‘I Only Need To Stick Around 4 Or 5 More Years’: Doctor Shows How Horrific The US Healthcare System Is
Sometimes, it can feel like getting sick is like being robbed: “Your money or your life.” It’s no surprise that a lot of Americans believe that the healthcare and insurance systems in the United States could use a lot of improvement. The main issue—exorbitant prices for life-saving treatment and medication that you might not be able to afford at all or that will put you in serious debt.
Nephrologist (kidney specialist) Sayed Tabatabai from San Antonio in Texas shared the heart-rending reality of being part of a system that leaves a lot of people fending for themselves. He revealed how a patient of his was thinking about choosing between his diabetes and blood pressure medication because of money worries.
Scroll down to read Dr. Sayed’s story and insights about the US healthcare system in his own words. And let us know in the comments if you’ve ever had any problems with the American healthcare system yourselves, dear Pandas.
Dr. Tabatabai explained why the US healthcare system needs to change, badly
Image credits: TheRealDoctorT
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Harvard economist David Cutler told Investopedia that the reason why US healthcare costs are so high is because of the “astronomical” administrative costs. Around a quarter of healthcare cost is linked with administration; far higher than in any other country.
However, that’s not the only issue affecting cost. There’s also a lack of competition in the US because hospitals are consolidated. While the healthcare system is so complex that its inefficiency also raises costs.
Those are all part of the reason why the World Health Organization ranks the US’ healthcare system as only the 37th best in the world. High costs don’t always mean high quality. That’s not to say that the US doesn’t have some amazing specialists or high-quality treatments available. However, it does mean that there’s a lot of room for improvement.
According to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, the US devotes a bigger part of its national income to healthcare than any other OECD country. Last decade, healthcare spending in OECD countries stayed around 8.7 percent of the annual gross domestic product. Meanwhile, spending in the US rose from 16.3 to 17 percent of GDP.
The US also spends more on healthcare per person than any other wealthy country at around 11k dollars in 2019. The second highest-spending country was Switzerland with 7.7k dollars. The sad fact is that despite spending so much money on healthcare, the US doesn’t have better results: it’s a high-cost, low-outcome system that needs to be reformed.
One woman asked the doctor a very important question…
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…and here’s what he answered
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Here’s what other people said after reading the medical professional’s thread
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In Rwanda, a country in east central Africa, there is health insurance for all. It is subsidised for different income levels so that even the poorest can access healthcare. There are very few doctors per patient so a nationwide program providing neighbourhood healthworkers was launched to help provide basic care to people even in very rural parts of the country. It is crazy to think that a so called world power like the USA is failing it's citizens to such an extraordinary degree.
The biggest issue is that the american population has been largely convinced that any system of mutual aid (such as universal healthcare, workers unions, etc.) are bad because they are socialist or, worse, communist. Whereas people in countries like Rwanda have learn the hard way that without union, you die.
Load More Replies...I still can't fathom why the US can't make universal healthcare a priority, the rest of the western world and a big part of ther third world have it and it works.
Someone doesnt seem to want to explain clearly to the public that paying some of your income to make care available to all makes the care you will *inevitably* need sometime in the future free for some things and a lot cheaper for other treatments because the costs are borne by a large group. It's not "socialism" it's creating a system that works (for the most part) and helps the largest amount of people improving life for all
Load More Replies...America, it seems, goes by the motto 'Greed Before Need' They all know what they need and that's a universal free at access healthcare system. The reason they won't? Insurance companies will lose a lot of money. Medical facilities will have to start pricing fairly and not for profit. The government will have to pay out and are worried that the politicians at every level may have to take a pay cut. Want to know what the biggest cause of why there is not and never going to be universal healthcare in America? The Americans themselves. They are convinced that they will have to pay extra taxes for someone else's healthcare not realizing the money has already been taken and is there right now. The amount taken per person per year to fund it is so pitifully low that they wouldn't notice. Ask yourselves this question: Would you prefer to pay $1 per month for free at access healthcare or pay $500 for a $10 pack of pills? I can tell you that Americans will choose $500! Greed before Need.
The fact that he just asks for 5 years to outlive his dog just makes me cry. He doesn’t care about his own life, but he can’t die because of his dog. Is there any gofundme for this man, because I’d donate in a heartbeat! Edit: The doc posted a tweet saying “ We were able to figure out a path forward with the medications, he’s doing okay.” So this man might make it, but it’s ridiculous that this is possible.
The Canadians in this thread need to clam up a little. I'm Canadian and our healthcare system isn't perfect. Prescription meds are a huge cost for most people and there aren't many provinces that have full pharmacare coverage. Eye doctors are not covered. Dentists are not covered. Chiropractors are not covered. At least that's how it is in BC. It sucks. Sure I'm glad I don't have a 30k hospital bill when I walk out of the emergency room and that's great. But it's not perfect.
Thank you for your candid comments. And yes, going to the dentist is so important. Why would it not be included??
Load More Replies...And here in the UK our world-class NHS is being undermined and sold off so that a handful of people can become even more obscenely wealthy. Certain people are so terrified that other people might get "something for free" they're prepared to burn the whole thing down.
Don't vote in the tories. They are never behind the NHS no matter what b******t they come out with at election time.
Load More Replies...I'm self employed, so I pay 100% out of pocket for my insurance. Since my husband is also self employed, he does as well. We pay $1,400 per month, which gets us very basic insurance. Regular doctor visit require a $25 copay. Specialists are $50. I have my annual check up coming up. Bloodwork cost me another $300. I can't afford to go to a chiropractor regularly, even though I need it. The cost is just too much. When I have a health issue, I make a list, so I can go in about 3-4 things at once. That way I only have to pay the copay once. I have a lovely home, a car, money in the bank. But a serious illness would take all of that away in a heartbeat.
That's a truly horrendous amount of money per month! In the UK we so often hear someone use the argument 'but you pay massive amounts of tax'. Er, no we don't - not unless we are earning a LOT and then we can afford it. Our national insurance contributions in the UK are a tiny fraction of that and cover far more than our NHS. I'm currently in and out of hospital for tests and treatment and money is simply not a concern. I never understand why people worry so much about others benefitting anyway. That will be them in the future, it was them when they were born, it's their grandparents, their parents... and so on. Can't imagine many people get through life without some kind of health care need at some stage.
Load More Replies...It's not that "no one cares". Anyone who lives in a country where healthcare and meds are free at the point of delivery is pained to hear stories like this. In the last month, each of my parents has spent over a week in hospital; one had major surgery. If we lived in the States, we'd now be destitute, and one or both of them would have died. But we're in the UK, so they've just got on with their lives and not paid a penny. We do care about the US people losing out to an extortionate healthcare system, but we are powerless to change it. If a pandemic and 200,000 deaths won't spur a president into action, I don't know what will. ☹
One of my coworkers just went through cancer treatment. We have the same insurance but she is married (two incomes) and earns more than me. She was happy that her cancer treatment only cost $7000 per year out-of-pocket. If I get cancer, I can't afford that, so I can choose between homeless and treated or keep my home and die young. Payment plans aren't affordable any more - you used to be able to pay $25/month to the hospitals but now they send you to collections. And I make just a little too much to qualify for charity care.
