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[DisneyGirl4188]

My company offers insurance. We did have a $250 deductible plan, but they couldn't afford to keep that, so the deductible is now $750. They will pay the difference though (they figured even if every employee needed to be reimbursed the $500 it was still less expensive than having a plan where the deductible was $250.) I am thrilled to have insurance.

Several years ago, my DH didn't have insurance (we weren't married at the time). One night he couldn't breathe at all, so we took him to the ER. After X-rays it was determined that he had pnuemonia. They gave him a prescription and told him to buy Tylenol (for pain) at the store. They wouldn't even give him Tylenol at the hospital. The bill was several hundred dollars and the medicine was around $135. Luckily, he was able to make payment arrangements with the hospital.


My mom has her own business and pays a ridiculous amout each month for insurance (with having a very high deductible). It's getting to the point where it is hard for her to afford having it, but what else can she do?

I support universal healthcare; other countries do just fine with it, so why can't the US?

 

[LakeAriel]

When my son was 17 he battled (and won) a stage 4 cancer. He was covered by my Ex husband, a retired NY policeman, and my current husband. It was a nightmare! I don't know how a sick person handles the financial end of their illness. The cost was over $100,000 and yes most paid by the double coverage..Thank God I was divorced and remarried (tongue in cheek)

One day I went to the bank to take out my daughter's tuition as a freshman in an out of district school. I discovered my acct was frozen because one of the hospitals went to court and sued for payment for a test that insurance had already paid for. I had the EOB and everything. Didn't matter. Our healthcare is a disaster. My ex ( the retired NYPO) died because he was over- radiated for gastric cancer. They told us at Sloan Kettering his insides were like swiss cheese..
Why? Because he had GHI and he was restricted to physicians on the bottom end of their graduating class. That was his reward for his public service.

 

[LakeAriel]

It seems many more people have been affected by this problem that I had realized, thank you for your responses so far....I'm still interested in what people have to say. So far, it would seem the movie is more accurate than it is not in its representation of non-professional working Americans. I feel badly that I have been ignoring this problem because it did not directly affect me.

Wasn't there a saying in WW2 about standing by quietly as neighbor by neighbor was dragged off until finally they came for you but by then there was no-one left to stand with you. I don't remember the exact quote but I do remember the sentiment.

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

 

[Geoff_M]

They have told me over and over that there is only long waits for elective surgery, no abnormal waits to see a dr. any other time, especially not if you are sick.

Lest I be told that I don't know what I'm talking about because I don't live there, here's some info on this issue straight from the Canadian, and provincial, government's mouth. These are web sites from Canadian government initiatives set up to combat citizen complaints about wait times: Wait Time Alliance Each Province also publishes their own data. They seem to slice and dice the data somewhat different ways, but one set of data that is pretty easy to comprehend is Nova Scotia's (they also break down the data by class of urgency): Nova Scotia Wait Times The treatments listed go far beyond elective procedures and the data is the latest available.

I'm not here to "defend" the current US system of health care delivery, but I do think that it's a good idea to examine the flip side of the coin for pros and cons too.

You can also find "Michael Moore-ish" documentaries on the Canadian system too: "Dead Meat"

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[tonilea]

I can tell you without hesitation that everyone gets treated if they come in, they all receive the same care, and they all have the same nurses and doctors caring for them. There are social workers who work with the uninsured so they can avail themselves of the many programs available to pay for their healthcare. We have health clinics...the same MDs who would take care of me, an insured person, if I was hospitalized, will take care of the uninsured.

I disagree. It may be that way where you work, but it isn't that way every where. We have very good insurance, but I was hospitalized for an emergency gallbladder surgery. Surgery done, things went well for a couple of days, then I had to go back to the ER. Projectile vomiting, unbearable pain....It seems all the stones weren't retrieved.

I was sent by ambulance to a larger hospital in a city about 60 miles away for emergency treatment. After being in the NWA Regional Medical center for twenty three hours, my sister and DH went to admissions, offices and finally a patient advocate, because I hadn't seen a doctor. The nurses didn't even want to change my I.V. even though it was painful. In fact, they refused until I insisted. It turns out, they thought I didn't have insurance. Miracle of miracles, once they found out I had insurance I was promptly treated.

I didn't think things like that really happened, until it happened to me.

FWIW, I am no fan of Michael Moore. I think he has an agenda and his "reporting" is certainly not unbiased.

 

[rayelias]

I think that if you truly believe Michael Moore is presenting a truthful, unslanted viewpoint, then I've got a great deal on a bridge for you.

 

[arminnie]

I was hospitalized for an emergency gallbladder surgery. Surgery done, things went well for a couple of days, then I had to go back to the ER. Projectile vomiting, unbearable pain....It seems all the stones weren't retrieved.

