Unbelievable cost of health care visit.... CMC Morrocroft (subsidized, live)

[abcornwell]

Originally Posted by lumbollo

I had considered this as it wasn't clear. But it doesn't change the point. I don't see where the two are similar at all, which also means that comparisons to the NHS and what other countries are doing are pretty irrelevant.

I've said this before concerning comparisons to health care systems in other countries, it's irrelevant. Our histories, situations, etc are completely different and what is acceptable and works there isn't compariable to the USA. It it was, we would have never issued the Declaration of Independence and had a war to do it out own way. Most of these arguments that come up are for the purpose of detracting from the real issues at hand about the broken health care system in this country.

BTW the axe swings both ways. In Europe, the defense of their system is that the alternative is the horrible health care system in the USA. If the NHS and others are going to be used as some sort of bench mark, then you also have to consider these arguments. This, and I can't imagine why, is always left out of these kinds of discussions.

Wasn't the Declaration of Independence heavily influenced by The Magna Carta?

"Such Revolutionary War era principles as habeas corpus and the wrongness of taxation without representation drew their roots from English Law of the 17th century that was based upon the Magna Carta. King George had violated these laws...in effect placing his decisions above the law of the land, and this gave the Colonists not only the right to seek freedom, but a responsibility to do so."

Looking at what other countries do can help us learn. We can examine intended and unintended consequences. We can analyze benefits and disadvantages. We can say "Innovation seems to be flourishing here. Costs seem to be controlled there. Wonder why? How?" and then we take our learnings and move forward, no doubt in a uniquely American way.

[anifani821]

I agree - we should be learning all we can from other countries. I don't believe in re-inventing the wheel - it only makes sense to IMPROVE it - and go from there.

[vindaloo]

Originally Posted by smclarke4

You sir need to get out a bit. Things have moved on a bit from the 70's. BTW Ireland has much more of diverse population than you remember from the days of horse and carts.

I spent time in Ireland last year: Dublin, Limerick, Sligo, Galway, Derry and Belfast. I realize that the last two places are in Northern Ireland. I know that Ireland has changed. What hasn't changed is the fact that the country of Ireland has a very small population, actually less than five million. That is half the population of North Carolina. To try to use the Irish health care system in the same discussion of a national health system in the U.S. is not very sensible. Maybe you need to get out and face reality. Your needless "days of horse and carts" comment has no relavance in this discussion. It is likely that I know Ireland better than you. I also realize that Ireland is more diverse that it was. So what? Where isn't?

[vindaloo]

[quote=lumbollo;10569678]Are you kidding? You don't know anyone who has had to deal with insurance after going to the hospital? I find that someone who claims to be as informed as you on how the health care industry works who would say something such as this to be absolutely amazing.

--Where did you dream up the idea that I ever said anything that you mentioned? Be specific, you are not making sense. I "never" said that our system is perfect. I only said that we had the most modern, high-tech medicine in the world. The cost, the insurance premiums are out of control for reasons that need fixing.

There are other topics in this very section of the forum that talks about how miserable this is. Why don't you go look for them? Or have you already made it up in your mind this is the way it is, and anyone else with a different experience simply is looney and doesn't count.
What? OK this probably answers my questions ......

--Pay attention, "The current system sucks. The NHS system sucks even more". Is that easy enough to understand the way I feel? The current system needs repairing, not replaced by NHS. I am likely more aware of people that have suffered from the current system. A former employee of mine had to use her whole pay check to pay for family insurance since her husband independently emloyed. On the other hand, my 17 year old sister-in-law died because of a bad diagnosis by the NHS in England. Both have major differences.

--Go to the library and look up Ireland. You will see that that there are two countries that share the same island. One country is Ireland which is the one that we are talking about with a population of nearly 5 million and then there is Northern Ireland which we 'are not' discussing, as it is another country so your data is irrelevant. Strange that someone that can type didn't know this?
Northern Ireland (assuming since you mentioned Newcastle)

• Population - 1,685,267
• White - 99.15%
• Others - less than 1%

North Carolina

• Population - 9,222,414
• White - 67.2.9%
• Black - 21.6%
• Hispanic - 7.4%
• Asian - 1.9%
• Native American - 1.3%
• Others 1.3% (note: ~100% due to people reporting more than one race)

I don't see anything remotely similar between the two places and their issues and needs.

