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[quote=claudhopper;22198594]Those fancy wheelchairs advertised on tv, scooters, cost $3000! but they proudly say it won't cost seniors a penny.
Stossel shows how insurance makes costs go up. Gov't is also in bed with the drug companies. When you pay for your own drugs, you are more likely to shop for generics or a less costly method of dealing with the symptom of disease, perhaps alternative medicine.
Here's the deal - that isn't the seniors' fault that the medicare is riddled with abuse and they should be checking out the need for those before just paying for it. But they don't, so it is what it is. We have a ton of seniors at the church I go to and I've never seen one in a hoveround like what is advertised on TV. I see more of those in the grocery stores and walmarts being utilized by people either too heavy or too lazy to walk around the store.
I just had hip replacement surgery. I recently received a statement from the hospital: $76,000! And that is just for hospital services, e.g. OR and recovery, three days in a room, nursing services, PT, OT, etc. I haven't even gotten all the dr. bills yet. Even if insurance does raise costs say 10% or so, there is no way I could pay even say, $65,000 plus doctor's fees out of pocket.
I think many people really have NO idea what health care costs are until they acutally need care.
You know what else makes me mad -- I think those hospitals charge more and suggest surgery more often to those they know are on medicare. I have to watch that with my senior relatives - they always get charged more than someone with private insurance and I know it is because they are on medicare. And I have to be careful to watch what doctors they go to because some immediately suggest surgery and I take them to a "better" doctor who may be farther away from their home and we find out that they don't necessarily need surgery but perhaps a different type of treatment.
I just had hip replacement surgery. I recently received a statement from the hospital: $76,000! And that is just for hospital services, e.g. OR and recovery, three days in a room, nursing services, PT, OT, etc. I haven't even gotten all the dr. bills yet. Even if insurance does raise costs say 10% or so, there is no way I could pay even say, $65,000 plus doctor's fees out of pocket.
I think many people really have NO idea what health care costs are until they acutally need care.
You know what else makes me mad -- I think those hospitals charge more and suggest surgery more often to those they know are on medicare. I have to watch that with my senior relatives - they always get charged more than someone with private insurance and I know it is because they are on medicare. And I have to be careful to watch what doctors they go to because some immediately suggest surgery and I take them to a "better" doctor who may be farther away from their home and we find out that they don't necessarily need surgery but perhaps a different type of treatment.
Having two different price structures is illegal. It always pays to get a second opinion.
Having two different price structures is illegal. It always pays to get a second opinion.
Why should it be illegal? Why shouldn't they compete for their clientele, like every other business? If a med student can suture me, why pay the higher price for a specialist, unless that's what you choose to do. Paying cash should allow a big discount, because it eliminates a lot of paperwork and overhead. As has been said, gov't is the problem.
You could get the same surgery in other countries at a fraction of the price.
Why should it be illegal? Why shouldn't they compete for their clientele, like every other business? If a med student can suture me, why pay the higher price for a specialist, unless that's what you choose to do. Paying cash should allow a big discount, because it eliminates a lot of paperwork and overhead. As has been said, gov't is the problem.
You could get the same surgery in other countries at a fraction of the price.
You're asking me with such hostility? Do you think I wrote the laws? Giving discounts is allowed, but two different price structures are not. I think it's kind of an anti-corruption type of thing, e.g. you can't fleece the govt for a medicare/medicaid patient, and then charge someone with BC/BS something else. Insurers do negotiate discounts, as well.
No, thanks, I'm not going to to a third world country if my other hip needs to be replaced.
I tend to agree with the author to a point. A person say, 90 and over has had a full life and should be offered the basics of medicine to keep them comfortable. Oxygen, pain medications, breathing treatments and other assorted medications. I do agree that we need to stop the luxury of providing every little thing they could ask for at this stage of the game. The care my mom is receiving would be a blessing to me and I think I would forgo the luxury of having a new scooter every time mine squeeked and new glasses, dentures and unlimited hospital care. I would not consider this a "death panel approach."
I know it is illegal but I live in Houston, TX where things like that happen.
My friend had hip replacement last year at a well known orthopedic hospital down on Fannin. She had no hospitalization and paid for it herself. Start to finish the whole procedure cost her $26000. I know, because I took her for her follow ups. Looks like others paid 3 times as much.
I absolutely do not support death panels at all. However, if someone wants an expensive, costly procedure after the age of 80, shouldn't they pay for that out of pocket? Why should the public foot that bill -- and oh by the way, medical dollars are finite, so every dollar spent on the geezer is a dollar not spent on the middle aged mom who is still raising some teenagers, or the teenager who never had a chance to grow up.
Selfish, selfish, selfish. I remember my grandpa routinely saying: I'm old. I've lived my life. Give the young ones a chance. In fact, I remember a lot of old people saying that in the 80s. It's sad these decent, self sacrificing people have passed on... leaving us with the new breed of entitled ugly old person, content to suck every last drop of life out of whoever they can. Disgusting.
If you want to live to be 150 and you want all the best modern medicine has to offer... great! More power to you! Pay for it your damn self though. Asking me to do so is like a welfare queen insisting on living in a McMansion on my dime. NO!
The last sentence sounds almost Republican!!
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