further healthcare difficulties
#48
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 238
Re: further healthcare difficulties
Surprise Medical Bills: ER Is In Network, But Doctor Isn't : Shots - Health News : NPR
I've been doing a lot of reading about healthcare situations, this article demonstrates just how mixed-up things are.
I'm trying to get something in writing to explain why my particular procedure isn't covered even though the hospitals are supposed to be and the gastro-enterologist is.
Selling these insurance 'products' I would think they need to be fit for the purpose. Apparently there have already been several class action lawsuits against insurance companies for misleading consumers.
I've been doing a lot of reading about healthcare situations, this article demonstrates just how mixed-up things are.
I'm trying to get something in writing to explain why my particular procedure isn't covered even though the hospitals are supposed to be and the gastro-enterologist is.
Selling these insurance 'products' I would think they need to be fit for the purpose. Apparently there have already been several class action lawsuits against insurance companies for misleading consumers.
#50
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 150
Re: further healthcare difficulties
In the US, (Florida) I wait a day.
An Orthopedic apointment will take weeks if not months.
I was a Canadian long ago and health care in Canada is the pitts.
Even if i lived in Canada I would maintain coverage elsewhere.
#51
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: further healthcare difficulties
I have several friends that have to wait months the get an MRI.
In the US, (Florida) I wait a day.
An Orthopedic apointment will take weeks if not months.
I was a Canadian long ago and health care in Canada is the pitts.
Even if i lived in Canada I would maintain coverage elsewhere.
In the US, (Florida) I wait a day.
An Orthopedic apointment will take weeks if not months.
I was a Canadian long ago and health care in Canada is the pitts.
Even if i lived in Canada I would maintain coverage elsewhere.
I've used both the US system and Canada's, and its of no use how fast you can get an MRI if you don't have the money to pay for it, and have crummy insurance.
The US system is only good for those with the money to access the services, otherwise your pretty much screwed.
I wait a whole 3 days for my CT Scan, and my wife waited a whole week for her MRI, neither were urgent, but we still got in quickly.
When she had an emergency, she had her CT scan 3 hours after arriving at the ER, only reason it took that long was because we are in a small town so had to go to Vancouver for it, but can't expect big city hospital services in a small town.
I disagree with you that it's the pits in Canada, I can see a doctor anytime I need to without having to open the wallet and I don't have to worry about large medical bills or being denied coverage.
Try using the US system without having the funds to pay for it, and you may see how crappy it really is.
The longest I have ever waited for a procedure was 4 months when I had an endoscopy, but the reason for it was not life threatening and there was 0 chance of death from waiting, so I had no issue waiting and no harm was done waiting.
My GF's mom's partner was diagnosed with Cancer, 1 week from diagnoses to first treatment, still living and fully recovered.
Those who complain generally don't know how triage works, and think they should be able to skip ahead because they lack patience, if it's a true emergency and truly urgent, there will be no wait or a very minimal wait.
Last edited by scrubbedexpat091; Mar 20th 2015 at 1:24 am.
#52
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Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,851
Re: further healthcare difficulties
I have several friends that have to wait months the get an MRI.
In the US, (Florida) I wait a day.
An Orthopedic apointment will take weeks if not months.
I was a Canadian long ago and health care in Canada is the pitts.
Even if i lived in Canada I would maintain coverage elsewhere.
In the US, (Florida) I wait a day.
An Orthopedic apointment will take weeks if not months.
I was a Canadian long ago and health care in Canada is the pitts.
Even if i lived in Canada I would maintain coverage elsewhere.
Some have infinite waits in the US, given that the US rations by price.
#53
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 238
Re: further healthcare difficulties
Probably a lot depends on where you are in a country too- my two friends in Vancouver ( both Americans who have also lived in Houston ) have nothing but praise for Canadian healthcare, whereas another friend in small-town Ontario is very critical.
If I were in the UK or Canada I would pay if I didn't want to wait for non-emergency procedures, since the costs are much more reasonable. But when I tried to pay for my care in US without insurance it quickly became apparent I wouldn't be able to afford it.
If I were in the UK or Canada I would pay if I didn't want to wait for non-emergency procedures, since the costs are much more reasonable. But when I tried to pay for my care in US without insurance it quickly became apparent I wouldn't be able to afford it.
#54
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: further healthcare difficulties
Probably a lot depends on where you are in a country too- my two friends in Vancouver ( both Americans who have also lived in Houston ) have nothing but praise for Canadian healthcare, whereas another friend in small-town Ontario is very critical.
If I were in the UK or Canada I would pay if I didn't want to wait for non-emergency procedures, since the costs are much more reasonable. But when I tried to pay for my care in US without insurance it quickly became apparent I wouldn't be able to afford it.
If I were in the UK or Canada I would pay if I didn't want to wait for non-emergency procedures, since the costs are much more reasonable. But when I tried to pay for my care in US without insurance it quickly became apparent I wouldn't be able to afford it.
No private insurance or private pay option in the public system in Canada, so you can't pay the hospital for an MRI to get ahead of those waiting.
Yes small towns in Canada are like small towns in the US, less medical care in town and more going to the big city for it, but small towns can't expect big city healthcare, would be a waste of money and resources.
I choose to live in a small town, so I accept that if I have a major health issue, it will require going to Vancouver for, with 17,000 people we can't expect to have say a ICU or Cardiac unit.
#55
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: further healthcare difficulties
Having an insurance policy does not necessarily mean low costs for the patient. Depending upon the policy and services required, the patient share of the bill could potentially be hundreds or thousands of dollars, even with insurance.
#56
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: further healthcare difficulties
Obamacare has its own additional risks imposed on providers.
#57
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Re: further healthcare difficulties
Doctors here require payment upfront for services not covered by the universal plan so I would have thought US doctors would require payment upfront as well.
#58
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Posts: 238
Re: further healthcare difficulties
On everyone it seems- I am still trying to uncover exactly what the hell is going on.
When your government tells you you MUST purchase a health insurance policy or suffer financial taxation penalties- that government has a responsibility to check out just what the hell is being sold and how consumers can know just what the hell is being sold to them and if they are covered for the purpose of healthcare.
At some point someone has to pick this up politically and find out just what it means.
I know the USA is crazy at times, but I think some of these latest issues step over the bounds of greedy-crazy to unfair/illegal-crazy.
When your government tells you you MUST purchase a health insurance policy or suffer financial taxation penalties- that government has a responsibility to check out just what the hell is being sold and how consumers can know just what the hell is being sold to them and if they are covered for the purpose of healthcare.
At some point someone has to pick this up politically and find out just what it means.
I know the USA is crazy at times, but I think some of these latest issues step over the bounds of greedy-crazy to unfair/illegal-crazy.
#59
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: further healthcare difficulties
it is a highly regulated product both at Federal and State level.
#60
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Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,759
Re: further healthcare difficulties
And my daughter's eye doctor, charging approximately $1 per second for a check-up, also sent us a bill for the amount not covered by insurance. That was a nice surprise I can tell you - not. Nobody told us the insurance (who authorised us to go to this specific doctor at their choice) wouldn't cover it all.