The State of American Health Care, and of the Arachnid

[spiderine]

Gentlebeings, if you contributed to cluegirl's meme and want to know where your money is going: I just filled and/or refilled 5 prescriptions. Total cost = $285 and change. That is WITH the Massachusetts Commonwealth Choice plan for people who aren't covered by their employers. Granted this is on a deductable, so next month it will (hopefully) be

Comments

[ncp]

I have a friend who works for an HMO. Talking to her is like hitting my head against a brick wall for ten hours straight. "They're required by law to cover pre-existing conditions if you have less than a 60 day gap between insurance plans". Really? Then why didn't they cover the pre-existing condition (that was not pre-existing) when we told them we had a ZERO day gap? We got lucky and found an advocate who informed them that what they were doing was ILLEGAL. Most people would have had the bill sent to collections and ended up with ruined credit and a massive pile of debt.

[winterthunder]

And then when you insist that they HAVE to cover your pre-existing condition, they jack the price up. And let's not even talk about dental coverage...

*can't wait for health care reform*

[debitha]

For all its (numerous) faults, the NHS does a great job on basic healthcare. Free doctor's visits and subsidised meds.

I got a chest infection in Canada, and while I appreciate that I was paying extra for being a foreigner, $200CAN for a doctor's visit and some antibiotics did seem pretty extortionate. Thank goodness for travel insurance.

Yet another example...

[rednwhiterose]

A friend of my aunt is living in Canada (she's from here but moved up there when she got married). Her 17 year old sun tore is ACL while playing sports. To have it repaired up there he would've had to wait until March...down where I am..last week? (or a couple of weeks ago). Anyway, in my city it would've cost $30,000. If they went to Buffalo, New York it would somewhere around $2,000. And this is all cash because they aren't from the US. Not only that, but up there, it's considered out patient, down here, he would've been in the hospital for a couple of weeks and then rehab. Also, there was talk of using a cadaver for bits or some of his own muscle-y bits.

God bless our health care system..../sarcasm

PS: I IS GLAD YOU ARE DOING BETTER!!! *HUGSES*

[hanuueshe]

WOO WELCOME BACK SPIDER!

(PS, I want to send you chocolates. Where do I mail to?)

[spiderine]

Thank you honey, but I don't need chocolate. Send what you would have spent to your favorite charity. They'll appreciate it. :D

[mecurtin]

I'm glad you're back! I hope the meds are working better.

I am currently uninsured, and have found that costco.com has *hugely* lower prices on meds than anywhere local to me.