TexasPhil Posted July 18, 2003 Report Share Posted July 18, 2003 Just about to take my son in to have all four wisdom teeth extracted. They are coming in at a 90 degree angle from where they should and are pushing on the other teeth. Yes, they are horizontal. That's what happens when your mouth is not big enough! So, off to the "Chipmunk" factory! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hagan Posted July 18, 2003 Report Share Posted July 18, 2003 I think insurance coverage is why they charge so much. The old "what the market will bear" thing plays into how much the patient will be willing to pay in cash. So the bill is inflated to about that amount PLUS what the insurance companies will pay. And the insurance companies love to see that they are getting a good percentage OFF the normal rates. So the rates get inflated. There was a short period of time when I had really bad health insurance (my company was located out of state, and I had a policy for the remote state rather than my own). The doctor was willing to negotiate the rate if I paid cash, and the bills were less than half of the normal rate. If you want to do this, talk to the doctor, not the office manager. The office manager doesn't have any reason to see you alive again, but the doctor has that oath thing going for you! Not sure that would work with hospitals, though. I suspect they would just let you die! :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasPhil Posted July 18, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2003 Not bad, 1539 total, 389 out of my pocket. My Daughter, on the other hand, had to go to the ER last December, she caught the Flu and was very dehidrated. An IV, an X-Ray (to make sure it wasn't appendix) 30 minutes and $1800. No insurance, very little reduction, and some other doctor charged me an extra 75 to look at the X-Rays a week later.... huh? The medical industry is a bunch of crooks! I paid the 1575 (300 discount) and figured I still saved money.... $400/mo * 12 months = 4800 for insurance. On average, they only cover 50% of the expenses anyway (that is from experience) The year my daugter was born, we had insurance.... The doctor, hospital, etc received a total of $7000. Out of my pocket, including insurance, was $15000. I asked the doc how much he would have charged me if I was a "cash account".... $5000 total. So, I wasted $10,000 on insurance. I do not have insurance! I do not want it. I might consider catastrophic insurance with a $5 or $10,000 deductable, and 100% after that... no exemptions, if it is $100 or less monthly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdrown Posted July 18, 2003 Report Share Posted July 18, 2003 I had mine out in December, right before Christmas. Wasn't bad at all, just have him keep ice on it all the time. It barely swells if ice is constantly applied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kelley Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 Im a self employed dental tech. and they wont give me a break!! I also have had diabetes since I was 21, Im 44 now dont need insurance screw them!! I make payments on my bills. saves me lots of money. Just put your own money in the bank for health care, and if youre lucky you can use the cash for a vacation!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hagan Posted July 23, 2003 Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 Well, I had an experience with health insurance just yesterday. I have diverticulosis, which can become inflamed and be diverticulitus (there's a really graphic explanation of what it is, but I'll spare you the details). Suffice to say I know what it is when I get it, and I need antibiotics to kick it when it flares up. The beginning of this year my health insurance changed, and my old doctor didn't take the insurance. I had not gone to the new doctor yet, but called him, and he was out of town. The on-call doctor doesn't know me, couldn't see me, but said if I had pain I had to go to the ER. So I do have this doubling-over gut pain, which I know will get worse. But I know all I need is the antibiotic, and to follow the regime I had been given (clear fluids for a day or two, take the antibiotics, continue living). After several calls and not being able to get any satisfaction, I took the doctor's advice and let him call in the referral to go to the ER. They took me in, and the doctor there ordered a blood test and urinalysis (OK, good to check for infection) .... but also xrays and did a "occult stool blood test" (I could have REALLY done without that, thank you very much!) So even though I will pay only my $50 deductible, the total charges are going to be outrageous, and completely unnecessary. When the ER doc finally came to see me, after all these tests, he said "Hey, you're probably right, but we have to rule everything out." I kind of understand ... an overweight, 47 year old guy has pain, they want to make sure it isn't too serious. But all I needed was the Cipro, honest guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasPhil Posted July 23, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2003 I am sorry to hear about your medical situation, but I am glad you did not go into the graphic explanations. I think most of your problem was with the EVIL insurance. They force the prices up and pay out so very little. I suspect that if insurance did not