Capitalist corporations spread so much propaganda about free healthcare they have people that cant understand critical thinking that it will cost us too much money. They fail to see the taxes they spend now on people that can't afford healthcare and emergency services would cost about the same but everyone benefits. It really is down to low cognitive ability bc they can't think for themselves they have to be told what to believe that's why fascism is so easy for the simple minded
Even though they can see it working in every other country they still say it doesn't work. I mean Canada isn't a poor country people and they're right next door.
Load More Replies...I do it too for many years. I take my asthma meds every other day or once a day instead of the prescribed twice a day and choose to suffer a little because it is so expensive. And I make of 50 k / year and still struggle. And I work in healthcare. A device I use frequently in my job is a manual cell counter. It was broken so they bought a new one. I usually don't see the bills but this time I did. It cost $150. For a device that does LESS than a $1 pocket calculator.... because after all it's for healthcare so it must be TOP DOLLAR no matter how simple. I'm disgusted.
Me too! Depending on my co pay it can be anywhere from 450$ for my steroid to 100$. It's insane monthly to have to pay this to breathe
Load More Replies...Could someone remind the rest of us again why socialism=bad, capitalism=good? I forgot.
Load More Replies...14k for a 3 hour ER visit to see if I had an appendicitis. No meds only tests and an IV of fluids. 3k just to walk in. $1.5 to put the needle in
Thank goodness for the NHS here in the U.K. We complain about it a lot but stories like this really show what a gem it is. We don't have to choose between which medications we can afford, we don't get a cut-off point in treatment for chronic conditions and 99% of the time we don't get a bill, though the conservatives are doing their damndest to change that. Add to that, it costs about half the price per treatment to the NHS as the U.S. system prices their treatments at, and you have to wonder at the lies told to U.S. citisens about the costs of universal healthcare.
You can be too poor for insurance and too well-off for Medicaid in the US. Been there, done that. Then there's that lovely system of the "deductible", wher eyou end up paying thousands a year for medical care *even with insurance you've paid for* b/c, y'know, that first five to ten thousand dollars is your fault somehow. And for a lot of people, that atop th einsurance payments atop housing/food? You have to give up something. Or the kids don't eat. Or you don't. Or.... And there's a distressing trend to think in the US that "libertarian" means "every person for themselves". So if you get sick, you must deserve it. Even if it's genetic. Or you're hit by a drunk driver. Or or or... *headdesk* You[d be amazed how many docs hated "Obamacare" b/c it didn't go far *enough* while everyone screamed it was "socialism"!
We have full insurance our deductible is $6k a year after that they will pay 80%
Load More Replies...A lot of people like to blame the insurance companies (they probably deserve most of it) but nobody ever talks about the role the actual hospital plays or attorneys. One pill of Tylenol at a hospital costs $8! Why is that acceptable? That's not the insurance companies fault. That's what they are getting billed. They obviously need to have rates that cover those kinds of costs. The government paying that $8 doesn't change the cost. Only the hospital can change that cost. I assume they charge that much for a variety of reasons but probably include greed (it's not just Wall Street), the fact that the patient never sees the bill and scrutinizes it or can "price shop", it just goes straight to the insurance, and frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits by a bunch of Karen's and douche bag attorneys.
There's actually a really interesting and informative "Adam Ruins Everything" on healthcare that explains how US hospital billing came about to the insane levels it's at. People are genuinely charged prices that just don't exist elsewhere. People have speculated that they could travel O/S, live there for months at a time, and pay for their operation out-of-pocket, and it's STILL cheaper than having it done in the US. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeDOQpfaUc8 - for the Adam Ruins Everything vid.
Load More Replies...This terrible level of emotional and physical abuse, of agonising, ongoing, mental toll will take generations to heal.
This is a tragedy. NO HEALTH CARE COMPANY should be for profit; it's a conflict of interest. Although government regulations in the US say that health care companies must spend at least 85% of income on patient care. That sounds like a lot, until you realize their revenue is BILLIONS of dollars every year. Thus, they spend millions every year on executive pay (salaries plus benefits) and stock options, advertising, marketing, etc. This is money that could go toward patient care. Another problem is that non-medical professionals have a lot of power in making medical decisions.
Even if health care was free, I don't think I'd still go to the doctor that often.
If you are in pain or very sick it is wonderful to know a call to the doctor costs nothing. That you'll be seen if desperate. Given treatment if needed. For a small percentage per month. Regardless of what it is.
Load More Replies...This year proved that in the most important aspects the USA is just a 3rd world country with fancy clothes and cars.
In Turkey everything is nearly free for health. Well, you need to pay 1,5 dollar for a specialist. But it has its own disadvantages. One can go to more than two specialist in a day. They even skip family doctor, does not appreciate the doctor, so want to be evaluated by a professor... When it is free and easy to access people do not appreciate. And the doctors need to see at least 50-70 patient in a day...
Every time when I'm reading about US health system I'm more and more grateful I wasn't born there. And I fells so sorry for these patients.
That's a sad and terrifying life story. Is this in America? Even in Canada medications are WAY beyond in price than what they should be. I have a medication i get filled every 2 months. If i had to pay for it without my work insurance im not sure i would be able to do so.
£9.15 per presciption in the UK. Regardless of the costs of the drug. If I get prescribed two different drugs I will be charged £9.15 for each.
Load More Replies...Interesting how this doctor wanted to help but offered nothing (at least in the conversation posted). And it was a long time customer, one of many that gives him a life he can afford.
As long as Americans continue to allow profit to be more important than people, nothing will change. This doesn't just apply to our s****y Healthcare System but everything else we need to address; homelessness, student loan forgiveness, for-profit colleges and pretty much everything else.
😳🤔There would be a big difference here in the USA if doctors would band together and start threatening to boycott or whatever but I'm sure most of them are happy with the money they can charge for their services and also the hospitals as well as the drug companies they are all in the know and are just out to make money. Just like all the big tobacco companies trust me none of the owners of these companies or their families smoke or use tobacco products because they know how poisonous it is! They want to be healthy to spend their Billions they make selling and making people sick it's all part of the political way of the USA from big tobacco to fast food and processed foods to pesticides they all make poisonous products that slowly kill us and there are laws here so we cant sue them it's all part of the game😲😷☹😢
I had a cancer scare not too long ago and all I could think was can I afford meds and treatments for long enough that I can get my kids to adulthood? My oldest's father is a horrible person and, though I love my life partner he's hopeless on anything important (a fact I truly realized when I got told I might have cancer) luckily it turned out to be pre cancer and I was able to afford the procedure by taking out a loan but geez, the American health care system... For years before my job offered me insurance I could only afford my son's meds so I just refused to go to the doctor (or the er when I fractured some ribs). I just sucked it up and got on with it because my kids meds were more important than mine.
