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Ok, so here's a story to detail exactly what is wrong-

As most of you know, I have carpal tunnel, I was diagnosed a year ago. I had gone to the doctor, complaining of the symptoms, to which he put in a referral to have testing done. I went to the hospital and had the tests done. So, for a $20 co-pay at the doc and $40 co-pay at the hospital (considered specialist), I got my diagnosis. I paid another $20 co-pay to see the doc to discuss the results.

He tells me to try some no-surgical management (which is what they should try first), which was a vitamin regiment and nocturnal brace. It seemed to have worked for a while, but in the last month, and especially the last week or so, the CTS has become much more aggressive, to the point that I barely made it through an acoustic show Friday night, and severely screwed up a few songs. I lose feeling and have severe fatigue now before I even pick up the guitar, and it only gets worse each day.

So, in the last week, it's become evident that the management has failed. I've done a LOT of reading on traditional surgeries vs. other management and alternative treatments. I know the score, I got to have the surgery.. it's a no-brainer.

So I call my doctors office to get a pre-cert (or referral to see a surgeon), and they tell me my doctor no longer works there. Ok, well have this other doctor do it then.. oh he doesn't work there either .. hmm, well can you have the current doctor take a look at my record and do it? No?? why?

Apparently, they won't do a referral without seeing me (because none of them have seen me before). I tried to explain that I would come in, but that I shouldn't be responsible for a co-pay for a visit I've already paid for. I just don't have the money this week. I'm also severely tapped from a sinus/allergy problem that has me bouncing between a couple of specialists who both see me 1x a month for a $40 co-pay each.

Well, they can't see me until the end of the month anyways... wtf? As fast as this CTS is ravaging me, I won't make it til then.. seriously, the pain is more severe at night and it's been keeping me up late the last 3 nights.. the only reason I've waited is simply waiting for the weekend to end so I could get a referral and see a specialist immediately.

so much for that idea.

So anyways, they won't see me for almost 3 weeks and refuse to see me without me paying up front (that's the normal policy), so I finally tell them that I'm disappointed with the lack of service, and that I feel like I'm being treated by stockbrokers instead of people, and that it's a bit frustrating that I can't get more immediate and personable care. I'm angry at this point, and it's starting to show.. I also mention that I think THEY should just take the visit money they get from the ins co and let the co-pay slide, because I shouldn't be made to pay because they can't seem to keep doctors to stay there. I also point out that I've been going there for almost 10 years, and have never had the same doctor more than 6 months... that MAYBE I deserve better.

At that point, the nurse-pract (whatever she is) gets nasty and tells me that if I don't like it, that I can go find another doctor.

WTF, get an angry "client" and just tell them to piss off??? Ok, I said sure I will and hung up. Not feeling much better after posting this though.

This healthcare-for-profit is just not working. argggh.

Sorry folks I was knackered yesterday and shouldn't have been so abrupt.
Many apologies.
Kramer that is a very sad about yourself. I think it cost one companies some 8 grand for 6 stitches in my leg.

well, I switched PCP's and got an appointment for this Friday. At this point I don't expect much, that way I can't be disappointed again. The only listings for IBX doctors are ALL practices, which are great if the doctors own them.. but none do anymore, and "single" practices aren't allowed into the HMO's...

Its a strange type of monopoly.

No fun bro. Best of luck.

I understand the concerns and arguments against universal health care, but as I reflected on it, I came to the conclusion that it is a RIGHT to have access to healthcare for ALL citizens of a country or community they belong to. This practice is thousands of years old. All communities historically, have witchdoctors, medicine men, etc... All citizens had access to whatever the best treatments known at the time were. It was either free, or some token was provided. But having a medicine man treat you in exchange for 2 chickens, is not the same as a company owning you for years because you accrued 2 years income worth of debt for a single surgery.

I have seen over and over again, people making decisions against their health because they can't afford it. Or like my original drummer, who delayed an important surgery, because if he waited until the beginning of the next year (3 and half months later) he would be covered for the entire year that year, and not have to pay this one out of pocket.

When you have to put your health at serious risk, because you may end up not paying your mortgage instead, something is VERY wrong.

It is in society's interest that it's workers are healthy.

Long lines or waiting lists for more minor doctor's visits under universal health care? It beats the hell out of NO health care, which is the service plan millions of Americans are currently under.

Sorry for your problems Kramer.

I understand this all too well.

Something needs to be changed.

I feel for you Kramer. I have been putting of some medical vists for over a year. It is insane what it cost us.
But I truly doubt that we'll get better managed care from the post office.

This is far more typical than ppl may think, Kramer.

I have similar problems with my wife's HMO. Stuck with wrong Dr's, problems getting anything done, or done right, far too many required office visits with necessary co-pays, etc etc etc.