exist, the amount you would pay out of pocket would still be the same. Doctor's would not have to have a staff of insurance wranglers, would not have to perform stupid proceedures to satisfy the insurance bozos, etc. On the other hand, you have lost your family doctor, that you have been going to for (probably) quite a while. He would probably written you a script without a visit. It used to be that the doctors were interested in helping you out; comfort your pain, find out what's wrong, etc.... but now it is just to make sure to do things the "insurance way" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hagan Posted July 24, 2003 Report Share Posted July 24, 2003 Yep, insurance and also the liability laws in this state, which means a doctor has to cover himself six ways to Sunday to avoid lawsuits. My old doctor did call and leave a message; he apologized for his office manager not getting the message to him sooner. So I think he would have probably written the script if I had talked to him, and not the office manager. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T. Nelson Surbrook Posted July 24, 2003 Report Share Posted July 24, 2003 My wife got sick and spent one day in hospital the bill is over 3,000. The medical industry in my opinion is a total rip-off and without integrity. They are without shame and prey on the misfortunes of others. However, God is not mocked and did you know that doctors live on average only 54 years. Maybe that says something about the knowledge that they have as well. If they really knew so much why do they die so young? I just send a little every month and by the time I get them paid off they will be dead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasPhil Posted July 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2003 Yeah, the only nice thing about it is they can't charge interest. So $15 per month will drag it out for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Holder Posted August 1, 2003 Report Share Posted August 1, 2003 or you could move to a Socialist country like, say . . . Canada!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasPhil Posted August 1, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2003 Tom, There is a reason I live in Texas! I have lived in 35 places, all around the country and a couple places in Germany and England. I even lived in Detroit for a short time. (I mention Detroit because I just read that you are between Windsor and London) When I lived in Detroit I fell in love with the canadian countryside, but there is no way I could live in Canada. It was sooooo clean and pretty, but.... Politically and Socially, I could not be happy. In fact, I was not happy in Michigan, though I loved the lake I lived on. I have learned that I do not want to live in any states that are organized as the "Common Wealth of ...." (Pennsylvania, Kentucky, etc) They are exactly that... common wealth... they penalize you for making money. That is, take from those that work and give to those that don't. (Mind you, I am a working stiff, but I make well over minimum wage) I have been as close to socialism that I ever want to get, and have no intentions of ever going back. Texas is one of the most conservative places that I could find. Hence, I live in Texas. Yes, there are a lot of quirky things here, like the current situation where the democrats have left the state (because they would be arrested if they were still in the state) But for the most part, it is very conservative. There are no state income taxes, just sales tax and property tax. Very strong laws in favor of the Land Owner (I can shoot anything that trespasses in my corn field). Any changes to the state constitution MUST be ratified by a popular vote, as are any bills requesting money. And the best part... the State government is only in Regular Session once every two years. during "Special Sessions" no new business can be brought up, only old business can be concluded, and only if the governor calls a special session and he specifies what should be concluded. I have always thought that if Texas fell the wrong way, I would go to Australia. But the recient loss of guns down there has destroyed that idea. I believe that by giving up guns, you are no longer a citizen, but a subject. I have no intention of giving up my guns. So, now the only other places I could consider are Alaska, Florida, Wyoming, and Indiana (I Loved Indiana, even though I had to pay state income tax) Anyway, I think the medical industry here in the US is outrageously bad, but my understanding is that it is far better than what you have up there in Canada. I often hear reports of Canadians coming down to the US to get medical treatment. I figure if it was any good, it would be the other way around. Whew... time to get off my soap box! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Holder Posted August 1, 2003 Report Share Posted August 1, 2003 As a new guy, and to avoid turning this into something other than a boating forum, I'm just going to say that I too have been on every continent on the planet and have been all over the US, including Texas, and I respectfully disagree. We have it pretty good here and I specifically say we, meaning Canadians, NOT I, Tom Holder. Greater good and all that. Peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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