This whole thread breaks my heart. All these comments about Americans being greedy and not wanting to be a 'socialist' country - they're all correct in their assessment of us. I think part of it is compounded by the moral conviction that America is the land of opportunity. If you get wealthy, you must have worked really hard. If you're poor, you must be lazy and did something wrong. That is ingrained in us from the time we are little: work hard and you can do anything! Be anything! It's a lie. I've worked since I was a young teenager, went to college and graduate school, had three children and lost everything when I got sick. We had insurance- but 20% of a multi million dollar hospital bill? That is more than we have. There's no way to win.
My mother once spent four months in hospital, three weeks of that in ICU. The total bill on discharge was $340 for medication, because we're in Australia. If we were in the US we'd be bankrupt.
This is my experience with the US health system: I have depression and anxiety, eczema, asthma, allergies, diabetes, and tooth problems and I have to get help from my parents to pay for doctor's appointments and medications. I need some teeth pulled, but can't get that done until my mother pays the $200 that she was billed for an emergency dental visit. My sister has epilepsy and has to be referred to a new neurologist because the one she had doesn't know what else to do to help her. She spends close to $200 a month for four medications. She has applied for disability multiple times, but has been denied for a number of stupid reasons like she hasn't been to the hospital. Her first neurologist lied to a judge at a hearing and told the judge that my sister's seizures were not that bad. My sister can't get disability, but my uncle's drug addicted wife can and all she spends the money on is drugs. This is our real life struggle with the US health care system.
I wish you could come to the UK. The teeth would not be pulled, we rarely do that. UK is 2nd only to Finland for best dental care in the world. Your teeth would be treated. It wouldn't be free, as that is one area we have to contribute to costs under the NHS, or go private. I have a private dental plan that is £25 per month. Most teeth can be saved with good dentistry. I have had two break but they were repaired. Drugs are £9.15 a go or you can buy a prepay certificate for £106 that covers every prescription cost, unlimited. Free therapy and access to mental health care, I saw someone for several years. Excellent epilepsy treatment, my BIL has his well under control as they take great care to get the medication right. If a person is genuinely disabled, access to benefits is not easy, but once accepted is good. I have a blue badge and claim a benefit to help with extra living costs. I so feel for people in the US.
Load More Replies...And this is why caring for each other is a staple of a good society :')
I have to ration my migraine medication. And my current medical debt is about $3,000. That's on top of monthly premiums, and the co-pays for appointments, tests, prescriptions, procedures, etc.
I belong to a small state in India called Kerala , there is a Government hospital where we could get treatments either freely or at a subsidised rate (way low than what a privately funded hospital can cost you).These facilities are available even if you are rich or poor. If you have insurance most of the things get covered from doctors pay, your ward rents,your medicines,your health checkups and it cost around Rs.13000-25000 a year which is just reasonable. I just can't really imagine that a country so powerful is so different that what I imagined😟 I hope things change for the better
I am so bloody grateful to have the benefit of our National Health Service here in the UK. It is not perfect, sometimes it lets us down and it is underfunded. However no one would have to choose between hypertension and insulin medicine. If over 60 prescriptions are free in England.
Health insurance In the US was non profit until Nixon changed the rules for his buddy. Sadly, it will never go back to being non profit and those shareholders and CEOs don’t give a damn about people.
I might be naive, but shouldn't the doctor advise his patient to use other means to get his health better ? Eating properly and exercice can do a lot against blood sugar and high blood pressure problems.
Not every blood pressure issue is due to obesity, etc. I have times that meds don't bring my blood pressure down because of a genetic issue. Two of my son's unfortunately have the same issue. And we aren't obese, and we don't eat processed foods, etc. And are, and always have been very active, unless it becomes uncontrollable, and it's sporadic and random. I've had to literally wear a heart monitor 24/7 for over a month because nothing was helping.
Load More Replies...I will not comment on the health service as the words I would like to use would be unacceptable, but my heart bleeds for him. He lives for his dog and he wants to live long enough to be with him until the end. I know that the chances of me outliving my own dog are unlikely so have made arrangements that she will go to a very good friend who she knows and loves. He and his family have already looked after her during times that I have been hospitalised so she will be happy and well looked after. What he does not know is that I have set up a savings scheme so that there will always be enough to look after her should it be necessary. Because I too, live for my dog.
As someone who lives in the UK, I just can't even begin to understand what it must feel like to be forced to CHOOSE between two life-saving treatments based on what you can afford to pay. To us, such a scenario would be a barely credible dystopian nightmare. It's not just unjust, it is utterly barbaric.
Systematic change has got to happen, as a healthcare worker in the US, it has to. Imagine a primary care doc and a few nurses brainstorming this very similar scenario, trying to help someone who has almost nothing. Samples, having them go to generics that are free at Publix and rewriting scripts so they can use the 4 dollar Walmart list. It's heartbreaking.
The thing about the dog...oh, God. It was just too much.
Load More Replies...I don't normally log in or comment on stuff, but this just hit a personal spot. I'm Canadian. People rant & rave on how great our healthcare system is, & yes, while its free & provides millions of Canadians healthcare, without crippling debt, it still has its downsides. I live in Quebec; one of the highest taxed provinces in Canada. I've used the public system, & can firmly say--its broken here. Clinic appointment? forget it. You'll wait all day to be called, until ur told to go home & wait the following day. Hospital visits--was left in horrible pain for over 10 hours. No doctors, just nurses who walked by. Gave up, went home. Surgery? Depending on the severity, you'll be on a list for awhile. Family doctor? Yea I've been waiting 7 years on a list for that too. Look, I respect healthcare workers. Now more than before. Lets make a compromise; I will gladly pay for quality healthcare as long as it's affordable. I'm not the only Canadian who has gone thru this.
So what, if anything, did this doctor do? If doctors themselves don't step up about this issue, what hope is there? They see this every day but they want to live in ostentatious homes, driving overpriced cars, etc. I don't need to go on.
Doctors sometimes can't legally help their patients by giving them money. Conflict of interest, etc. Insurance companies tell the doctors what is or isn't approved. Even though a doctor is saying that someone needs to stay in the hospital for a week, the insurance company will say,nope, we're only approving a 1 day stay. Or they can't get approval for tests or treatments. It's crazy, because obviously the person at the insurance company isn't a doctor and doesn't have any medical training. People getting basically evicted from the hospital and they can't even stand up, or take care of their selves.. the doctors hands are literally tied.. it's bs
Load More Replies...In Canada, our taxes are high but everyone is entitled to health care. We don't have hefty monthly insurance premiums to pay. We don't seek permission from an insurance company to seek treatment. Sometimes we wait longer than we'd like to see a specialist, but no one goes without care. From experience, urgent cases are rushed when appropriate. My mother has been in the ICU three times, each times in the past decade. Each time she had a nurse who was dedicated to only her care, and all we had to pay was for the parking at the hospital. I don't understand how anyone could be afraid of a system like this. I would hate to think of a friend, neighbour or stranger suffering unnecessarily because they couldn't afford medical care.
