$$$ why do americans have to pay for medical treatment and batteries etc?

sequoias said:
Deafteen, all the other expenses are very expensive in UK including gas. My friend bought a tiny soda pop drink for like $2 in London while you can get bigger one cheaper here. It doesn't mean that UK is better than the United States, all countries have their pros and cons.
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my brother asked me to get him basic supply like toothpastes, etc cuz it was very overpriced in UK. His friend's visiting him next week so I gave him the stuff.
 
shel90 said:
Yea, that's what I brought up in another thread when someone said we are all responsible for ourselves to save money and to plan for any emergency events. Sometimes, even doing everything right, we still get screwed over and apparently that is what happened to you. I am sorry that you have to go thru that. I personally know a few others who are on the same boat as you are.
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Yes, Shel, a major medical disaster can be catastrophic, financially. I have heard of people losing their houses and marriages breaking up over situations like that. It does happen, and it's unfortunate. But when it comes to talking about trucks breaking down and needing repairs, replacing house windows, racking up credit card charges, covering diapers or formula for babies, that is what trying to be financially responsible is all about. However, no one cannot justly feel like they have been screwed over because their truck broke down or they had difficulty replacing windows.
 
AlleyCat said:
Yes, Shel, a major medical disaster can be catastrophic, financially. I have heard of people losing their houses and marriages breaking up over situations like that. It does happen, and it's unfortunate. But when it comes to talking about trucks breaking down and needing repairs, replacing house windows, racking up credit card charges, covering diapers or formula for babies, that is what trying to be financially responsible is all about. However, no one cannot justly feel like they have been screwed over because their truck broke down or they had difficulty replacing windows.
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ok..sure, no problem.
 
Deafteen90, I am british and do have to pay for some stuff so nothing is entirely free in UK, I have to pay for my dental, pay for my own pescription as i am not on goverment money, I pay for my eyetests, if i need to see a specialist soon it would have to be private and would have to pay for that rather being plonked on to NHS waiting list which can be 18 months long! If i am sick i have to wait about 2 weeks before my doc's appt is available (which by then i would better) unless it's emergency.
My best friend was seriously ill back in 1999/2000 and were put on waiting list to see the specialist which was about 18 months, so ill, her mother paid for her to be seen by private specialist about 3 months after her onset illness, she got Ulcertive (sp) colitsis! This is very serious illness, Bestfriend now pays for her own "camera" up her bum every year, regular check ups, steriods for the rest of her life. If she hadn't had that private check she would have ended up with stoma bag for the rest of her life so then it was touch and go for her at that time.

I have insurance for my house, car, etc and do have money for "rainy" day. And it's not easy as i only work part time. So i don't have much of income but i am careful on how i spend.

By the way our tax is 15% at the moment and i think it's still too high!!!

Sequoias comment is right
 
our health care is free here too yet we pay taxes and i still think the system, although expensive, in the USA is much better as wait times and such are not as long. When i lived in Maryland i waited maybe the LONGEST 45 min in an ER waiting room. Here u are lucky if u wait 2-3 hours just for a room to open up let alone the time u take to see an actual doctor or even a nurse
 
When will we ever see the medical community helping others that isn't for the purpose of earning money??

When was the last time a medical staff would try to help someone that is gravely ill, in dire need of medical attention, with no form of health insurance - completely free of charge, or ER fallacies, or nonprofit orgs. that fly to Africa and help out the needy in Uganda?

USA has changed a lot. Try to name a MD that would help you in the event that you were suffering claustrophobic hysteria or some strange trembling+jerking of your foot for a few examples to name, WITHOUT an ulterior motive other than just trying to help you out.. Next to no one comes to mind, unless you have a doctor in your connections. Some research facility would use you for a test drug..

'Course, I understand by just looking at clinic rooms, tons of people are piled up in line due to the nature of not understanding why they got sick in the first place, not keeping themselves in good health, etc.

It makes sense, it's kind of like a double edged sword. Docs are getting tired of it I suppose.

Part of this rambling I'm having is biased, because I don't have health insurance at this moment in time. I tried not to be biased the best I could. It is pretty expensive here, to answer you deafteen. You have to pay a premium every month, and it's best that you are currently employed to get covered with a good rate.

