Rant about medicare - Page 2

crimsonshedemon · 03-02-2013, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepcurlygurl

I haven't heard anyone around here mention that their doctors don't accept patients on medicare (not saying it doesn't happen, I just don't know of any). My parents have never had an issue with their doctors, but they did have problems with the local hospital and had to use a hospital 30 miles away for awhile. It was ridiculous.
The entire health care system needs overhauled top to bottom.

I have lupus and fibro and have 2 drs who dont accept medicare and 1 doesnt accepts HMO's. he's also whay's known as a concierge dr. I pay a fee to use him as my dr and he bills my insurance.
Somethings needs to be done thats for sure. I pay about 20k a year in copays deductibles etc.

I talk to a lot of sick people who have non-textbook problems. They have a lot of problems even with the canadian, australian, and uk systems. No system is ideal. It seems those with acute health issues have a more positive experience than those with chronic issues.
Healthcare should not be amount large profit margins for the admin (cant think of the word havent slept in 2 days) while family drs are barely getting by. It's a mess

yossarian · 03-02-2013, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crimsonshedemon

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepcurlygurl

I haven't heard anyone around here mention that their doctors don't accept patients on medicare (not saying it doesn't happen, I just don't know of any). My parents have never had an issue with their doctors, but they did have problems with the local hospital and had to use a hospital 30 miles away for awhile. It was ridiculous.
The entire health care system needs overhauled top to bottom.

I have lupus and fibro and have 2 drs who dont accept medicare and 1 doesnt accepts HMO's. he's also what's known as a concierge dr. I pay a fee to use him as my dr and he bills my insurance.
Somethings needs to be done thats for sure. I pay about 20k a year in copays deductibles etc.

Is that like a retainer for an attorney? Interesting arrangement. But an expense you should not have to pay just because you or a loved one has a serious disease. So that supports curlypearl's original point (which I didn't mean to guano - quite sorry) about doctors refusing to accept Medicare.

You bring up several excellent points. First of all, the insurance premiums are only part of the equation, since there's a minimum you have to hit before insurance kicks in, and even then there's still co-payments for everything from doctor's visits and exams to prescriptions.

Quote:

I talk to a lot of sick people who have non-textbook problems. They have a lot of problems even with the canadian, australian, and uk systems. No system is ideal. It seems those with acute health issues have a more positive experience than those with chronic issues.
Healthcare should not be amount large profit margins for the admin (cant think of the word havent slept in 2 days) while family drs are barely getting by. It's a mess

But at least you don't have to postpone medical care because you can't afford a) the cost of care and b) to miss work, since you don't have legally mandated sick leave. As a result, many people don't see a doctor until they're seriously sick, at which point the cost of treatment is much higher than it would have been early on, and many other people have been exposed to illness.

BTW, administrative costs are far higher for private insurers compared to Medicare (12% versus 2%). In addition, people on Medicare and Veterans Administration health care, both of which are government-run, are much more satisfied with their quality of care than people on private insurance,

Quote:

Originally Posted by rouquinne

i would just like to add that my marginal tax rate would probably cause all of you to go:

but i've had 3 surgeries in the past 20 years, including one with serious complications, and walked into and out of the hospital without a penny changing hands, no credit cards, no bills.

my sister and i got money BACK from the Quebec health system after my father died - his cancer care cost us nothing. the same with mom's spinal surgery last fall.

Yes, taxes are considerably higher in countries with universal health care. On average, the French pay 47% in income and payroll taxes (!). But that covers college education, job training, child and elder care etc. in addition to health care. So if you start adding that stuff up, I'd bet most Americans are paying more than their Canadian, European and Australian counterparts.

And they don't have the stress of wading through paperwork and bills when you're dealing with the emotional trauma of a serious illness.

How do you get money back? Is that for survivor benefits?

rouquinne · 03-04-2013, 12:41 PM

we got money back from the very luxurious hospice where dad spent his last few months because he paid a room and board fee out of his pension. for each month, the amount was deducted on the 1st. Papa died on May 9th and we were refunded the rest of the month.

Quote:

And they don't have the stress of wading through paperwork and bills when you're dealing with the emotional trauma of a serious illness.

exactly this....

chupie · 03-25-2013, 02:07 PM

I can't reccomend this documentary enough. You can get it on iTunes.

Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare

Mooshville · 03-25-2013, 08:34 PM

I used to work for a joint replacement surgeon. 80% of his practice was MC pts. He's doing very well despite how little they pay (and I think it's decreased 2% recently) because the volume is huge. He's a specialist that does over 1K surgeries a year. So far he's ok. But the family doctor is what I fear is going to be no more some day. Med students are not going to go in general practice. If not a surgeon then a specialist.

juanab · 03-26-2013, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooshville

I used to work for a joint replacement surgeon. 80% of his practice was MC pts. He's doing very well despite how little they pay (and I think it's decreased 2% recently) because the volume is huge. He's a specialist that does over 1K surgeries a year. So far he's ok. But the family doctor is what I fear is going to be no more some day. Med students are not going to go in general practice. If not a surgeon then a specialist.