Yeah, something needs doing, for sure...but turning it over to the feds? Well, I hope it works better than SSI...or NSA...or the CIA...or...

I think one of our largest problems is that we have the ability to virtually change direction every frikken election, & those happen way too often, really. Hard to develop & implement long-term goals when you have a max of 8 yrs to do it all in. (And ppl are talking term-limits in Congress, too! Sorry, but I'm agin it. If I think my guy's doing a good job, don't take away my RIGHT to have him continue in the job I prefer him to be!)

It should be a right to have adequate health care in this or any other nation, but who determines what is adequate? Both sides of this issue have some great points. I doubt I'll see anything worthy of note improving in this area in my lifetime. It looks like we just don't give a damn, & our elected officials will continue to drag it all out as long as they can get away with it, & as long as corporations are pulling the strings with campaign funds, & as long as they can continue to distract us with "economic worries" or "possible terrorist attacks" or whatever else they can come up with.

Amen, Philby. What can we do? The media (including propaganda on the internet) keeps us all from coming together to make a change. If anyone knows of a specific site that pulls people together, please let me know. I don't think there is one, and if there was, the government would be all over it. It would almost have to be done with snail mail (lowtech) and on an extremely large level to get out to all the people. I'd say most of the American people feel the same way we do, so why can't we pull together? Because the government is doing everything in it's power to keep us from it, and that's a LOT of power. They have the power of the government, the power of the media, the power of propaganda, all the same powers they've held over us for decades. We have the power of numbers, but that don't mean sh*t if we can't get together and that's just what they're counting on. Anyone know of any bands that are REALLY into political change? If so, let us all in on it. That may be where we, as musicians, can come together. Every little bit helps. This should be a new topic.

To put it init's most simple terms. Due to te fact there are too many people getting rich off of healthcare. Most of whom provide no care.
It is F'ed up like Hogans goat.
Yesterday, because the Hospital had a low census, they would not allow us to have a Ward Clerk, (this means the nurse has to do all their own computer entries of new orders and retreval of lad etc results)
They did this to save money.
The hospital had a low census, but I still had six sick patients.
If I had had the time, I would have cried.
Damn the bastards, their profit margins, and their billion dollar building projects.
We hates them my precious.
I have got to fimd an honest way of making a living, this sh*t is killing me.

I guess what bothers me the most is that I read somewhere that Blue Cross/BS of PA, which serves mostly the Philly area, for the fiscal year 2007 reportedly had $4 BIL in PROFITS, not gross, but NET profits. They cried poor all the way to the bank, and the following open enrollment, my premiums skyrocketed.

I took my daughter to CHOP to see a neurologist (she's autistic) and they refused to accept the insurance, citing that BC/BS plan I had didn't have a good enough payout for services.

I know a LOT of you are against federally run programs, and for good reason, but I've seen successful govt. programs, one electric company in rural VA is run by the county, and among the cheapest electricity I've ever known (5 years ago the summer heating bill for a 4BR house was about $45 !!) and I've worked at a place that had a subsidized cafeteria, which meant that it was not for profit. The prices reflected COST, and you know what? The employees were paid better, were happier, and cooked MUCH better food,.... I could get a nice (big) hot meal for less than $3, drink included.

Now NFP only goes so far, but consider the opposite - we have stockbrokers telling us that we need to 'suck it up' and accept poor service, sh*t doctors, incredible waiting times, not even getting to talk to a doctor for more than 30 seconds.. I mean seriously.. I'm paying for a DOCTOR visit, and being treated by a nurse practitioner.. Shouldn't I get a discount for that?

It's like being represented in court by a paralegal and still being charged the full rate for the actual lawyer (nothing against nurses, really!)

It's becoming overwhelming, govt healthcare might not be the greatest thing in the world, but it's proven by other countries to better than what we got right now.

I dont know what the answer is.
Tis greed pure and simple, thats why Healthcare in the US and the world is suffering.
But I have dealt with VA, and other state funded medical intities, and it is far worse due to a total lack of accountability.
I still dont know what the answer is. If only all would apply the golden rule. Do unto others, not he who has the gold makes the rules.

Wow...

All this discussion makes me kinda glad I live in Canada...

Good luck with this folks,

heyoka

(yeah, I'm still around, just kinda listening in from time to time...)

He he he, If you think that makes you safe your also living in a dream.

Heyoka wrote:Wow...

All this discussion makes me kinda glad I live in Canada...

Good luck with this folks,

heyoka

Me too ....

I never think about going to the doctor or how I'm going to pay for it .... I just go .. it's free. There are no long waits ... maybe 2 days tops.

It's FREE, really?
WOW, how does that work?