cost. I cannot tell you the number of people I have met, known or dealt with that went to "X" country and came back with a nightmare surgery, infection, secondary illness. It goes on and on.

Your right I am concerned about socialized medicine. It sucks. PERIOD. I bemoan nothing. My point is if you pay for a Toyota you will get a Toyota. If you pay for a Cadillac you will get a Cadillac. Same is true in healthcare.

Nowhere in the Constitution does it guarantee healthcare for all. It is not a right (at this point). It is a benefit often negotiated by unions for workers (LA SEIU did a great job on this) or added benefit at time of employment.

Is it morally or ethically correct for society to create health inequities? Not my decision.

I have worked over 40 years, earned and paid for everything I have. Including healthcare. Nothing was given to me. NOTHING. If I were suddenly broke and zeroed out I would do what I have always done... find a way, survive and dig out of the hole.
And what are the inequities? Come to Los Angeles!... (show quote)


You say 'Socialised medicine' sucks. We have The NHS (National Health Service) which is paid through taxation, I don't pay any more money towards my or my family's healthcare. Of course nothing is perfect (never is)..but I dont have to worry about the financial aspect of it, and so far (I'm 72) I have no complaints about the treatment I have had (three operations). If I wanted to, I could sign up for Private treatment, which of course is very costly, but quicker treatment. I can tell you for a fact, that the vast majority of British people are proud of our NHS and would h**e to have it any other way!

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Jan 16, 2022 10:10:07   #
boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander
 
jerryc41 wrote:
Our medical system is not getting better. While my son was at work, he got a cryptic email from CVS saying that they couldn't contact his doctor to get a Rx refilled. This happens every time a Rx has to be renewed. I can always get through, so why can't they? I called my doctor, and I got a recording saying that because they were overwhelmed by C***d, I had to go to the "Patient Portal" to renew the Rx. I'm signed up on the portal, but my son isn't, and I saw no way to sign him up. I can't visit the office in person because I must have an appointment, and I have to phone them when I get there so they will let me in. I wrote a letter to the doctor, and I'll mail it when I go out. Is this progress?

My doctor's office joined a large group - Health Quest - after the founding doctor retired. Then that group joined a larger group - Nuvance. Now it's Nuvance Health Quest, which includes hundreds of practitioners and several hospitals. Besides that, the local hospital has also joined a group, and it's now Health Alliance. Health Quest, Health Alliance - life used to be simpler - and easier.

I watch an English doctor report on C***d every day. The US is leading the world in hospitalizations - way more than any other country. He said this is partly because so many Americans have other health problems, like obesity, and our healthcare system is so costly that it leaves many people on the verge of needing hospitalization, anyway. Getting C***d, even the milder omicron, pushes them over the edge, and they must be hospitalized.

A couple of years ago, I cut my thumb. After having it washed and bandaged at the ER, I received a bill for $3,897. Fortunately, my co-pay was only $75.
Our medical system is not getting better. While m... (show quote)


Easy solution. Find a different doctor. I have changed Docs at least 1/2 dozen times, for multiple reasons

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Jan 16, 2022 10:45:18   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
14kphotog wrote:
C.V.S. sucks, they can't keep track of refill times at all. If it is a high-cost med, they will fill it 3 weeks after filling a 90-day supply. They send reminders to refill a scrip way too soon or short count the # of pills.


They never seem to be able to contact my doctor for a refill.

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Jan 16, 2022 10:54:40   #
Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.
 
We have Express Scripts. Usually no problems. I go online and have my doctors send in the the Rx, or they contact my doctor for a new scrip. If I need a new medicine quickly, my doctor calls it in to a drive through CVS in Oceanside.
We’re in Boynton Beach for the next few months. Now there’s a problem. The Pharmacy NEVER answers their phone. Fortunately, my doctors office sends it in to them electronically.

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Jan 16, 2022 10:56:42   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Indi wrote:
We have Express Scripts. Usually no problems. I go online and have my doctors send in the the Rx, or they contact my doctor for a new scrip. If I need a new medicine quickly, my doctor calls it in to a drive through CVS in Oceanside.
We’re in Boynton Beach for the next few months. Now there’s a problem. The Pharmacy NEVER answers their phone. Fortunately, my doctors office sends it in to them electronically.