Healthcare is a proxy for so many other things: clean air and water, access to healthy food, a stable climate not under near constant threat of heatwaves, drought, fire, hurricanes, rapid sea level rise, not to mention free and fair elections, democracy, etc... Until Americans start treating these things like their lives depend on them (because they do) the exploiters will continue to exploit and manipulate, and nothing will change for the better. Our rich are even too greedy to acknowledge that we are perilously close to the kind of economic inequality that causes the type of socialist/communist revolution they so dread.
I get "socialism medical care" through the VA and a good Medicare advantage plan. Everything is covered, except maybe a hundred a year for some med copays. It CAN be done! Medicare for all can be done, and should be done. If our military and elected officials can get free medical care, every citizen should be able to get it as well. Even if everyone paid additional taxes annually, maybe $100 a month per person, we could cover it! $100 a yr times 330,000,000 people is a lot of money, $1000 a yr time 330 million is $330,000,000,000. More than enough, once you remove the billions spent on paperwork and administration, as well as the billions we overpay for medicines.
The solution is relatively simple: move to a developed country (or even some developing countries). Most countries would never accept the kind of moral vacuum which allows this.
Actually every child in America gets health insurance and all poor people get free health insurance. While i do believe all need universal healthcare, I don't one run like the VA hospital or like other government programs which offer terrible service by lazy Government workers. We should get a healthcare account at birth that the government, individuals, employers etc contribute towards. Once individuals are empowered to shop around, prices will come down and transparency will increase. I work in the Healthcare field and we need consumer reviews of doctors, nurses and hospitals
Universal healthcare in other countries is required to meet standards set down and monitored by independent bodies. It is controlled based on those standards and not profit. Get rid of the profit and people don't need to shop around. Keep standards high across the board instead. All services are monitored and scored - that is how we 'shop around' under universal healthcare because the finances don't come into it. Crappy doctors get sacked and struck off, not hidden by money. My spouse is seeing the South Easts expert in one branch of medicine and being operated on in a couple of weeks. Our GP made sure they saw the best specialist there was, not cheapest. We also get to write reviews online on doctors, hospitals etc and other patients absolutely have access to these.
Load More Replies...We desperately want to move to Canada. We can’t. For so many reasons, not least of which is we won’t be allowed in as Americans. Followed by our professions, followed by the cost.
As one of those, nameless, faceless people who can’t afford to get sick, or injured, or medication. I can share with you how it works. If you and I have identical injuries, but you have insurance. You will see an orthopedic doctor, receive proper medication(s) if applicable. I will get a telephone number for a doctor, be told there isn’t a specialist on call. Illness? Similar matters. It’s just a fact that you learn to accept. Doctors won’t treat people without insurance, privatized hospitals that were allowed to happen and write or rewrite rules. Again, facts people have to accept.
I work office for a group of surgeons that I couldn't possibly respect or admire more (or I thought so). Because of that, I have followed their practice 70+ miles from my home in order to remain with them for the almost 5 years I have. A few weeks ago I was discussing being on call and spending weekends in the ER with one of the younger physicians. He made the simple statement: "I like to help people" in explanation of how, even though he often missed planned family time and other events, he was always excited to get there when he got the page. At that moment, the way he said what he did, the tone of voice and his inflection, told me that no matter what, THIS PHYSICIAN was going to do his best to serve the patients we all care so much about, for as long as he is physically able. I am certain that there is some way this country can assure this kind of quality care for it's citizens. And it breaks my heart that so many struggle to find and afford it (myself included).
Does he provide his services free of charge to poor communities? No disrespect but nothing you have written says that he cares about people but just that he enjoys medicine which isn't the same thing.
Load More Replies...sions he acted like the gov. was just waiting for us to die! ( And I know this wont get me any points but I DON't think we should be cut off0
I would be royally pissed if I lived in the States. Its bad enough in Canada for the elderly, yes we do have free medical care, if you get a good Dr the Dr we had charged us for other things, some Most of the charges were legal.(I checked) but there are other charges they can make and charge whatever they like, if you want copies of tests with this Dr. you pay, If you need meds before your office appointment she charges to send a refill order to the pharmacy for 3 meds $35. Other Drs don't do this. Lets place the blame about meds where its due BIG PHARMA. And our pharmacies in our towns. For seniors we are charged a dispensing fee which is up to the pharmacy to charge. We seniors have numerous meds some are not covered by the Government we don't which or why they are not covered. We try to stretch our meds by taking every other day or just not getting the meds! We owe $500 and are waiting to be cut off. I wrote to our gov. rep. Told him we needed an increase in our pen
And then there are the docs like the one I had at Sovah. I have no insurance thanks to Obama. The lab, the hospital, radiology all gave a nice discount for paying in full. But the doctor charged $1600 and did absolutely nothing for me and refused to give any discount. He was in my room a grand total of 3 times for a combined time of less than 60 seconds over a 7 hour period. Everything that was done to help me was done by the awesome nurse staff, technicians, aides and assistants.
And then there are the docs like the one I had at Sovah. I have no insurance thanks to Obama. The lab, the hospital, radiology all gave a nice discount for paying in full. But the doctor charged $1600 and did absolutely nothing for me. He was in my room a grand total of 3 times for a combined time of less than 60 seconds over a 7 hour period. Everything that was done to help me was done by the awesome nurse staff, technicians, aides and assistants.
Wow....the feels are real. We own a business, have for 31 years. As our children have aged of our policy its gotten somewhat lower . We are both very health conscious and still pay 2700.00 a month for insurance. My husband stresses often about our business one day not generating enough income to cover insurance . I am not for universal Healthcare but something needs to change.
Universal healthcare would be a damned sight cheaper, as it is everywhere else in the world, & no one goes bankrupt if sick. The medical services & drugs provided are then based on pure need & not what the patient's insurance covers. Speed of treatment is based on urgency & those in genuine need are seen fast. Most people who 'are not for universal healthcare' don't know a thing about it. My friend had a lump in her beast & was seen within 2 days. Diagnosed and operated on within a fortnight. Prescriptions are FREE for 5 years for cancer patients. I had 3 operations & only pay £105.90 a year for the many, many drugs I need as it is cheaper to pre-pay a lump sum rather than do the still cheap £9.15 per prescription. My spouse is having an operation in 4 weeks time, was considered semi urgent and this was SLOW due to the situation being messed up by Covid. Don't want to pay for others? Selfish. We all look after each other.
Load More Replies...I don't understand how the US doesn't have free healthcare. Such a modern country. It's a basic human right.