First issue, I am refering to people on this message board.

--Again, you missed my point I was alluding to the fact that both countries are so different that a comparison is senseless. And you went to school where?

--By the way, it was me that mentioned Newcastle. What do you want to know about it?

--Please read slowly and if you come across big words, take your time and sound them out. If you don't know what them mean, look at a dictionary.

[janelle144]

Originally Posted by Charlotteborn

Went to the fairly new CMC Urgent Care center on Sunday. (2 shots, blood work and urine workup). The staff, nurses and doctor were great but my visit was almost $700.00! No wonder our wonderful country is going downhill. I am self employed and buy my own health insurance and they will probably pay a small portion of the bill. I am likely going to be out of pocket about $600. This is alot of money to me right now.

This really makes me sad that so many of us don't go to the doctor because we can't afford it and incredulous that the CMC CEO is paid millions of dollars - he should be embarrassed. I don't believe in socialized medicine but something has to change.

Thankfully I have found a doctor that gives a fairly big discount if you pay without them filing insurance - I will now search for other doctors that will do the same.

At least now we can shop our doctors and pick the most reasonably priced one. That will be gone with Obamacare.

I was going to suggest you make a deal with the doctor but I see you already did. Pay in cash and they will take less or do a payment schedule.

My hubby called the hospital who did some tests and told them he was laid off and couldn't afford the bill they sent. The woman said if you send me this amount now I will call it good. Those places write off a lot of things.

[smclarke4]

Originally Posted by vindaloo

I spent time in Ireland last year: Dublin, Limerick, Sligo, Galway, Derry and Belfast. I realize that the last two places are in Northern Ireland. I know that Ireland has changed. What hasn't changed is the fact that the country of Ireland has a very small population, actually less than five million. That is half the population of North Carolina. To try to use the Irish health care system in the same discussion of a national health system in the U.S. is not very sensible. Maybe you need to get out and face reality. Your needless "days of horse and carts" comment has no relavance in this discussion. It is likely that I know Ireland better than you.
I also realize that Ireland is more diverse that it was. So what? Where isn't?

Would you just listen to yourself? I was actually comparing the cost of a visit to a doctor in Ireland and the cost of insurance there as opposed to here. What's the difference between being told that you have the flu here and being charge hundreds of dollars and being told that you have the flu in Ireland and being charged around about 50 euro. There is no need for the vast amount of wasteful spending on drugs that the people of the US are forced to have. Have you seen todays news about Pfizer having to pay out the largest settlement ever in fraud because of the lies about their products. The ads on the tv for every drug you can imagine to fix things that you probably never knew you had. This is the cost of medicine here and why it's so costly. People in Europe are no sicker than people here - I would like to say that they are healthier but I don't have back up and you are such a gob****e that you would want to see it.

[smclarke4]

[quote=vindaloo;10573777]

Originally Posted by lumbollo

Are you kidding? You don't know anyone who has had to deal with insurance after going to the hospital? I find that someone who claims to be as informed as you on how the health care industry works who would say something such as this to be absolutely amazing.

---Do you have a learning disability? Where did you dream up the idea that I ever said anything that you mentioned? Be specific, you are not making sense.

There are other topics in this very section of the forum that talks about how miserable this is. Why don't you go look for them? Or have you already made it up in your mind this is the way it is, and anyone else with a different experience simply is looney and doesn't count.
What? OK this probably answers my questions ......

--Pay attention, "The current system sucks. The NHS system sucks even more". Is that easy enough to understand the way I feel? The current system needs repairing, not replaced by NHS.

--Go to the library and look up Ireland. You will see that that there are two countries that share the same island. One country is Ireland which is the one that we are talking about with a population of nearly 5 million and then there is Northern Ireland which we are not discussing as it is another country but you gave useless data anyway.
Northern Ireland (assuming since you mentioned Newcastle)

• Population - 1,685,267
• White - 99.15%
• Others - less than 1%

North Carolina

• Population - 9,222,414
• White - 67.2.9%
• Black - 21.6%
• Hispanic - 7.4%
• Asian - 1.9%
• Native American - 1.3%
• Others 1.3% (note: ~100% due to people reporting more than one race)

I don't see anything remotely similar between the two places and their issues and needs.