I don't understand this. Of all doctors, the family doctor is who you see most often. How do you go to a specialist most times if not first seen by your family doctor? Unless you self diagnose or seen from an emergency room situation. Most medical issues I have, my GP was instrumental in catching, then referring me to a specialist.

Mooshville · 03-26-2013, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juanab

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooshville

I used to work for a joint replacement surgeon. 80% of his practice was MC pts. He's doing very well despite how little they pay (and I think it's decreased 2% recently) because the volume is huge. He's a specialist that does over 1K surgeries a year. So far he's ok. But the family doctor is what I fear is going to be no more some day. Med students are not going to go in general practice. If not a surgeon then a specialist.

I don't understand this. Of all doctors, the family doctor is who you see most often. How do you go to a specialist most times if not first seen by your family doctor? Unless you self diagnose or seen from an emergency room situation. Most medical issues I have, my GP was instrumental in catching, then referring me to a specialist.

You don't need a referral if you have Medicare. You can go to any doc you want as long as they take Medicare part B.

juanab · 03-26-2013, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooshville

Quote:

Originally Posted by juanab

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooshville

I used to work for a joint replacement surgeon. 80% of his practice was MC pts. He's doing very well despite how little they pay (and I think it's decreased 2% recently) because the volume is huge. He's a specialist that does over 1K surgeries a year. So far he's ok. But the family doctor is what I fear is going to be no more some day. Med students are not going to go in general practice. If not a surgeon then a specialist.

I don't understand this. Of all doctors, the family doctor is who you see most often. How do you go to a specialist most times if not first seen by your family doctor? Unless you self diagnose or seen from an emergency room situation. Most medical issues I have, my GP was instrumental in catching, then referring me to a specialist.

You don't need a referral if you have Medicare. You can go to any doc you want as long as they take Medicare part B.

But whether you need a referral or not, wouldn't one go to a GP for an unspecified pain or illness before they go to a specialist?

Mooshville · 03-26-2013, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juanab

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooshville

Quote:

Originally Posted by juanab

I don't understand this. Of all doctors, the family doctor is who you see most often. How do you go to a specialist most times if not first seen by your family doctor? Unless you self diagnose or seen from an emergency room situation. Most medical issues I have, my GP was instrumental in catching, then referring me to a specialist.

You don't need a referral if you have Medicare. You can go to any doc you want as long as they take Medicare part B.

But whether you need a referral or not, wouldn't one go to a GP for an unspecified pain or illness before they go to a specialist?

Yeah, if you don't have a clue what's going on. I've had clearing of the throat problems for years. Rather than wasting my copay/deductible money on my pcp I went straight to an ENT specialist with my PPO plan. There is no money in gp and it's getting worse for them. I'm not saying it will be no more, the the options you have of choosing a GP if you have Medicare are going down.

juanab · 03-26-2013, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooshville

Quote:

Originally Posted by juanab

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooshville

You don't need a referral if you have Medicare. You can go to any doc you want as long as they take Medicare part B.

But whether you need a referral or not, wouldn't one go to a GP for an unspecified pain or illness before they go to a specialist?

Yeah, if you don't have a clue what's going on. I've had clearing of the throat problems for years. Rather than wasting my copay/deductible money on my pcp I went straight to an ENT specialist with my PPO plan. There is no money in gp and it's getting worse for them. I'm not saying it will be no more, the the options you have of choosing a GP if you have Medicare are going down.

I can go to anyone I choose on my insurance plan at any time, but I would rather go to my GP (11 years now) before I go to a doctor I don't know. But I get your point. I certainly hope that doesn't happen though. I truly believe the good GPs are worth their weight in gold and help keep costs down actually.

Firefox7275 · 05-05-2013, 06:15 PM

It seems to me from the UK that the word socialism is filthy dirty but the word communism is heavily and erroneously overused in the US. Those who want to prevent reform simply roll out the scary words and blackmail politicians and voters with them. There's nothing communist about the National Health Service, it's not even really seen here as socialist tho I suppose technically it is - most of the public seem to be pro a 'free at the point of access' healthcare system regardless of their voting preference.

AFAIK our Labour (used to be socialist but now only barely left of centre) and Liberal-Democrats parties (= your Democrats) want to keep the NHS much as is, tho I suspect the Conservatives (=your Republicans) would privatise it given half a chance.

The NHS is actually the largest employer in Europe, the mind boggles as to what is spent on US healthcare, given that we in the UK spend much less that you in the US per head. Personally I feel it's a crying shame we can't all learn from one another, take the best of each other's systems. Although I know the US has huge problems with the results of poor lifestyle choices, there are also whole swathes that are totally on board with healthy eating, regular exercise and supplements, we don't seem to have that 'personal responsibility' to the same extent.