No country has free healthcare as such. You pay a percentage of your salary so that you get free health care at the point of delivery.
Load More Replies...US is ranked 37 in a list looking at the 'best healthcare in the world'. So when you pay these extortionate costs you don't even have the best, the US isn't even in the top 10!
Load More Replies...Research is good, darling. Makes pharmaceutical companies develop better meds. It is in the interest of the US citizens to get those, so why complain? If all of the drugs they market to people are necessary and good for you is another question entirely, I agree :-)
Load More Replies...Medical social worker here. What a reductionist, flawed view this is. Some people do make unwise choices about what they eat, but for so many people this is not a choice at all. So many people are on the "American Diet" because they live in food desserts and cannot access fruits, vegetables, or anything besides high sodium canned goods and sugary drinks. You clearly do not have a medical background nor any actual experience with patients. You are part of the problem. How about you go into a rough neighborhood that does not have a grocery store in sight and read what you just posted?
Load More Replies...You say it like government involvement in healthcare is an abstract concept when in fact it's been going for decades in dozens of countries.
Load More Replies...He does what he says? Where's that wall he kept talking about, eh?
Load More Replies...In Rwanda, a country in east central Africa, there is health insurance for all. It is subsidised for different income levels so that even the poorest can access healthcare. There are very few doctors per patient so a nationwide program providing neighbourhood healthworkers was launched to help provide basic care to people even in very rural parts of the country. It is crazy to think that a so called world power like the USA is failing it's citizens to such an extraordinary degree.
The biggest issue is that the american population has been largely convinced that any system of mutual aid (such as universal healthcare, workers unions, etc.) are bad because they are socialist or, worse, communist. Whereas people in countries like Rwanda have learn the hard way that without union, you die.
Load More Replies...I still can't fathom why the US can't make universal healthcare a priority, the rest of the western world and a big part of ther third world have it and it works.
Someone doesnt seem to want to explain clearly to the public that paying some of your income to make care available to all makes the care you will *inevitably* need sometime in the future free for some things and a lot cheaper for other treatments because the costs are borne by a large group. It's not "socialism" it's creating a system that works (for the most part) and helps the largest amount of people improving life for all
Load More Replies...America, it seems, goes by the motto 'Greed Before Need' They all know what they need and that's a universal free at access healthcare system. The reason they won't? Insurance companies will lose a lot of money. Medical facilities will have to start pricing fairly and not for profit. The government will have to pay out and are worried that the politicians at every level may have to take a pay cut. Want to know what the biggest cause of why there is not and never going to be universal healthcare in America? The Americans themselves. They are convinced that they will have to pay extra taxes for someone else's healthcare not realizing the money has already been taken and is there right now. The amount taken per person per year to fund it is so pitifully low that they wouldn't notice. Ask yourselves this question: Would you prefer to pay $1 per month for free at access healthcare or pay $500 for a $10 pack of pills? I can tell you that Americans will choose $500! Greed before Need.
The fact that he just asks for 5 years to outlive his dog just makes me cry. He doesn’t care about his own life, but he can’t die because of his dog. Is there any gofundme for this man, because I’d donate in a heartbeat! Edit: The doc posted a tweet saying “ We were able to figure out a path forward with the medications, he’s doing okay.” So this man might make it, but it’s ridiculous that this is possible.
The Canadians in this thread need to clam up a little. I'm Canadian and our healthcare system isn't perfect. Prescription meds are a huge cost for most people and there aren't many provinces that have full pharmacare coverage. Eye doctors are not covered. Dentists are not covered. Chiropractors are not covered. At least that's how it is in BC. It sucks. Sure I'm glad I don't have a 30k hospital bill when I walk out of the emergency room and that's great. But it's not perfect.
Thank you for your candid comments. And yes, going to the dentist is so important. Why would it not be included??
Load More Replies...And here in the UK our world-class NHS is being undermined and sold off so that a handful of people can become even more obscenely wealthy. Certain people are so terrified that other people might get "something for free" they're prepared to burn the whole thing down.
Don't vote in the tories. They are never behind the NHS no matter what b******t they come out with at election time.
Load More Replies...I'm self employed, so I pay 100% out of pocket for my insurance. Since my husband is also self employed, he does as well. We pay $1,400 per month, which gets us very basic insurance. Regular doctor visit require a $25 copay. Specialists are $50. I have my annual check up coming up. Bloodwork cost me another $300. I can't afford to go to a chiropractor regularly, even though I need it. The cost is just too much. When I have a health issue, I make a list, so I can go in about 3-4 things at once. That way I only have to pay the copay once. I have a lovely home, a car, money in the bank. But a serious illness would take all of that away in a heartbeat.
That's a truly horrendous amount of money per month! In the UK we so often hear someone use the argument 'but you pay massive amounts of tax'. Er, no we don't - not unless we are earning a LOT and then we can afford it. Our national insurance contributions in the UK are a tiny fraction of that and cover far more than our NHS. I'm currently in and out of hospital for tests and treatment and money is simply not a concern. I never understand why people worry so much about others benefitting anyway. That will be them in the future, it was them when they were born, it's their grandparents, their parents... and so on. Can't imagine many people get through life without some kind of health care need at some stage.
Load More Replies...It's not that "no one cares". Anyone who lives in a country where healthcare and meds are free at the point of delivery is pained to hear stories like this. In the last month, each of my parents has spent over a week in hospital; one had major surgery. If we lived in the States, we'd now be destitute, and one or both of them would have died. But we're in the UK, so they've just got on with their lives and not paid a penny. We do care about the US people losing out to an extortionate healthcare system, but we are powerless to change it. If a pandemic and 200,000 deaths won't spur a president into action, I don't know what will. ☹
One of my coworkers just went through cancer treatment. We have the same insurance but she is married (two incomes) and earns more than me. She was happy that her cancer treatment only cost $7000 per year out-of-pocket. If I get cancer, I can't afford that, so I can choose between homeless and treated or keep my home and die young. Payment plans aren't affordable any more - you used to be able to pay $25/month to the hospitals but now they send you to collections. And I make just a little too much to qualify for charity care.
Capitalist corporations spread so much propaganda about free healthcare they have people that cant understand critical thinking that it will cost us too much money. They fail to see the taxes they spend now on people that can't afford healthcare and emergency services would cost about the same but everyone benefits. It really is down to low cognitive ability bc they can't think for themselves they have to be told what to believe that's why fascism is so easy for the simple minded
Even though they can see it working in every other country they still say it doesn't work. I mean Canada isn't a poor country people and they're right next door.
Load More Replies...I do it too for many years. I take my asthma meds every other day or once a day instead of the prescribed twice a day and choose to suffer a little because it is so expensive. And I make of 50 k / year and still struggle. And I work in healthcare. A device I use frequently in my job is a manual cell counter. It was broken so they bought a new one. I usually don't see the bills but this time I did. It cost $150. For a device that does LESS than a $1 pocket calculator.... because after all it's for healthcare so it must be TOP DOLLAR no matter how simple. I'm disgusted.
