Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Feb 21st 2008, 3:27 pm
#286
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
I was more than disturbed today when I found out that it'll cost $4k to do all my periodontal surgery and my dental insurance will only pay $1k per year.
The kindly receptionist told me that some people do half their mouth one year and then wait until the next for the other half
. I've rarely claimed anything, didn't have a single cavity until I was mid-30s, but due to side effects of medication I'm at risk for periodontitis. I can't imagine waiting a year with aching bleeding gums just to get another $1k.
The kindly receptionist told me that some people do half their mouth one year and then wait until the next for the other half
. I've rarely claimed anything, didn't have a single cavity until I was mid-30s, but due to side effects of medication I'm at risk for periodontitis. I can't imagine waiting a year with aching bleeding gums just to get another $1k.
Feb 21st 2008, 3:32 pm
#287
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Last edited by fatbrit; Feb 21st 2008 at 4:09 pm.
)
Feb 21st 2008, 10:30 pm
#289
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Neither anecdotes nor facts will not break Tracy's resolve. In fact, she's....
http://www.multinet.no/~jonarne/Hjem...the_ants_5.jpg
http://www.multinet.no/~jonarne/Hjem...the_ants_5.jpg
I do not see a problem if a particular place doesn't feel qualified to treat something properly, that is certainly not life threatening.
And I do not see a problem waiting for a minor thing in an ER - that could happen anywhere in the world, certainly including the NHS.
Apparently Xebedee doesn't want to explain what the problem is - fine, doesn't matter to me.
But trying to use this as an example of a problem with the US health system (without further explanation) is frankly silly, and I can't be arsed with it any further.
Feb 21st 2008, 11:15 pm
#290
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Here's an article I in the headlines today (in a liberal leftie paper actually):
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/wo...01c&ei=5087%0A
Re a NHS patient:
One such case was Debbie Hirst’s. Her breast cancer had metastasized, and the health service would not provide her with Avastin, a drug that is widely used in the United States and Europe to keep such cancers at bay. So, with her oncologist’s support, she decided last year to try to pay the $120,000 cost herself, while continuing with the rest of her publicly financed treatment.
By December, she had raised $20,000 and was preparing to sell her house to raise more. But then the government, which had tacitly allowed such arrangements before, put its foot down. Mrs. Hirst heard the news from her doctor.
“He looked at me and said: ‘I’m so sorry, Debbie. I’ve had my wrists slapped from the people upstairs, and I can no longer offer you that service,’ ” Mrs. Hirst said in an interview.
“I said, ‘Where does that leave me?’ He said, ‘If you pay for Avastin, you’ll have to pay for everything’ ” — in other words, for all her cancer treatment, far more than she could afford.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/wo...01c&ei=5087%0A
Re a NHS patient:
One such case was Debbie Hirst’s. Her breast cancer had metastasized, and the health service would not provide her with Avastin, a drug that is widely used in the United States and Europe to keep such cancers at bay. So, with her oncologist’s support, she decided last year to try to pay the $120,000 cost herself, while continuing with the rest of her publicly financed treatment.
By December, she had raised $20,000 and was preparing to sell her house to raise more. But then the government, which had tacitly allowed such arrangements before, put its foot down. Mrs. Hirst heard the news from her doctor.
“He looked at me and said: ‘I’m so sorry, Debbie. I’ve had my wrists slapped from the people upstairs, and I can no longer offer you that service,’ ” Mrs. Hirst said in an interview.
“I said, ‘Where does that leave me?’ He said, ‘If you pay for Avastin, you’ll have to pay for everything’ ” — in other words, for all her cancer treatment, far more than she could afford.
Feb 22nd 2008, 1:24 am
#291
Not dead yet
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: In a world of my own where I know everyone
Posts: 15,042
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Here's an article I in the headlines today (in a liberal leftie paper actually):
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/wo...01c&ei=5087%0A
Re a NHS patient:
One such case was Debbie Hirst’s. Her breast cancer had metastasized, and the health service would not provide her with Avastin, a drug that is widely used in the United States and Europe to keep such cancers at bay. So, with her oncologist’s support, she decided last year to try to pay the $120,000 cost herself, while continuing with the rest of her publicly financed treatment.
By December, she had raised $20,000 and was preparing to sell her house to raise more. But then the government, which had tacitly allowed such arrangements before, put its foot down. Mrs. Hirst heard the news from her doctor.
“He looked at me and said: ‘I’m so sorry, Debbie. I’ve had my wrists slapped from the people upstairs, and I can no longer offer you that service,’ ” Mrs. Hirst said in an interview.
“I said, ‘Where does that leave me?’ He said, ‘If you pay for Avastin, you’ll have to pay for everything’ ” — in other words, for all her cancer treatment, far more than she could afford.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/wo...01c&ei=5087%0A
Re a NHS patient:
One such case was Debbie Hirst’s. Her breast cancer had metastasized, and the health service would not provide her with Avastin, a drug that is widely used in the United States and Europe to keep such cancers at bay. So, with her oncologist’s support, she decided last year to try to pay the $120,000 cost herself, while continuing with the rest of her publicly financed treatment.
