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To the OP: I think your sister and her husband are the perfect example of what is wrong with health care in this country, and why it costs so damn much. Trivial over-utilization!
This is 100% correct.
Being on the front lines lets me see how people abuse the system (people with and without insurance) every day.
Unless I am physically compromised in a major way, such as a knee won't bend, blood is pooling on the floor, or a bone is sticking out, I don't go to a doctor. I've had enough sprains, tears, colds, flus, etc., to know how to handle them without spending hours at the doctor's office to see him for 5 minutes.
I have insurance but still choose not to go see my doctor if I am sick because I am too much of a cheapo to pay them the $25 co-pay.
In fact they have declined to refill any more of my prescriptions (nose spray for allergies) because I haven't been there in over a year. I think it is nonsense to pay them $25 so I can get my $4 spray. It's bogus. Luckily I have quite a few prescriptions to get me by until I finally break down and go.
When I was younger and didn't have insurance at all there were times when I was really sick with the cold all I did was put back some hot toddies (rum with honey) and sleep for 24 hours. I guess it works because I am still kicking today, lol.
Last edited by awkiv; 09-27-2012 at 03:49 PM..
Reason: Spelling
I only go to pick up my prescription, should go for BP tests but dont, so no I wouldnt dream of taking up my docs time with a cold.. Id be ashamed..
If people here in the States thought that way I don't think we would have as many issues with our healthcare system. Entitlement is strong over here and it's sad.
I don't get sick often but when I do I go to the doctor and that's maybe 3 or 4 times a year, otherwise i go once a year for routine blood work and a flu shot.
No, I don't. Mostly because I find doctor's predictable and it tends to be a waste of my time. And military doctors are a joke; they just prescribe drugs like candy and want you out of their room. So, I don't bother.
And I don't want drugs anyway. If I'm sick, I take ibuprofin if I've got pain and I take nasal spray if I'm really blocked up. But otherwise, I find eating a pure diet of just soups, broths, crackers, juices, waters, and airborne, while taking apple cider vinegar 2x a day and doing the netti-pot 3x a day, is enough to beat the worst of a cold in 3 days.
The only time I go to the dr. is routine woman check ups, yearly labs and if I'm REALLY sick. I get a sinus infection at least once a year and get a zpack by sending an email to my doc and she sends rx to the pharmacy.
My sister thinks we're not being "proactive" in managing our health.
The only thing your sister and her family are being proactive about in this regard is helping the germs become more resistant to our already fast-becoming resistant antibiotics. When the majority of the antibotics are no longer of much use in fighting illnesses, we can all thank people like her.
Unless I am physically compromised in a major way, such as a knee won't bend, blood is pooling on the floor, or a bone is sticking out, I don't go to a doctor. I've had enough sprains, tears, colds, flus, etc., to know how to handle them without spending hours at the doctor's office to see him for 5 minutes.
That's pretty much the way that I feel about it. I broke my nose a couple of years ago and my son made me go to the emergency room. After lying in a cubicle for a few hours, I was X-rayed, CAT scanned... and told that I'd broken my nose, no displacement. I knew that. I was told to follow up with my primary care provider. Why? What was s/he going to do? I took ibuprofen and used a chilled gel pack for 24 hours.
In the past, I've fallen off of a roof (required two major surgeries) broken an elbow and have managed to stab myself with a rusty screwdriver and a steak knife.
I'd definitely go to a Doc and take meds if I were diabetic because I wouldn't want to go blind.
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I knew that. I was told to follow up with my primary care provider. Why? What was s/he going to do? I took ibuprofen and used a chilled gel pack for 24 hours. 