Me too! Depending on my co pay it can be anywhere from 450$ for my steroid to 100$. It's insane monthly to have to pay this to breathe
Load More Replies...Could someone remind the rest of us again why socialism=bad, capitalism=good? I forgot.
Load More Replies...14k for a 3 hour ER visit to see if I had an appendicitis. No meds only tests and an IV of fluids. 3k just to walk in. $1.5 to put the needle in
Thank goodness for the NHS here in the U.K. We complain about it a lot but stories like this really show what a gem it is. We don't have to choose between which medications we can afford, we don't get a cut-off point in treatment for chronic conditions and 99% of the time we don't get a bill, though the conservatives are doing their damndest to change that. Add to that, it costs about half the price per treatment to the NHS as the U.S. system prices their treatments at, and you have to wonder at the lies told to U.S. citisens about the costs of universal healthcare.
You can be too poor for insurance and too well-off for Medicaid in the US. Been there, done that. Then there's that lovely system of the "deductible", wher eyou end up paying thousands a year for medical care *even with insurance you've paid for* b/c, y'know, that first five to ten thousand dollars is your fault somehow. And for a lot of people, that atop th einsurance payments atop housing/food? You have to give up something. Or the kids don't eat. Or you don't. Or.... And there's a distressing trend to think in the US that "libertarian" means "every person for themselves". So if you get sick, you must deserve it. Even if it's genetic. Or you're hit by a drunk driver. Or or or... *headdesk* You[d be amazed how many docs hated "Obamacare" b/c it didn't go far *enough* while everyone screamed it was "socialism"!
We have full insurance our deductible is $6k a year after that they will pay 80%
Load More Replies...A lot of people like to blame the insurance companies (they probably deserve most of it) but nobody ever talks about the role the actual hospital plays or attorneys. One pill of Tylenol at a hospital costs $8! Why is that acceptable? That's not the insurance companies fault. That's what they are getting billed. They obviously need to have rates that cover those kinds of costs. The government paying that $8 doesn't change the cost. Only the hospital can change that cost. I assume they charge that much for a variety of reasons but probably include greed (it's not just Wall Street), the fact that the patient never sees the bill and scrutinizes it or can "price shop", it just goes straight to the insurance, and frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits by a bunch of Karen's and douche bag attorneys.
There's actually a really interesting and informative "Adam Ruins Everything" on healthcare that explains how US hospital billing came about to the insane levels it's at. People are genuinely charged prices that just don't exist elsewhere. People have speculated that they could travel O/S, live there for months at a time, and pay for their operation out-of-pocket, and it's STILL cheaper than having it done in the US. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeDOQpfaUc8 - for the Adam Ruins Everything vid.
Load More Replies...This terrible level of emotional and physical abuse, of agonising, ongoing, mental toll will take generations to heal.
This is a tragedy. NO HEALTH CARE COMPANY should be for profit; it's a conflict of interest. Although government regulations in the US say that health care companies must spend at least 85% of income on patient care. That sounds like a lot, until you realize their revenue is BILLIONS of dollars every year. Thus, they spend millions every year on executive pay (salaries plus benefits) and stock options, advertising, marketing, etc. This is money that could go toward patient care. Another problem is that non-medical professionals have a lot of power in making medical decisions.
Even if health care was free, I don't think I'd still go to the doctor that often.
If you are in pain or very sick it is wonderful to know a call to the doctor costs nothing. That you'll be seen if desperate. Given treatment if needed. For a small percentage per month. Regardless of what it is.
Load More Replies...This year proved that in the most important aspects the USA is just a 3rd world country with fancy clothes and cars.
In Turkey everything is nearly free for health. Well, you need to pay 1,5 dollar for a specialist. But it has its own disadvantages. One can go to more than two specialist in a day. They even skip family doctor, does not appreciate the doctor, so want to be evaluated by a professor... When it is free and easy to access people do not appreciate. And the doctors need to see at least 50-70 patient in a day...
Every time when I'm reading about US health system I'm more and more grateful I wasn't born there. And I fells so sorry for these patients.
That's a sad and terrifying life story. Is this in America? Even in Canada medications are WAY beyond in price than what they should be. I have a medication i get filled every 2 months. If i had to pay for it without my work insurance im not sure i would be able to do so.
£9.15 per presciption in the UK. Regardless of the costs of the drug. If I get prescribed two different drugs I will be charged £9.15 for each.
Load More Replies...Interesting how this doctor wanted to help but offered nothing (at least in the conversation posted). And it was a long time customer, one of many that gives him a life he can afford.
As long as Americans continue to allow profit to be more important than people, nothing will change. This doesn't just apply to our s****y Healthcare System but everything else we need to address; homelessness, student loan forgiveness, for-profit colleges and pretty much everything else.
😳🤔There would be a big difference here in the USA if doctors would band together and start threatening to boycott or whatever but I'm sure most of them are happy with the money they can charge for their services and also the hospitals as well as the drug companies they are all in the know and are just out to make money. Just like all the big tobacco companies trust me none of the owners of these companies or their families smoke or use tobacco products because they know how poisonous it is! They want to be healthy to spend their Billions they make selling and making people sick it's all part of the political way of the USA from big tobacco to fast food and processed foods to pesticides they all make poisonous products that slowly kill us and there are laws here so we cant sue them it's all part of the game😲😷☹😢
I had a cancer scare not too long ago and all I could think was can I afford meds and treatments for long enough that I can get my kids to adulthood? My oldest's father is a horrible person and, though I love my life partner he's hopeless on anything important (a fact I truly realized when I got told I might have cancer) luckily it turned out to be pre cancer and I was able to afford the procedure by taking out a loan but geez, the American health care system... For years before my job offered me insurance I could only afford my son's meds so I just refused to go to the doctor (or the er when I fractured some ribs). I just sucked it up and got on with it because my kids meds were more important than mine.
This whole thread breaks my heart. All these comments about Americans being greedy and not wanting to be a 'socialist' country - they're all correct in their assessment of us. I think part of it is compounded by the moral conviction that America is the land of opportunity. If you get wealthy, you must have worked really hard. If you're poor, you must be lazy and did something wrong. That is ingrained in us from the time we are little: work hard and you can do anything! Be anything! It's a lie. I've worked since I was a young teenager, went to college and graduate school, had three children and lost everything when I got sick. We had insurance- but 20% of a multi million dollar hospital bill? That is more than we have. There's no way to win.
My mother once spent four months in hospital, three weeks of that in ICU. The total bill on discharge was $340 for medication, because we're in Australia. If we were in the US we'd be bankrupt.