I was sent by ambulance to a larger hospital in a city about 60 miles away for emergency treatment. After being in the NWA Regional Medical center for twenty three hours, my sister and DH went to admissions, offices and finally a patient advocate, because I hadn't seen a doctor. The nurses didn't even want to change my I.V. even though it was painful.

I think they don't teach about gallstone treatment in Arkansas med schools.

I went to the ER (in Little Rock) THREE times - kept getting sent home. The last time they left me in a room for hours and hours - the doctor told my sister and dad that I was mentally ill because I was imagining the pain. He stated that there was nothing wrong with me.

I don't have to tell you how hideous the pain was. Then they used this TERRIBLE horribly outdated procedure to retrieve the stones out of the bile ducts. I had a tube out of my liver that my body treated like it was a gallstone in the duct. I was in AGONY for about 6 weeks.

Should you ever be in the LR area and need a hospital don't set foot in St. Vincent's. My list of horror stories there is very long. From not getting meds needed to stop the painful spasms (up to 4 hours late), to not having a nurse on the floor, to being sent back to my room soaked in blood because they cut an artery in my neck (hard to do for a gallbladder).

Mine was just plain bad care - had nothing to do with insurance. It has taken me 6 years of living in Arkansas to finally begin to trust the medical system here. Now I know who to stay away from.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[Cool-Beans]

Ever since Michael Moore said that making inaccurate movies wasn't against the law, I pretty gave up on any shred of respect I had for him. So, I won't be seeing his movie.

Mandatory insurance has made health care a nightmare. And if you think it is bad now, wait until the government takes over.

 

[Disney Doll]

I disagree. It may be that way where you work, but it isn't that way every where. We have very good insurance, but I was hospitalized for an emergency gallbladder surgery. Surgery done, things went well for a couple of days, then I had to go back to the ER. Projectile vomiting, unbearable pain....It seems all the stones weren't retrieved.

I was sent by ambulance to a larger hospital in a city about 60 miles away for emergency treatment. After being in the NWA Regional Medical center for twenty three hours, my sister and DH went to admissions, offices and finally a patient advocate, because I hadn't seen a doctor. The nurses didn't even want to change my I.V. even though it was painful. In fact, they refused until I insisted. It turns out, they thought I didn't have insurance. Miracle of miracles, once they found out I had insurance I was promptly treated.

I didn't think things like that really happened, until it happened to me.

FWIW, I am no fan of Michael Moore. I think he has an agenda and his "reporting" is certainly not unbiased.

Your story amazes me because as a staff nurse, I have no idea who does and does not have insurance. It isn't part of the medical record.

I assume that you reported your experience to your state's Department of Public Health, since your story magnifies several abuses that would result in that hospital getting it's license pulled. Nurses not providing patient care based on insurance coverage is not allowed. Once a patient is hospitalized, they are treated by the nurses. Who pays the bill should be someone else's problem.

Transferring you to another hospital while you were in an acute or emergent condition is also frowned upon.

What were the results of the DPH investigation after you reported your treatment? Did you sue????

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

I think it's disgusting that people are so wrapped up in their political beliefs that they're unwilling to have an open mind and see a movie that shows the horrible treatment people are receiving in *this* country, right now!

If we don't start getting angry and loud things aren't going to change and we're leaving a legacy of debt and illness for our children. Quality health care should not be reserved for those with money!

Socialized medicine is NOT the evil some would have us believe.

 

[tonilea]

Your story amazes me because as a staff nurse, I have no idea who does and does not have insurance. It isn't part of the medical record.

I assume that you reported your experience to your state's Department of Public Health, since your story magnifies several abuses that would result in that hospital getting it's license pulled. Nurses not providing patient care based on insurance coverage is not allowed. Once a patient is hospitalized, they are treated by the nurses. Who pays the bill should be someone else's problem.

Transferring you to another hospital while you were in an acute or emergent condition is also frowned upon.

What were the results of the DPH investigation after you reported your treatment? Did you sue????

No, I didn't sue. I had no way of proving that I wasn't treated because they thought I didn't have insurance. Knowing something and being able to prove it can be worlds apart.

The doctor can in and sat down and talked, and talked, and talked (CMA?) about how over worked he was and how they only had one doctor in his position available for two or three hospitals.

As far as the transfer, the small local hospital didn't have the equipment to do the proceedure I needed.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[Disney Doll]

No, I didn't sue. I had no way of proving that I wasn't treated because they thought I didn't have insurance. Knowing something and being able to prove it can be worlds apart.

The doctor can in and sat down and talked, and talked, and talked (CMA?) about how over worked he was and how they only had one doctor in his position available for two or three hospitals.

As far as the transfer, the small local hospital didn't have the equipment to do the proceedure I needed.

No, I am quite sure all hospitals don't operate like mine. That is why I work here. I also know that the only way that change is effected in hsopitals is if patients complain. often, the Administrators don't care what the employees think. And yes, I agree that if healthcare professionals know abuses are taking place and don't report them, they are abhorrent people who should lose their license to practice. I certainly don't want them in my profession.

