RE: Medical Bills/costs

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/29/2004 9:33:08 PM Pacific Standard Time,

jturner@... writes:

It made me feel bad, standing there on a broken foot being harassed for

money. The system nowadays is so exhausting.

It is! It is so much so!

I am really worried about how much all these tests that keep being ordered

for Adrienne are going to cost. Not that I am going to deny them...but...

golly.. the costs are unbelieveable. And we Have insurance! What do people do

who

don't?

I feel really bad for my oldest daughter, she and her hubby are on a very

tight budget...but.. they are 'too well off' for help... yet they hardly make

enough to pay expenses. And then when medical bills pop in... they can't make

it.

I didn't used to be ... for socialized medicine... but... I am really

begining to think...Something is not working anymore.

In 1998 our insurance was $78 a month... we had a $5 copay that was billed at

the end of the month. Scripts cost $4 to $7 ... we were in an HMO.

Today... we opted out of the HMO and our insurance costs $230 a month, we

have $15 and $25 co pays AND 20% of procedures etc... on top of that.

Prescriptions cost... $5 if generic... and on the 'prefered list' 50% if not

and up to $100 copay.

So Janet, I hear you! And in all honesty, it scares the heck out of me!

K

[Guest guest]

K

I think something will have to change. The medical system in the U.S. is

melting down. I think it will become more and more obvious to everyone that

change is needed.

I have excellent insurance, that's the scary thing. And, yes I have

arthritis and thin bones but it's not like I have cancer or need major

surgery. I can't imagine what my medical bills would be if I had cancer.

Janet in SF

[Guest guest]

I want to thank everyone for your supportive responses on the medical bills

issue. It really made me feel better. The whole money worshiping thing in

our culture drives me nuts. Money is our false idol in the United States.

And, so many people walk around feeling bad about themselves because they

don't have money. I can't think of a sillier reason to feel bad about

yourself, but you really have to fight the dominant mindset to avoid that in

our culture.

Janet in SF

[Guest guest]

I felt compelled to respond to this discussion of medical costs. My husband

and I often wonder how it is possible for people, who are in a lower income

than ourselves, to afford their medical expenses. We just completed our tax

returns and were surprised at how much we paid " out of pocket " for medical

expenses. ($15,000+ just this year). We are both on Medicare and have BC-BS

complimentary coverage...so we pay no costs to doctors or hospitals, however, we

do pay

for our drugs. I realize that we have had some unexpected medical problems (my

husbands cancer and my glaucoma/arthritis), but many people in our age group

have these problems. I can't help wondering what others with less financial

security do? Some retired people have less than this figure as a yearly income.

I agree, something has to be done so that all people receive the same quality

of care, regardless of their income. For a country that is one of the richest

in the world...this is a basic compassionate need.

Our accountant gave us an unexpected surprise that helped with a little known

deduction called " medical miles. " We traveled 2 hours daily (4 hour round

trip) for my husbands radiation treatments. You are allowed $.07 a mile for

this. This might not be much for a monthly visit to the doctors office, but for

those of you that have had to travel for daily cancer treatments, it adds up.

[Guest guest]

Janet,

Actually, the opposite is true.

When my son was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, everything was paid

for. The only costs now are co-pays for storage of semen, bi-yearly CAT

scans, and regular check-ups.

I was surprised. Conversely, my bills are exponential in comparison.

Pat