This is my experience with the US health system: I have depression and anxiety, eczema, asthma, allergies, diabetes, and tooth problems and I have to get help from my parents to pay for doctor's appointments and medications. I need some teeth pulled, but can't get that done until my mother pays the $200 that she was billed for an emergency dental visit. My sister has epilepsy and has to be referred to a new neurologist because the one she had doesn't know what else to do to help her. She spends close to $200 a month for four medications. She has applied for disability multiple times, but has been denied for a number of stupid reasons like she hasn't been to the hospital. Her first neurologist lied to a judge at a hearing and told the judge that my sister's seizures were not that bad. My sister can't get disability, but my uncle's drug addicted wife can and all she spends the money on is drugs. This is our real life struggle with the US health care system.
I wish you could come to the UK. The teeth would not be pulled, we rarely do that. UK is 2nd only to Finland for best dental care in the world. Your teeth would be treated. It wouldn't be free, as that is one area we have to contribute to costs under the NHS, or go private. I have a private dental plan that is £25 per month. Most teeth can be saved with good dentistry. I have had two break but they were repaired. Drugs are £9.15 a go or you can buy a prepay certificate for £106 that covers every prescription cost, unlimited. Free therapy and access to mental health care, I saw someone for several years. Excellent epilepsy treatment, my BIL has his well under control as they take great care to get the medication right. If a person is genuinely disabled, access to benefits is not easy, but once accepted is good. I have a blue badge and claim a benefit to help with extra living costs. I so feel for people in the US.
Load More Replies...And this is why caring for each other is a staple of a good society :')
I have to ration my migraine medication. And my current medical debt is about $3,000. That's on top of monthly premiums, and the co-pays for appointments, tests, prescriptions, procedures, etc.
I belong to a small state in India called Kerala , there is a Government hospital where we could get treatments either freely or at a subsidised rate (way low than what a privately funded hospital can cost you).These facilities are available even if you are rich or poor. If you have insurance most of the things get covered from doctors pay, your ward rents,your medicines,your health checkups and it cost around Rs.13000-25000 a year which is just reasonable. I just can't really imagine that a country so powerful is so different that what I imagined😟 I hope things change for the better
I am so bloody grateful to have the benefit of our National Health Service here in the UK. It is not perfect, sometimes it lets us down and it is underfunded. However no one would have to choose between hypertension and insulin medicine. If over 60 prescriptions are free in England.
Health insurance In the US was non profit until Nixon changed the rules for his buddy. Sadly, it will never go back to being non profit and those shareholders and CEOs don’t give a damn about people.
I might be naive, but shouldn't the doctor advise his patient to use other means to get his health better ? Eating properly and exercice can do a lot against blood sugar and high blood pressure problems.
Not every blood pressure issue is due to obesity, etc. I have times that meds don't bring my blood pressure down because of a genetic issue. Two of my son's unfortunately have the same issue. And we aren't obese, and we don't eat processed foods, etc. And are, and always have been very active, unless it becomes uncontrollable, and it's sporadic and random. I've had to literally wear a heart monitor 24/7 for over a month because nothing was helping.
Load More Replies...I will not comment on the health service as the words I would like to use would be unacceptable, but my heart bleeds for him. He lives for his dog and he wants to live long enough to be with him until the end. I know that the chances of me outliving my own dog are unlikely so have made arrangements that she will go to a very good friend who she knows and loves. He and his family have already looked after her during times that I have been hospitalised so she will be happy and well looked after. What he does not know is that I have set up a savings scheme so that there will always be enough to look after her should it be necessary. Because I too, live for my dog.
As someone who lives in the UK, I just can't even begin to understand what it must feel like to be forced to CHOOSE between two life-saving treatments based on what you can afford to pay. To us, such a scenario would be a barely credible dystopian nightmare. It's not just unjust, it is utterly barbaric.
Systematic change has got to happen, as a healthcare worker in the US, it has to. Imagine a primary care doc and a few nurses brainstorming this very similar scenario, trying to help someone who has almost nothing. Samples, having them go to generics that are free at Publix and rewriting scripts so they can use the 4 dollar Walmart list. It's heartbreaking.
The thing about the dog...oh, God. It was just too much.
Load More Replies...I don't normally log in or comment on stuff, but this just hit a personal spot. I'm Canadian. People rant & rave on how great our healthcare system is, & yes, while its free & provides millions of Canadians healthcare, without crippling debt, it still has its downsides. I live in Quebec; one of the highest taxed provinces in Canada. I've used the public system, & can firmly say--its broken here. Clinic appointment? forget it. You'll wait all day to be called, until ur told to go home & wait the following day. Hospital visits--was left in horrible pain for over 10 hours. No doctors, just nurses who walked by. Gave up, went home. Surgery? Depending on the severity, you'll be on a list for awhile. Family doctor? Yea I've been waiting 7 years on a list for that too. Look, I respect healthcare workers. Now more than before. Lets make a compromise; I will gladly pay for quality healthcare as long as it's affordable. I'm not the only Canadian who has gone thru this.
So what, if anything, did this doctor do? If doctors themselves don't step up about this issue, what hope is there? They see this every day but they want to live in ostentatious homes, driving overpriced cars, etc. I don't need to go on.
Doctors sometimes can't legally help their patients by giving them money. Conflict of interest, etc. Insurance companies tell the doctors what is or isn't approved. Even though a doctor is saying that someone needs to stay in the hospital for a week, the insurance company will say,nope, we're only approving a 1 day stay. Or they can't get approval for tests or treatments. It's crazy, because obviously the person at the insurance company isn't a doctor and doesn't have any medical training. People getting basically evicted from the hospital and they can't even stand up, or take care of their selves.. the doctors hands are literally tied.. it's bs
Load More Replies...In Canada, our taxes are high but everyone is entitled to health care. We don't have hefty monthly insurance premiums to pay. We don't seek permission from an insurance company to seek treatment. Sometimes we wait longer than we'd like to see a specialist, but no one goes without care. From experience, urgent cases are rushed when appropriate. My mother has been in the ICU three times, each times in the past decade. Each time she had a nurse who was dedicated to only her care, and all we had to pay was for the parking at the hospital. I don't understand how anyone could be afraid of a system like this. I would hate to think of a friend, neighbour or stranger suffering unnecessarily because they couldn't afford medical care.
Healthcare is a proxy for so many other things: clean air and water, access to healthy food, a stable climate not under near constant threat of heatwaves, drought, fire, hurricanes, rapid sea level rise, not to mention free and fair elections, democracy, etc... Until Americans start treating these things like their lives depend on them (because they do) the exploiters will continue to exploit and manipulate, and nothing will change for the better. Our rich are even too greedy to acknowledge that we are perilously close to the kind of economic inequality that causes the type of socialist/communist revolution they so dread.
I get "socialism medical care" through the VA and a good Medicare advantage plan. Everything is covered, except maybe a hundred a year for some med copays. It CAN be done! Medicare for all can be done, and should be done. If our military and elected officials can get free medical care, every citizen should be able to get it as well. Even if everyone paid additional taxes annually, maybe $100 a month per person, we could cover it! $100 a yr times 330,000,000 people is a lot of money, $1000 a yr time 330 million is $330,000,000,000. More than enough, once you remove the billions spent on paperwork and administration, as well as the billions we overpay for medicines.