I used to be able to connect to a nurse to get a renewal. Now, all I get is a recording telling me to go on the Patient Portal - which I haven't been able to do.

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Jan 16, 2022 12:46:02   #
Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area
 
jerryc41 wrote:
Our medical system is not getting better. While my son was at work, he got a cryptic email from CVS saying that they couldn't contact his doctor to get a Rx refilled. This happens every time a Rx has to be renewed. I can always get through, so why can't they? I called my doctor, and I got a recording saying that because they were overwhelmed by C***d, I had to go to the "Patient Portal" to renew the Rx. I'm signed up on the portal, but my son isn't, and I saw no way to sign him up. I can't visit the office in person because I must have an appointment, and I have to phone them when I get there so they will let me in. I wrote a letter to the doctor, and I'll mail it when I go out. Is this progress?

My doctor's office joined a large group - Health Quest - after the founding doctor retired. Then that group joined a larger group - Nuvance. Now it's Nuvance Health Quest, which includes hundreds of practitioners and several hospitals. Besides that, the local hospital has also joined a group, and it's now Health Alliance. Health Quest, Health Alliance - life used to be simpler - and easier.

I watch an English doctor report on C***d every day. The US is leading the world in hospitalizations - way more than any other country. He said this is partly because so many Americans have other health problems, like obesity, and our healthcare system is so costly that it leaves many people on the verge of needing hospitalization, anyway. Getting C***d, even the milder omicron, pushes them over the edge, and they must be hospitalized.

A couple of years ago, I cut my thumb. After having it washed and bandaged at the ER, I received a bill for $3,897. Fortunately, my co-pay was only $75.
Our medical system is not getting better. While m... (show quote)

The English doctor I think you’re referring to is Dr. John Campbell, on YouTube? I don’t know why he calls himself a doctor, because he’s a retired nurse. Anyway, I watch him daily also, and think his reporting and analysis is very good.

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Jan 16, 2022 13:50:22   #
awesome14 Loc: UK
 
jerryc41 wrote:
Our medical system is not getting better. While my son was at work, he got a cryptic email from CVS saying that they couldn't contact his doctor to get a Rx refilled. This happens every time a Rx has to be renewed. I can always get through, so why can't they? I called my doctor, and I got a recording saying that because they were overwhelmed by C***d, I had to go to the "Patient Portal" to renew the Rx. I'm signed up on the portal, but my son isn't, and I saw no way to sign him up. I can't visit the office in person because I must have an appointment, and I have to phone them when I get there so they will let me in. I wrote a letter to the doctor, and I'll mail it when I go out. Is this progress?

My doctor's office joined a large group - Health Quest - after the founding doctor retired. Then that group joined a larger group - Nuvance. Now it's Nuvance Health Quest, which includes hundreds of practitioners and several hospitals. Besides that, the local hospital has also joined a group, and it's now Health Alliance. Health Quest, Health Alliance - life used to be simpler - and easier.

I watch an English doctor report on C***d every day. The US is leading the world in hospitalizations - way more than any other country. He said this is partly because so many Americans have other health problems, like obesity, and our healthcare system is so costly that it leaves many people on the verge of needing hospitalization, anyway. Getting C***d, even the milder omicron, pushes them over the edge, and they must be hospitalized.

A couple of years ago, I cut my thumb. After having it washed and bandaged at the ER, I received a bill for $3,897. Fortunately, my co-pay was only $75.
Our medical system is not getting better. While m... (show quote)


Keep in mind that public health-care in other countries is rated by survivors. The dead tell no tales. In Canada there is a saying, "If you want good medical care, be a dog or a cat!" That's because the animal health-care system is private!

And if you want to see bureaucratic nightmares, I invite you to The UK, where it is impossible to see a doctor the same day. It's nice to never receive a bill, but those who are wealthy enough come to the USA for anything serious. I worked at a surgery clinic, in fact two of them, and a surprising number of patients have foreign mailing addresses. That's because either a certain nation's health-care system is incapable of providing the care required, or the patient doesn't trust public health-care to treat him for a certain ailment.

