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Yes, I have a chronic disease and have frequent contact with many in the same boat.
They're not as "available" as you think.
First, let me apologize for my earlier snark. that was uncalled for. You are definitely not one of the [redacted] that makes life miserable for anyone who dares to disagree with them.
Second, that doesn't surprise me. There were plenty of things that were commonplace 25 or 30 years ago that made a lot of sense and were reasonably affordable that have since disappeared. At one time, for example, you could get a health insurance policy with a $25,000 deductible at a very inexpensive rate (people used them to "wrap around" other coverage that had caps or benefit limits). those are all gone now. At one time, an individual could buy health insurance through his/her trade association at group rates. Those seem to have disappeared as well.
The long-time professionals in the field (Dr. D, Mrs. Les, etc) have all pointed out a pretty clear and direct correlation: the more government gets involved in health insurance regulation, the fewer choices we have and the more expensive they become. yet somehow the answer always is "more government involvement"?? and then the cycle repeats itself anew, and guess what the response is? yeah.
"when will we ever learn?"
If you consider turbulence in airplane requirements and associated testing, around $50,000.
It always helps when you can profit from that.
The hammer costs $5, but the associated overhead is what drives the price through the roof. Ditto for the toilet seat, but the Birch John Society has a FOIA suit to disclose the true costs.If you consider turbulence in airplane requirements and associated testing, around $50,000.
It always helps when you can profit from that.
Not too worry. I wasn't offended.
I struggle with your attitude toward those who can't access care. Perhaps I am wrong but the impression I get is you are a young guy without much financial distress and nothing that challenges your sense of immortality. It does not take much to put you in a place where all your preparations would leave you in the same boat as those you dismiss.
Unfortunately I can tell stories of those who go to the ER with emergent issues, are stabilized but testing and treatment is deferred after the person is stabilized. They tell the patient to call and make the appt the next day and of course when they call they are advised they need cash on the barrel before they can schedule.
Please don't lump me in with those who feel the government involvement is the cause of all things. My impression is the private insurance companies are much more arbitrary and skilled at denying care and denying payment for care delivered under whatever pretext they want.First, let me apologize for my earlier snark. that was uncalled for. You are definitely not one of the [redacted] that makes life miserable for anyone who dares to disagree with them.
Second, that doesn't surprise me. There were plenty of things that were commonplace 25 or 30 years ago that made a lot of sense and were reasonably affordable that have since disappeared. At one time, for example, you could get a health insurance policy with a $25,000 deductible at a very inexpensive rate (people used them to "wrap around" other coverage that had caps or benefit limits). those are all gone now. At one time, an individual could buy health insurance through his/her trade association at group rates. Those seem to have disappeared as well.
The long-time professionals in the field (Dr. D, Mrs. Les, etc) have all pointed out a pretty clear and direct correlation: the more government gets involved in health insurance regulation, the fewer choices we have and the more expensive they become. yet somehow the answer always is "more government involvement"?? and then the cycle repeats itself anew, and guess what the response is? yeah.
"when will we ever learn?"
it happens more often than i would like to report. Some of these patients have their priorities in the wrong place. I even had one case where a very successful young executive for a large oil company was pleading with Jenny in the office to lower our fee on a surgical case (non emergent for sure) because he had insurance with a large co pay. We were all set to actually perform it gratis until Jen saw him go out to his car to get something and she saw him go unlock his new BMW 750!
It taught me a valuable lesson-things are not always as they seem.
While I don't doubt this occurs for a second I really don't think the vast majority who seek / need prescription medication assistance fall into this category. There are chiselers everywhere for sure.As far as patients not affording their medications-I am sure there are some cases-When it happens to mine i usually call the drug company directly and get samples for them or discount cards(as long as they are not on Medicare or Medicaid or live in Massachusetts-for some reason those patients are inelligible for the cards). I do get royally upset however when after all these efforts and we DO get their medications for them-they either do not take them or even worse-I meet them out in the local Best Buy and they just purchased a new 65" Samsung LED 3D TV.
I too have had those who are crying poverty but have enough to smoke, get their nails done and drip gold jewelry. Over the years I have seen this less and am seeing more of the people who do have their priorities in the right place but financially are unable.Les: My experience with the insurance companies over many years is that they at times might set standards to deny coverage but normally base much of their decisions on what our esteemed government does with Medicare. Once Medicare determines that something should not be covered, or that only a generic should now be covered (instead of a branded drug), or that some test is not indicated, or that you have to do procedure A before you get to do B-then the major insurers jump right on board and follow suit. Perhaps even adding further to the restrictions.
As far as patients not affording their medications-I am sure there are some cases-When it happens to mine i usually call the drug company directly and get samples for them or discount cards(as long as they are not on Medicare or Medicaid or live in Massachusetts-for some reason those patients are inelligible for the cards). I do get royally upset however when after all these efforts and we DO get their medications for them-they either do not take them or even worse-I meet them out in the local Best Buy and they just purchased a new 65" Samsung LED 3D TV.
edit-It has been stuff like this that added reasons to my desire to semi retire. The bigger reasons though as I mentioned were government and insurance company control and interference with our ability to provide the best care for everyone.
You may have been through tough times but obviously not something insurmountable. Not every situation has a solution because you have the fortitude to try hard to overcome it or have the right attitude. That is only in the fairy tales. There are some situations that do not have solutions and the lack of solution is life altering/threatening. To imply otherwise is not particularly realistic.
yes, this is a very concrete example that illustrates just how myopic and foolish it is to say that increases in health care costs above the rate of inflation is somehow a "problem." We are getting more in increased value in return for what we pay; ask anyone who today gets arthroscopic surgery compared to the scar that was left behind 25 years ago from knee surgery and they'll tell you that quality and value are better today relative to the cost than it was then!!
). The problem: 100% of the money was still here. That created tremendous inflationary pressure.
A friend of mine is a family practice doctor. He was, at one time, practicing in a small clinic with some friends of his. A number of years ago he moved over to join the Mayo Clinic Health System. We were talking one night and he was lamenting the loss of the small practice he had with his friends. I asked him why he had made the move. He said when they started, their practice could get by with about 1.5 administrative staff people per doctor. He said it's easily 4.5-5.5 per doctor now, and was a prime reason why he felt he was "stuck" where he didn't really want to be. I found that sad.