By December, she had raised $20,000 and was preparing to sell her house to raise more. But then the government, which had tacitly allowed such arrangements before, put its foot down. Mrs. Hirst heard the news from her doctor.
“He looked at me and said: ‘I’m so sorry, Debbie. I’ve had my wrists slapped from the people upstairs, and I can no longer offer you that service,’ ” Mrs. Hirst said in an interview.
“I said, ‘Where does that leave me?’ He said, ‘If you pay for Avastin, you’ll have to pay for everything’ ” — in other words, for all her cancer treatment, far more than she could afford.
Feb 22nd 2008, 1:28 am
#292
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Sure, that's true. But they did say it's widely used in Europe too. And apparently it IS licensed - she can have it. The NHS just won't pay.
There are unfair things here - unethical insurance companies etc. My point is only, it seems the US isn't the only place where things are at times unfair, or unequal.
There are unfair things here - unethical insurance companies etc. My point is only, it seems the US isn't the only place where things are at times unfair, or unequal.
Feb 22nd 2008, 1:29 am
#293
my arm aches
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: the warm waters of Florida
Posts: 2,289
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Here's an article I in the headlines today (in a liberal leftie paper actually):
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/wo...01c&ei=5087%0A
Re a NHS patient:
One such case was Debbie Hirst’s. Her breast cancer had metastasized, and the health service would not provide her with Avastin, a drug that is widely used in the United States and Europe to keep such cancers at bay. So, with her oncologist’s support, she decided last year to try to pay the $120,000 cost herself, while continuing with the rest of her publicly financed treatment.
By December, she had raised $20,000 and was preparing to sell her house to raise more. But then the government, which had tacitly allowed such arrangements before, put its foot down. Mrs. Hirst heard the news from her doctor.
“He looked at me and said: ‘I’m so sorry, Debbie. I’ve had my wrists slapped from the people upstairs, and I can no longer offer you that service,’ ” Mrs. Hirst said in an interview.
“I said, ‘Where does that leave me?’ He said, ‘If you pay for Avastin, you’ll have to pay for everything’ ” — in other words, for all her cancer treatment, far more than she could afford.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/wo...01c&ei=5087%0A
Re a NHS patient:
One such case was Debbie Hirst’s. Her breast cancer had metastasized, and the health service would not provide her with Avastin, a drug that is widely used in the United States and Europe to keep such cancers at bay. So, with her oncologist’s support, she decided last year to try to pay the $120,000 cost herself, while continuing with the rest of her publicly financed treatment.
By December, she had raised $20,000 and was preparing to sell her house to raise more. But then the government, which had tacitly allowed such arrangements before, put its foot down. Mrs. Hirst heard the news from her doctor.
“He looked at me and said: ‘I’m so sorry, Debbie. I’ve had my wrists slapped from the people upstairs, and I can no longer offer you that service,’ ” Mrs. Hirst said in an interview.
“I said, ‘Where does that leave me?’ He said, ‘If you pay for Avastin, you’ll have to pay for everything’ ” — in other words, for all her cancer treatment, far more than she could afford.
Feb 22nd 2008, 1:32 am
#294
Not dead yet
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: In a world of my own where I know everyone
Posts: 15,042
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Sure, that's true. But they did say it's widely used in Europe too. And apparently it IS licensed - she can have it. The NHS just won't pay.
There are unfair things here - unethical insurance companies etc. My point is only, it seems the US isn't the only place where things are at times unfair, or unequal.
There are unfair things here - unethical insurance companies etc. My point is only, it seems the US isn't the only place where things are at times unfair, or unequal.
Feb 22nd 2008, 1:37 am
#295
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
But if the denial or wait causes you to die, you are still just as dead.
I do hate insurance companies, I believe they should be much more regulated.
Feb 22nd 2008, 1:45 am
#296
Not dead yet
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: In a world of my own where I know everyone
Posts: 15,042
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Yes you are but it's the number of refusals people are getting at, thats why they make the papers in the UK.
Feb 22nd 2008, 1:48 am
#297
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Feb 22nd 2008, 1:49 am
#298
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Back to personal insults again. How old are you exactly? Just wondering - most people outgrow that eventually.
I do not see a problem if a particular place doesn't feel qualified to treat something properly, that is certainly not life threatening.
And I do not see a problem waiting for a minor thing in an ER - that could happen anywhere in the world, certainly including the NHS.
Apparently Xebedee doesn't want to explain what the problem is - fine, doesn't matter to me.
But trying to use this as an example of a problem with the US health system (without further explanation) is frankly silly, and I can't be arsed with it any further.
I do not see a problem if a particular place doesn't feel qualified to treat something properly, that is certainly not life threatening.
And I do not see a problem waiting for a minor thing in an ER - that could happen anywhere in the world, certainly including the NHS.
Apparently Xebedee doesn't want to explain what the problem is - fine, doesn't matter to me.
But trying to use this as an example of a problem with the US health system (without further explanation) is frankly silly, and I can't be arsed with it any further.
Feb 22nd 2008, 1:50 am
#299
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Sicko - so who has now seen the film?
Feb 22nd 2008, 1:54 am
#300
Not dead yet
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: In a world of my own where I know everyone
Posts: 15,042