In the USA, most doctors have appointment slots that are not given out until that day. The first people to call in the morning get those appointments. In my system, if my doctor is unavailable, I can see a different doctor, that day! You probably can't sign up your son, because he's an adult, and you're logged in to 'you're' account! They can't have the patients just signing up whoever they want to!

But you may live in an area without competition. The care can get pretty shabby when that occurs, probably only slightly better than public health-care. UK does not permit pregnant foreigners in the courtry unless they got pregnant after they got there. They don't have the money to pay for even one more childbirth than is strictly necessary.

The US has a law, if a hospital accepts Medicare, it must provide prenatal care, even though that is not covered ordinarily by Medicare, regardless of the mother's insurance coverage. If you try really hard to get stuff done with your provider network, it'll work you like a dog! But if you don't really care, like medical care is optional to you, the network will climb to mountaintops to make sure you get the care they say you need.

Unless you're habitually late paying. Then they neglect you as you neglect them. The trick is: don't respond to any communication, like updating your record, any type of special services (dietician, diabetes nurse, exercise classes, and all that stuff). Once they're sure you don't really care, they'll put out the red carpet! It's on patients like you that they lose all their money, because you don't receive the maximum amount of care you're entitled to by your insurance.

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Jan 16, 2022 14:54:52   #
John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK
 
But if you break a leg you'll be seen same day, despite the NHS's struggles with C***D.

I've often said the ONLY problem with NHS is a surfeit of Politician's.

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Jan 16, 2022 14:57:16   #
Ferris Loc: South Carolina
 

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Jan 16, 2022 15:07:12   #
Ferris Loc: South Carolina
 
Doddy wrote:
You say 'Socialised medicine' sucks. We have The NHS (National Health Service) which is paid through taxation, I don't pay any more money towards my or my family's healthcare. Of course nothing is perfect (never is)..but I dont have to worry about the financial aspect of it, and so far (I'm 72) I have no complaints about the treatment I have had (three operations). If I wanted to, I could sign up for Private treatment, which of course is very costly, but quicker treatment. I can tell you for a fact, that the vast majority of British people are proud of our NHS and would h**e to have it any other way!
You say 'Socialised medicine' sucks. We have The N... (show quote)

I remember seeing a news report on BBC while on a trip to Ireland of a woman who had dislocated her shoulder, the treatment of which takes a reduction procedure of a minute or two. The appointment the socialized healthcare system set for her was over a year later. As of the report, ,she still was waiting. The nerve damage to her arm was now permanent, and the arm permanently disabled and useless. Such is socialized medicine. American medical care is in serious jeopardy because of the profiteering by insurance companies and healthcare "systems." Socialized medicine to get us rid of that will only substitute rationing of care, and threatens woe to the elderly who are no longer "worthy."

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Jan 16, 2022 15:19:51   #
Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England
 
John N wrote:
But if you break a leg you'll be seen same day, despite the NHS's struggles with C***D.

I've often said the ONLY problem with NHS is a surfeit of Politician's.


Well said John.

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Jan 16, 2022 15:28:53   #
Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England
 
Ferris wrote:
I remember seeing a news report on BBC while on a trip to Ireland of a woman who had dislocated her shoulder, the treatment of which takes a reduction procedure of a minute or two. The appointment the socialized healthcare system set for her was over a year later. As of the report, ,she still was waiting. The nerve damage to her arm was now permanent, and the arm permanently disabled and useless. Such is socialized medicine. American medical care is in serious jeopardy because of the profiteering by insurance companies and healthcare "systems." Socialized medicine to get us rid of that will only substitute rationing of care, and threatens woe to the elderly who are no longer "worthy."
I remember seeing a news report on BBC while on a ... (show quote)


'ONE' news report! and you condemn 'socialized healthcare'. I live here, and I can tell you, despite its shortcomings the Majority of Brits would not swap our healthcare for the US system. The US is the only major western democracy without some form of what you would call 'Socialized medicine' care for its populace.

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Jan 16, 2022 15:29:50   #
John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK
 
Ferris wrote:
I remember seeing a news report on BBC while on a trip to Ireland of a woman who had dislocated her shoulder, the treatment of which takes a reduction procedure of a minute or two. The appointment the socialized healthcare system set for her was over a year later.


I'd like to know where you saw that. There either complications or she would have been seen to same day. As you say BBC I'd assume this was N.I.

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