First issue, I am refering to people on this message board.

--Again, you missed my point I was alluding to the fact that both countries are so different that a comparison is senseless. And you went to school where?

--By the way, it was me that mentioned Newcastle. What do you want to know about it?

--Please read slowly and if you come across big words, take your time and sound them out. If you don't know what them mean, look at a dictionary.

My God you are an arsehole and by the way I am being polite. BTW I am referring to Vindaloo not lumbollo.

[lumbollo]

Originally Posted by abcornwell

.....
Looking at what other countries do can help us learn. We can examine intended and unintended consequences. We can analyze benefits and disadvantages. We can say "Innovation seems to be flourishing here. Costs seem to be controlled there. Wonder why? How?" and then we take our learnings and move forward, no doubt in a uniquely American way.

Never said otherwise. However this is a general statement which does not apply to the situation that I was addressing and futhermore creates a strawman and burns it. That strawman is that America is can't learn from others and hence everything I said must be wrong if you don't believe that. Sorry not gonna work.

There are no proposals to create a NHS in the USA. So comparisons to people and the treatment they are getting from the NHS in Britian, Ireland or anywhere in the UK are pointless and, as I said, nothing but a distraction to what should be addressed in the USA. Anyone who thinks the government here is going to head to a NHS situation or that is the goal, just isn't paying attention. And while this argument is made, which is being done to scare people, there is a complete abandonment byt the same people to compare to the to government healthcare plans that ARE in the USA, Medicare and the VA.

[vindaloo]

Originally Posted by smclarke4

Would you just listen to yourself? I was actually comparing the cost of a visit to a doctor in Ireland and the cost of insurance there as opposed to here. What's the difference between being told that you have the flu here and being charge hundreds of dollars and being told that you have the flu in Ireland and being charged around about 50 euro. There is no need for the vast amount of wasteful spending on drugs that the people of the US are forced to have. Have you seen todays news about Pfizer having to pay out the largest settlement ever in fraud because of the lies about their products. The ads on the tv for every drug you can imagine to fix things that you probably never knew you had. This is the cost of medicine here and why it's so costly. People in Europe are no sicker than people here - I would like to say that they are healthier but I don't have back up and you are such a gob****e that you would want to see it.

I agree that it would be nice to visit a doctor and not have to pay $75 for a visit that lasts for five minutes plus the prescription. On the other hand, I have found that you are more likely to get an accurate diagnosis in the U.S. than in the U.K. You will not find any data to support that people in the U.K. are healthier than those in the U.S. Men in the U.S. have a life expectancy of 75 years and 76 in the U.K. Women live to be 81 in both countries. Men in the U.S. would have a higher expectance if it weren't for the high murder rate in the black community. What would you expect, practically everyone in the U.K. smokes and many still heat their homes with parafin. I would say that the U.S. has a disadvantage due to fatness, but the U.K. is fat too. Sorry, but looks like you won't be able to say that they are healthier in the U.K.

[lumbollo]

Originally Posted by janelle144

At least now we can shop our doctors and pick the most reasonably priced one. That will be gone with Obamacare.,

I was going to suggest you make a deal with the doctor but I see you already did. Pay in cash and they will take less or do a payment schedule.

My hubby called the hospital who did some tests and told them he was laid off and couldn't afford the bill they sent. The woman said if you send me this amount now I will call it good. Those places write off a lot of things.

You realize that when they "write off" something, that bill ends up being paid by taxpayers? Maybe you don't. This means your approach is government subsidized healthcare.

Oh, and now that you don't have a job and a way to pay for insurance except through bartering, your choices on who to pick for healthcare went down dramatically. If you were going to any private hospital in the area, they are going to tell you to head to the county emergency room at CMC if you need anything else.

I continue to be flabberghasted by these statements. "Obamacare = bad, but OH, I'm gonna play the current system. "