Our tax dollars - From 01. 2007 - 01. 2008, I probably had like about ~$10K US taken from my pay at work , and got back around $500 on my tax form last year. Wonder where all that money went.
 
naisho said:
When will we ever see the medical community helping others that isn't for the purpose of earning money??
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To help others.... it costs money. Doctors need medicine, tools, supplies, etc. to help them. That equipment ain't cheap. There are plenty plenty plenty of organizations that help others for free with help of donation - Red Cross, Peace Corps, Doctors Without Borders, Riders for Health, and many others. Don't forget that doctors have families to raise. they need house, car, and stuff too like us.

naisho said:
When was the last time a medical staff would try to help someone that is gravely ill, in dire need of medical attention, with no form of health insurance - completely free of charge, or ER fallacies, or nonprofit orgs. that fly to Africa and help out the needy in Uganda?
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see above. Riders for Health is a well-known (or not) organization in Africa. They are true heroes. Many many many medical students/residents/doctors do travel to Africa/Africa/South America/Asia and help. It's just that these kind of heroism acts are not considered "newsworthy" most of time and it tends to quietly disappear to a small paragraph at some page 20 in newspaper while the front page is mostly about Sarah Palin's daughter just gave birth to a boy. :mad2:

United States, United Nations, and several other countries have donated millions of dollar worth of supplies/foods/etc. to ravished countries. If you hear in news that those are not receiving anything despite of international help.... blame the warlord/corrupted politicians for hoarding it for profits - like Somalia and Indonesia.

Also - you have heard in news several times about surgeons performing surgeries for free... unfortunately usually for daring procedures like separating Siamese twins and a 5-years old Iraqi boy named Youssif who was burn by insurgents.

naisho said:
USA has changed a lot. Try to name a MD that would help you in the event that you were suffering claustrophobic hysteria or some strange trembling+jerking of your foot for a few examples to name, WITHOUT an ulterior motive other than just trying to help you out.. Next to no one comes to mind, unless you have a doctor in your connections. Some research facility would use you for a test drug..

'Course, I understand by just looking at clinic rooms, tons of people are piled up in line due to the nature of not understanding why they got sick in the first place, not keeping themselves in good health, etc.

It makes sense, it's kind of like a double edged sword. Docs are getting tired of it I suppose.

Part of this rambling I'm having is biased, because I don't have health insurance at this moment in time. I tried not to be biased the best I could. It is pretty expensive here, to answer you deafteen. You have to pay a premium every month, and it's best that you are currently employed to get covered with a good rate.
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Blame the people who made this country very litigious.... not doctors. malpractice insurance goes up... naturally the doctor fee goes up as well. and think about the expense it takes to become a doctor. They usually end up with at least $200,000 (and that's a very conservative amount) by the time they graduated from medical school. They don't even make much as resident for a while so the debt piles up even bigger.

You have to cut them a slack for all the stress and hardship they have to go thru to become a doctor. Remember that a rather percentage of them have had suicidal thoughts because of the stress. Doctors are doing their best that they can... just as much as teachers/parents/social workers/etc. are doing their best as they can. Public/Civil Service is a tough job...

Another thing - the medical school and laws in USA are pretty stringent... which is why there are simply not enough medical personnel available. again - they are doing the best as they can. There are plenty of other careers that are easier to accomplish for same amount of income... so think about why would they go thru 15+ years of hell and stress to become a doctor? Makes you wonder why you never seen a 25 years old surgeon....
 
Something recent happened to me that made me realize that doctors overcharge so that they can get their amount of money mostly from insurance (which only pay a part of it) not the patients. My mom went to the dentist and they charged her 600 dollars, and insurance covered only 400 dollars for it. So my mom expected to pay 200 dollars, but the dentist said that she did not have to pay the 200 dollars because he overcharged just in case they only pay part of it. I just got the CI, and they charged me 105,000 dollars! (CAN YOU FREAKIN BELIEVE IT?! Normally its 40k-60k!!) And insurance covered only 60,000 of it. I just found this out yesterday, so today I am calling the doctor to see if it really is 105k (because that would mean I have to pay 45k!) or if they were just overcharging. Ill fight to death if I have to pay 45k!!!!

However, I'd like to add, if this is true, that the doctors are overcharging in order to get more money from insurance, that would mean on a larger scale, more Americans are screwed. Insurance will increase premiums in order to make up for the overcharging, meaning more Americans can't afford health insurance!
 
Daredevel7 said:
Something recent happened to me that made me realize that doctors overcharge so that they can get their amount of money mostly from insurance (which only pay a part of it) not the patients. My mom went to the dentist and they charged her 600 dollars, and insurance covered only 400 dollars for it. So my mom expected to pay 200 dollars, but the dentist said that she did not have to pay the 200 dollars because he overcharged just in case they only pay part of it. I just got the CI, and they charged me 105,000 dollars! (CAN YOU FREAKIN BELIEVE IT?! Normally its 40k-60k!!) And insurance covered only 60,000 of it. I just found this out yesterday, so today I am calling the doctor to see if it really is 105k (because that would mean I have to pay 45k!) or if they were just overcharging. Ill fight to death if I have to pay 45k!!!!