The solution is relatively simple: move to a developed country (or even some developing countries). Most countries would never accept the kind of moral vacuum which allows this.
Actually every child in America gets health insurance and all poor people get free health insurance. While i do believe all need universal healthcare, I don't one run like the VA hospital or like other government programs which offer terrible service by lazy Government workers. We should get a healthcare account at birth that the government, individuals, employers etc contribute towards. Once individuals are empowered to shop around, prices will come down and transparency will increase. I work in the Healthcare field and we need consumer reviews of doctors, nurses and hospitals
Universal healthcare in other countries is required to meet standards set down and monitored by independent bodies. It is controlled based on those standards and not profit. Get rid of the profit and people don't need to shop around. Keep standards high across the board instead. All services are monitored and scored - that is how we 'shop around' under universal healthcare because the finances don't come into it. Crappy doctors get sacked and struck off, not hidden by money. My spouse is seeing the South Easts expert in one branch of medicine and being operated on in a couple of weeks. Our GP made sure they saw the best specialist there was, not cheapest. We also get to write reviews online on doctors, hospitals etc and other patients absolutely have access to these.
Load More Replies...We desperately want to move to Canada. We can’t. For so many reasons, not least of which is we won’t be allowed in as Americans. Followed by our professions, followed by the cost.
As one of those, nameless, faceless people who can’t afford to get sick, or injured, or medication. I can share with you how it works. If you and I have identical injuries, but you have insurance. You will see an orthopedic doctor, receive proper medication(s) if applicable. I will get a telephone number for a doctor, be told there isn’t a specialist on call. Illness? Similar matters. It’s just a fact that you learn to accept. Doctors won’t treat people without insurance, privatized hospitals that were allowed to happen and write or rewrite rules. Again, facts people have to accept.
I work office for a group of surgeons that I couldn't possibly respect or admire more (or I thought so). Because of that, I have followed their practice 70+ miles from my home in order to remain with them for the almost 5 years I have. A few weeks ago I was discussing being on call and spending weekends in the ER with one of the younger physicians. He made the simple statement: "I like to help people" in explanation of how, even though he often missed planned family time and other events, he was always excited to get there when he got the page. At that moment, the way he said what he did, the tone of voice and his inflection, told me that no matter what, THIS PHYSICIAN was going to do his best to serve the patients we all care so much about, for as long as he is physically able. I am certain that there is some way this country can assure this kind of quality care for it's citizens. And it breaks my heart that so many struggle to find and afford it (myself included).
Does he provide his services free of charge to poor communities? No disrespect but nothing you have written says that he cares about people but just that he enjoys medicine which isn't the same thing.
Load More Replies...sions he acted like the gov. was just waiting for us to die! ( And I know this wont get me any points but I DON't think we should be cut off0
I would be royally pissed if I lived in the States. Its bad enough in Canada for the elderly, yes we do have free medical care, if you get a good Dr the Dr we had charged us for other things, some Most of the charges were legal.(I checked) but there are other charges they can make and charge whatever they like, if you want copies of tests with this Dr. you pay, If you need meds before your office appointment she charges to send a refill order to the pharmacy for 3 meds $35. Other Drs don't do this. Lets place the blame about meds where its due BIG PHARMA. And our pharmacies in our towns. For seniors we are charged a dispensing fee which is up to the pharmacy to charge. We seniors have numerous meds some are not covered by the Government we don't which or why they are not covered. We try to stretch our meds by taking every other day or just not getting the meds! We owe $500 and are waiting to be cut off. I wrote to our gov. rep. Told him we needed an increase in our pen
And then there are the docs like the one I had at Sovah. I have no insurance thanks to Obama. The lab, the hospital, radiology all gave a nice discount for paying in full. But the doctor charged $1600 and did absolutely nothing for me and refused to give any discount. He was in my room a grand total of 3 times for a combined time of less than 60 seconds over a 7 hour period. Everything that was done to help me was done by the awesome nurse staff, technicians, aides and assistants.
And then there are the docs like the one I had at Sovah. I have no insurance thanks to Obama. The lab, the hospital, radiology all gave a nice discount for paying in full. But the doctor charged $1600 and did absolutely nothing for me. He was in my room a grand total of 3 times for a combined time of less than 60 seconds over a 7 hour period. Everything that was done to help me was done by the awesome nurse staff, technicians, aides and assistants.
Wow....the feels are real. We own a business, have for 31 years. As our children have aged of our policy its gotten somewhat lower . We are both very health conscious and still pay 2700.00 a month for insurance. My husband stresses often about our business one day not generating enough income to cover insurance . I am not for universal Healthcare but something needs to change.
Universal healthcare would be a damned sight cheaper, as it is everywhere else in the world, & no one goes bankrupt if sick. The medical services & drugs provided are then based on pure need & not what the patient's insurance covers. Speed of treatment is based on urgency & those in genuine need are seen fast. Most people who 'are not for universal healthcare' don't know a thing about it. My friend had a lump in her beast & was seen within 2 days. Diagnosed and operated on within a fortnight. Prescriptions are FREE for 5 years for cancer patients. I had 3 operations & only pay £105.90 a year for the many, many drugs I need as it is cheaper to pre-pay a lump sum rather than do the still cheap £9.15 per prescription. My spouse is having an operation in 4 weeks time, was considered semi urgent and this was SLOW due to the situation being messed up by Covid. Don't want to pay for others? Selfish. We all look after each other.
Load More Replies...I don't understand how the US doesn't have free healthcare. Such a modern country. It's a basic human right.
No country has free healthcare as such. You pay a percentage of your salary so that you get free health care at the point of delivery.
Load More Replies...US is ranked 37 in a list looking at the 'best healthcare in the world'. So when you pay these extortionate costs you don't even have the best, the US isn't even in the top 10!
Load More Replies...Research is good, darling. Makes pharmaceutical companies develop better meds. It is in the interest of the US citizens to get those, so why complain? If all of the drugs they market to people are necessary and good for you is another question entirely, I agree :-)
Load More Replies...Medical social worker here. What a reductionist, flawed view this is. Some people do make unwise choices about what they eat, but for so many people this is not a choice at all. So many people are on the "American Diet" because they live in food desserts and cannot access fruits, vegetables, or anything besides high sodium canned goods and sugary drinks. You clearly do not have a medical background nor any actual experience with patients. You are part of the problem. How about you go into a rough neighborhood that does not have a grocery store in sight and read what you just posted?
Load More Replies...You say it like government involvement in healthcare is an abstract concept when in fact it's been going for decades in dozens of countries.
Load More Replies...He does what he says? Where's that wall he kept talking about, eh?
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