As an FYI to you and everyone else on the boards...

If you feel like you are receving substandard care in any medical facility, call your state's department of Public health. They are required to investigate every complaint, and believe me, the last thing any medical facility wants is the state breathing down their neck.

Having nurses not change an IV that is causing you pain is substandard care. Having a doctor tell you that he is the only one on for X number of patients for 2 or 3 hospitals or whatever is sub-standard care.

Investigation by the state DPH is pretty much the same in every state. They are bound by federal regulations and guidelines,as are hospitals who receive federal money. Federal money means mostly Medicare and no hospital wants to lose Medicare reimbursement because for most hospitals, that is the majority of their income.

And BTW, BelleBooandAmisMum, my political beliefs have nothing to do with my dislike of Michael Moore. Actually, I never disclosed my political beliefs, so I am not quite sure how you made that leap.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

And BTW, BelleBooandAmisMum, my political beliefs have nothing to do with my dislike of Michael Moore. Actually, I never disclosed my political beliefs, so I am not quite sure how you made that leap.

Where did I single you out? Where did I single anyone out? How did we make the leap to this being about you?

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[LuvOrlando]

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[dodukes]

Since I recently became part of the problem this movie is about ill pipe up my opinion. I think our system stinks!
I lost my job in June. As happy as i was abou that (it was a terrible situation) i lost my health insurance with it. It was the best plan but it was a pretty darn good one and i was paying about $50 a month for it. Obviously i could not afford cobra since it was around 350 a month. I figured id wait it out till close to the 2 month deadline and apply for individual coverage, im fairly healthy didnt think i had any "conditions" that would cause me to be denied and i had priced out various plans and i figured even if the OOp for a major 911 was realyhigh id rahter have any insurance than none. So i was looking at the low $100s a month plans.

I applied for Aetna for a plan that would have been $114 a month. WIthin 3 days i got denied. Mind you, nowi had about a week left for my continual coverage thing of 60days. Great! so i looked agin and decided to go with what i had before so i applied with bcbs for a start date of 9/1 for a plan that will cost me $159 a month.

Well guess what happens a few days before that, i get a staph infection and have to visit urgent care cuz it got bad during the weekend. So no wi have no insurance and HAVE to see someone. To make it short i get a bill about a month later for the tune of $2400 from the UCC another $400 or so from their physicians and $81 from the lab that procesed the culture.

Oh wait the best part is that at hte end of September i heard back from BC/BS, did i get insurace yep sure did, to the tune of an extra $80 a month, for a total of $239 a month. Now that might sound great but how in th world am i going to afford this now and the bills from UCC and my regualr bills and everyting else.

It literally cost me more to go to the UCC to get the staph drained and what not that giving birth i think.

So yes to answer your question. One its hard to afford normal payments for individual policies. 2. I was denied due to allergies forhte first one and maeto pay a premiun extra of $80 for the one i got. Can i even afford my meds after this, NO WAY and forget about the shots. Id rahter they justexclude that darn allergies and let me pay less. So its a really ridicualous system. You just can win and if something as simple as a staph infection costs this much i cant imagine a true emergency or some more serious illness wher i actaully had to go and be admitted in the hospital.
Something needs to be done when the normal working american cant afford basic care, and my ob/gn appt that i had during this time was $300 not to mentin that i HAD to go or they wont fill my script for birth control, and i know i dont want to go ther uninsured.

So yes whil ei now have insurance, well see for how long i can actually afford it and even tho i have its useless cuz it costs so dang much i cant aford the meds anyway or most of the appts for basic care.

 

[ksumn1]

I think that having a national or standardized health care plan is a good idea...if it's done right. My DH pays around $115 a week for family coverage which includes medical $24 co pay in network, and a $50 deductible for specialists. Out of network you pay 40%. It also includes 2 free dental cleanings a year, and covers 80% on other dental procedures. Emergency room or urgent care is a $300 deductible. So the coverage is pretty decent. Doesn't cover any form of contraceptive except a tubal ligation or a vasectomy. So I have to pay $60 a month for my birth control on top of the amount taken out of DH's check. It doesn't sound laike alot but before taxes etc he makes $600 a week, and after ins, taxes and a small 401K deduction ($25) he brings home $360. I work part time and make maybe $380 a month. Things are tight, and if either of us had a mojor illness, we would be in big trouble. It is soo hard to just live on what we make. I work , and attend school to help better our situation, he works full time and part time when he can find something. We make too much for any type of help, but not enough to be secure.

I told DH after watching the movie that I wished I lived in France. Much morre family oriented. Less outside influence. The insurance and drug companies are making a killing by denying much needed procedures, raising premiums every year, and denying anything deemed "experimental" even if it could save a life. I have no problem with a company making a reasonable profit. But this film really opened my eyes. I really hope a change in the government can start working on a better healthcare system. But I don't know if I'll see it in my lifetime.