How's your medical coverage?

First of all Shreddy, I'm pleased to hear that she's going to take the chemo!

FYI, the hit of Herceptin (a small bag of red fluid) that my late wife got every three weeks for around 18 months, cost slightly over 1000 euros a shot - totaling something over $30k just for this one drug. Thankfully, our (compulsory) insurance covered everything.

Shred...did you have to get me started!!!!  Insurance is a must or you could go bankrupt...
I'm sorry to hear your woes though. Yikes!!!  Most importantly, I hope your wife responds well and gets better!!

We have a high deductible, one of my son's was on an acne medicine that is still under patent, so there is not a generic, it was $700 out of my pocket for a month supply. The medicine worked great, but he had major headaches after 4 doses which can lead to this pressure on the brain problem and had to switch drugs.  The drug companies smooze way too much, for starters...we are all paying a little for doctors' drug sponsored vacations. However, lots of other stuff is driving up costs...

I could get really heated up on this topic, but its too long to get into. IMHO, insurance companies in some ways are legalized monopolies.  I work in a doctor's office, so actually I see both sides of this, because the patients bring in the EOB's from the hospital, doctor etc.  I'm not crying the blues for a doctor's earnings, but insurance companies refuse payment constantly!!! They also ditch the doctors bills and claim not to get them, they wear you down and its their direct intent that if the doc's staff spends enough time trying to collect payment, eventually the doc realizes he's losing $$$ by paying the employee extra hours...  Doctors write off tons of $$$$ and the doctor I work for treats the patients everyone else turns away, Medicaid and the uninsured. 

Recently, I've been dealing with hospitals alot since my father-in-law has been in and out of  the hospital six times in less than 2 months.  The bills are outrageous and itemized out the gazoo...every person that walks by the patient.  Keep in mind hospitals treat the uninsured, which drives up everyone else's bill.  Also, the billing system of doctors is very complex and has gone thru many changes, if they participate with the insurance company, no matter what they charge, they only get the allowable amount, so don't be disillusioned by some of the numbers on the bill. Very few doctors don't participate with the insurance co., especially in a hospital.  Unfortunately, there is abuse in certain areas of insurance, that also drives up costs for everyone else.  The division of DME (durable medical equipment) needs to be investigated. Because its a covered service by Medicare, these companies are having a field day.  (I wouldn't be surprised if politicians/lobbyists own some of these companies) When an elderly person is in the hospital, then discharged, they deliver portable toilets, walkers etc...the patient didn't ask for or need.  My in-laws could open a store with the shrink-wrapped supplies building up in their basement.

I hope this conversation stays civil, because talking about insurance nowadays borders talking politics. 

Unrelated to the bill, but related to hospital overhead, which drives up the bill....  We recently had the MOST BIZARRE experience on a 10 day hospital stay at a community hospital. This hospital is closest to my father-in-laws.  Ambulance service takes you to the nearest hospital, for liability reasons etc.  Legally, if the patient stabalizes, you can transfer the patient, which we've done twice since.  The nurses at this hospital had been on strike a few years back, it was never resolved and the hospital brought in foreign nurses (Asia, India, Jamaica. etc.) who can't speak English well, were sub-par and don't communicate anything well...meds, discharge orders...I felt like I was in the twilight zone for 10 days.  I am not exagerating when I say, in 10 days, I only had 2 conversations with anyone that could speak English well, the majority of doctors were from India and their English was poor. I did improve my lip reading skills, if I could get half of the words in the sentence I could kinda' figure what was happening and one of our friends is on staff at the hospital and would get us doctor's notes from the computer, so that was helpful...

Literally, a few days after the discharge one of night shows on cable did a special on American students being turned away from nursing school.    I'm frustrated with the whole system, but don't have the exact fix for everything that's wrong...  I understand outsourcing is cheaper, but if a hospital gets sued for poor care/lack of communication with meds...lawsuits are more expensive than paying for well trained nurses!!

Shred...Best to you and your wife. 

My great nephew Nathan has been undergoing treatment for childhood Leukemia since June 2007. My friend Jeff has recently survived his second bout with adult Leukemia. You wouldn't want to even know how much money has been spent for these two people. However, both are alive and doing well at this point. The cost of medication and treatment is way out of sight. Any doubts, just look at some of the new treatment centers and the old ones that continually expand. Yes, health care costs like anything needs to be made affordable for everyone. Otherwise, only the wealthy will be able to afford it.

Roy

When I went through Chemo therapy my doctor presrcibed 5 anti nausea meds, 4 of which were only a $10.00 co-pay but one was not. 2 pills cost $97.00 dollars, I went back to my Dr. and asked him if I'd get by without those 2 and he said possibly and I said I'm gonna puke right here in your office just thinking about paying that much for 2 pills I may or may not need. I did without and honestly the only thing that truly controlled my bouts of nausea was marijuana. After I completed all of my radiation treatments at an outside of Kaiser Permanente facility they sent me a letter to let me know the clinic had been paid............$104,000.00 and $68,000.00 for the treatments prior to my surgery. Those figures did not include my surgery or chemo treatments. Sadly work has been so slow I'm currently without health care, I too am self employed and write the check myself, but it's just not in the budget this month. There are signs of life lately in my line of work and I hope to get re-instated shortly as I have 3 1/2 years left till I'm declared cured of the cancer I was diagnosed with. Shred my best to Deb and tell her I'm on her side.

                                                                                         Peace & Health,

                                                                                         J Dawg

In the past I welcomed a slump in new construction and home sales as people would put their money into their existing home remodeling it which is my specialty. Thankfully the phone is starting to ring again as clients old and new are putting their tax returns into remodel projects. The other good news is that real estate sales in Ca. are rebounding faster than anywhere else in the country. Home values are half what they were 2 years ago and savvy investors are finding ways to scoop them up which equates to potential remodel work. Hope things are shapin' up in your neck of the woods too Jim. Gotta get busy to get that medical coverage back on track.

                                                                                     Think Gr$$n,

                                                                                     J Dawg

I'm taking off my 'downer hat', (its too heavy)  to send special "Good Vibrations" west coast to Shred, Deb and J Dawg.

I was going to post a link to an article I read yesterday in the USA today, but bordering politics, I'm just going to be a messenger for those interested in learning about some insurance related issues, search for "Insurers' proposal requires coverage for all". (USA Today March 25th)

Also, after reading through a few posts here, I'd like to send additional Good Vibrations to Martin across the pond. I definitely did not absorb the pain and sorrow he's been through with his son's illness, I did read the $$$ amount and the moving back to the UK part...I'm guilty of skim reading.

Anyway, good vibes and a forum hug to everyone dealing with health issues & insurance issues.  If I could pass on one thing we learned the hard way, if its not a life and death situation, pick your emergency room wisely.