However, I'd like to add, if this is true, that the doctors are overcharging in order to get more money from insurance, that would mean on a larger scale, more Americans are screwed. Insurance will increase premiums in order to make up for the overcharging, meaning more Americans can't afford health insurance!
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GeeeeeZzz! Weren't u informed of that before u got your surgery? I hope u won't have to pay $45K for it. Keep us updated. Damn!
 
Daredevel7 said:
Something recent happened to me that made me realize that doctors overcharge so that they can get their amount of money mostly from insurance (which only pay a part of it) not the patients. My mom went to the dentist and they charged her 600 dollars, and insurance covered only 400 dollars for it. So my mom expected to pay 200 dollars, but the dentist said that she did not have to pay the 200 dollars because he overcharged just in case they only pay part of it. I just got the CI, and they charged me 105,000 dollars! (CAN YOU FREAKIN BELIEVE IT?! Normally its 40k-60k!!) And insurance covered only 60,000 of it. I just found this out yesterday, so today I am calling the doctor to see if it really is 105k (because that would mean I have to pay 45k!) or if they were just overcharging. Ill fight to death if I have to pay 45k!!!!

However, I'd like to add, if this is true, that the doctors are overcharging in order to get more money from insurance, that would mean on a larger scale, more Americans are screwed. Insurance will increase premiums in order to make up for the overcharging, meaning more Americans can't afford health insurance!
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that is odd. very odd. when it comes to insurance - there is a fixed price on certain procedures. If the doctors frequently overcharge stuff on many patients with same insurance company... then that insurance will no longer partner with that doctor... meaning it's a loss of profit for doctor. I'm not sure but what your doctor is doing.... sounds like a case of insurance fraud... in a shrewd, unethical way. :nono:
 
daredevel,

something doesn't sound right in terms of your insurance because the cost of ci surgery should not exceed $60,000. i wonder if there was an error in paperwork and/or calculation.
 
Daredevel7 said:
Something recent happened to me that made me realize that doctors overcharge so that they can get their amount of money mostly from insurance (which only pay a part of it) not the patients. My mom went to the dentist and they charged her 600 dollars, and insurance covered only 400 dollars for it. So my mom expected to pay 200 dollars, but the dentist said that she did not have to pay the 200 dollars because he overcharged just in case they only pay part of it. I just got the CI, and they charged me 105,000 dollars! (CAN YOU FREAKIN BELIEVE IT?! Normally its 40k-60k!!) And insurance covered only 60,000 of it. I just found this out yesterday, so today I am calling the doctor to see if it really is 105k (because that would mean I have to pay 45k!) or if they were just overcharging. Ill fight to death if I have to pay 45k!!!!

However, I'd like to add, if this is true, that the doctors are overcharging in order to get more money from insurance, that would mean on a larger scale, more Americans are screwed. Insurance will increase premiums in order to make up for the overcharging, meaning more Americans can't afford health insurance!
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Maybe they are overcharging because of the fact that many people aren't paying their medical bills?

Afterall--they have to make up for their losses.
 
Byrdie714 said:
Maybe they are overcharging because of the fact that many people aren't paying their medical bills?

Afterall--they have to make up for their losses.
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excellent point.
 
Daredevel7 said:
Something recent happened to me that made me realize that doctors overcharge so that they can get their amount of money mostly from insurance (which only pay a part of it) not the patients. My mom went to the dentist and they charged her 600 dollars, and insurance covered only 400 dollars for it. So my mom expected to pay 200 dollars, but the dentist said that she did not have to pay the 200 dollars because he overcharged just in case they only pay part of it. I just got the CI, and they charged me 105,000 dollars! (CAN YOU FREAKIN BELIEVE IT?! Normally its 40k-60k!!) And insurance covered only 60,000 of it. I just found this out yesterday, so today I am calling the doctor to see if it really is 105k (because that would mean I have to pay 45k!) or if they were just overcharging. Ill fight to death if I have to pay 45k!!!!
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I'm assuming it was a billing error somewhere. I'm assuming you already addressed your CI coverage with your insurance company before your surgery, right? And usually the CI centers also confirm insurance coverage to be sure you are covered, and if there was a large discrepancy you would have been notified prior to your surgery.
 
Byrdie714 said:
Maybe they are overcharging because of the fact that many people aren't paying their medical bills?

Afterall--they have to make up for their losses.
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And then put more people in debt making them broke and unable to pay for their bills? It just doesnt make sense.
 
shel90 said:
And then put more people in debt making them broke and unable to pay for their bills? It just doesnt make sense.
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doctors have bills to pay as well.
 
Jiro said:
doctors have bills to pay as well.
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Yea but by doing that, they will end up losing more money later on if more people go in heavy debt causing them to be broke.
 
shel90 said:
Yea but by doing that, they will end up losing more money later on if more people go in heavy debt causing them to be broke.
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that's the beauty about this stable job - there are always sick patients. thousands of them. they keep coming and coming.
 
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